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Day 46: Fighting Against God? (Acts 5:33-39)
In a fight between God and a human, who would win? It’s pretty silly question because of course it’s going to be God! But that is the question posed at the end of the passage and finally, a bit of common sense prevails in the Sanhedrin after a rough start. It is safe to say that the council didn’t really appreciate Peter’s words that we read yesterday. In fact, they were absolutely furious that Peter had again accused them of putting Jesus to death and proclaiming the Gospel. So they wanted to kill them, to kill the leaders of the church. But before they could, a man named Gamaliel rose to speak. Gamaliel was remembered in Judaism as the “embodiment of pure Pharisaism”. This man was highly esteemed and so when he spoke, everyone would listen intently.
He raises up two cases of people who quickly gained a following, but when they were killed, the followers dispersed and the movement came to nothing. What is he reasoning here? Well, if the Apostles are let off and the movement disperses, then it clearly would not be from God and won’t inconvenience the Sanhedrin for long. But, if the movement grows and grows, it must be from God and to fight against God would be futile. 2,000 years later, I think it’s safe to say that the church was ordained by God. So what does that say about those who want to bring Christians down and persecuting them? It means that they are fighting not against Christians and the church but against God and so this means that they will never prevail! No human power can stop the work of the Gospel because it is from God. So we don’t despair, but we keep on proclaiming the Gospel. MC
QuestionsWhat causes the Sanhedrin to react so violently to the Apostles’ words?
When you speak to people about the Gospel, where is your confidence? Where should our confidence be?
Why can’t anything stop the spread of the Gospel? How does that impact the way we do evangelism?
Awesome God, you are in control, you have all the power, and you have all the authority. Thank you that when people persecute your church, they won’t prevail. Give us the confidence that when we go out, we go out in your power that no human can stand against. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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By St Bart's Anglican ChurchIn a fight between God and a human, who would win? It’s pretty silly question because of course it’s going to be God! But that is the question posed at the end of the passage and finally, a bit of common sense prevails in the Sanhedrin after a rough start. It is safe to say that the council didn’t really appreciate Peter’s words that we read yesterday. In fact, they were absolutely furious that Peter had again accused them of putting Jesus to death and proclaiming the Gospel. So they wanted to kill them, to kill the leaders of the church. But before they could, a man named Gamaliel rose to speak. Gamaliel was remembered in Judaism as the “embodiment of pure Pharisaism”. This man was highly esteemed and so when he spoke, everyone would listen intently.
He raises up two cases of people who quickly gained a following, but when they were killed, the followers dispersed and the movement came to nothing. What is he reasoning here? Well, if the Apostles are let off and the movement disperses, then it clearly would not be from God and won’t inconvenience the Sanhedrin for long. But, if the movement grows and grows, it must be from God and to fight against God would be futile. 2,000 years later, I think it’s safe to say that the church was ordained by God. So what does that say about those who want to bring Christians down and persecuting them? It means that they are fighting not against Christians and the church but against God and so this means that they will never prevail! No human power can stop the work of the Gospel because it is from God. So we don’t despair, but we keep on proclaiming the Gospel. MC
QuestionsWhat causes the Sanhedrin to react so violently to the Apostles’ words?
When you speak to people about the Gospel, where is your confidence? Where should our confidence be?
Why can’t anything stop the spread of the Gospel? How does that impact the way we do evangelism?
Awesome God, you are in control, you have all the power, and you have all the authority. Thank you that when people persecute your church, they won’t prevail. Give us the confidence that when we go out, we go out in your power that no human can stand against. In Jesus’ name, Amen.