Acts 5:17-42

“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”” (Acts 4:19–20)

“Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.” (Acts 5:12, ESV)

Scene 1 (vv. 17-25)

“But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”” (Acts 5:17–20, ESV)

“And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” (Acts 5:14–16, ESV)

The key difference between the religious leaders & the disciples:

The religious leaders demanded respect & reverence for themselves, while the disciples’ goal was to bring respect & reverence to God.

The Fate of the Disciples & Other Followers of Jesus (HEADER)

-Matthew was martyred by the sword

-Mark died after being dragged through the streets

-Luke was hanged in Greece

-John was scarred in a cauldron of boiling oil before banished to Patmos

-Peter was crucified upside-down in Rome

-James was beheaded

-the other James was beaten to death w/ a club

-Phillip was hanged

-Bartholomew was scourged & beats until he died

-Andrew was bound to a cross & preached until he died

-Thomas was cut open

-Jude was killed with arrows

-Matthias was stoned & then beheaded

-Barnabas & Paul were both beheaded

“Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”” (Acts 5:20, ESV)

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, ESV)

How do the disciples respond to the angel’s command?

They obeyed immediately, boldly & courageously

“And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” (Acts 5:21–25, ESV)

Scene 2 (vv. 26-33)

“Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”” (Acts 5:26–28, ESV)

Two Consistent Themes From the Disciples’ Teachings

1. The gospel had spread throughout Jerusalem

2. They kept blaming the Jews for Christ’s death

“I am innocent of this man’s blood.” (Matthew 27:24b)

“His blood be on us and on our children!” (Matthew 27:25, ESV)

“But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”” (Acts 5:29–32, ESV)

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”” (Daniel 3:16–18, ESV)

“But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”” (Acts 4:19–20, ESV)

The disciples understood that God is the highest authority and He rules in the highest court anywhere.

“God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:31, ESV)

“And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”” (Acts 5:32, ESV)

“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17, ESV)

“When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.” (Acts 5:33)

Scene 3 (vv. 34-42)

“But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men.” (Acts 5:34–35)

“So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,” (Acts 5:38–39, ESV)

“and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.” (Acts 5:40)

“Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.” (Acts 5:41–42, ESV)

You cannot stop the growth of the church if you cannot silence His followers.

Picture of Richard Wurmbrand

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Richard_Wurmbrand_mugshot.jpg

“It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their terms. It was a deal; we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching. They were happy beating us, so everyone was happy.” -Richard Wurmbrand in Tortured for Christ

As followers of Jesus, we are called to:

-take a stand for Christ

-to speak His message of Life

-to obey God rather than men

-to find joy even in the midst of persecution

“And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.” (Acts 5:42, ESV)

How would you live life differently if instead of viewing the things happening to you today as being fair or unfair but instead viewed them as an opportunity to further the gospel?