Acts 5:17-40
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.
When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.
25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.
27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [1]
_______________________
It’s interesting in this account to note who is afraid now. Not long ago it was the apostles who were afraid and the Sanhedrin who was confident. Now it is the apostles who are confident and the Sanhedrin afraid. Their actions are being shaped by a fear of the people.
Everything hinges on faith in the resurrection. The apostles identify themselves as witnesses of the resurrection. The angel released them and instructed them to testify to the resurrection (“this new life”). The central part of their teaching is the resurrection of Jesus. This is their identity, mission and confidence.
On the other hand, Gamaliel’s solution has resurrection in the background. Why did the movements of Theudas and Judas fail? Because they died. Gamaliel suggests that since Jesus is dead, this movement will likely fail as well, all on its own. But the problem with his suggestion is that Jesus is not dead. He’s very much alive and at work in His disciples for the sake of His mission. As a result, no matter how much they oppose and persecute, the church continues to flourish.
We are called to live each day in the confidence of the resurrection. Jesus is alive. Even the setbacks and failures of today are turned into victory for those who belong to Him. Those who die in the Lord will be raised. Those who suffer from disease will be healed in the resurrection. Perfect justice will be revealed on the day that Christ returns.
My prayer today is for resurrection confidence. But as I was meditating on that today, my thoughts also went to those who are facing the most severe persecution in our world today, the Christians of the middle east who are being horrifically persecuted by ISIS. Once again I encourage you to occasionally visit www.persecution.org and let it move you to pray for our brothers and sisters who are in need of resurrection confidence today.
What is the Word leading you to pray about today?
To subscribe to Abide Daily Devotion e-mail please click here.
[1] The New International Version. 2011 (Ac 5:17–40). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
Leave a Reply