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Peter and John's Miraculous Escape from Prison
Acts 5:17–21
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
The issue
The religious council initially held Peter and John because they taught the resurrection from the dead, which the Sadducee-heavy Sanhedrin doesn't believe in.
Since preaching the resurrection isn't a crime—the Pharisees do just that—and the public supported them too much, the council couldn't punish them.
Now, however, the Sanhedrin can charge the apostles with disobeying a direct order of religious authorities. The Sanhedrin had forbidden Peter and John from preaching in Jesus' name (Acts 4:18). The apostles disobeyed, as Peter warned they would (Acts 4:19–20).
The Angel
But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 20 "Go your way, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." (Acts 5:19-20 NASB)
The word "angel" is from the Greek word aggelos, which means: "a messenger." In general, in texts where an angel appears, the task is to convey the message or do something on behalf of God. Since the focus of the text is on the message, the messenger is rarely described in detail. Thus, the divine emissary may or may not be some sort of supernatural being. How the angel got them out, we don't know, but it sure seems to be miraculous. The impression that Luke wants to give is that God Himself intervened.
re-arrested
"Go your way, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." (Acts 5:20 NASB)
The apostles ended up before the Sanhedrin, right where they would have been if they had not been released from prison. So, why release them? God did not set the apostles free so they could run for the hills or so they could just indulge their own comfort. They were set free for a reason. What was that reason? It was an acting out of prophecy.
Some times God delivers His children, and some times He doesn't.
Isaiah 42:7
To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon, And those who dwell in darkness from the prison
Luke 21:16-17
But you will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 17 and you will be hated by all on account of My name
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myeveningdevotional.substack.com/subscribe
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By Tony SilveiraActs 5:17–21
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
The issue
The religious council initially held Peter and John because they taught the resurrection from the dead, which the Sadducee-heavy Sanhedrin doesn't believe in.
Since preaching the resurrection isn't a crime—the Pharisees do just that—and the public supported them too much, the council couldn't punish them.
Now, however, the Sanhedrin can charge the apostles with disobeying a direct order of religious authorities. The Sanhedrin had forbidden Peter and John from preaching in Jesus' name (Acts 4:18). The apostles disobeyed, as Peter warned they would (Acts 4:19–20).
The Angel
But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 20 "Go your way, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." (Acts 5:19-20 NASB)
The word "angel" is from the Greek word aggelos, which means: "a messenger." In general, in texts where an angel appears, the task is to convey the message or do something on behalf of God. Since the focus of the text is on the message, the messenger is rarely described in detail. Thus, the divine emissary may or may not be some sort of supernatural being. How the angel got them out, we don't know, but it sure seems to be miraculous. The impression that Luke wants to give is that God Himself intervened.
re-arrested
"Go your way, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." (Acts 5:20 NASB)
The apostles ended up before the Sanhedrin, right where they would have been if they had not been released from prison. So, why release them? God did not set the apostles free so they could run for the hills or so they could just indulge their own comfort. They were set free for a reason. What was that reason? It was an acting out of prophecy.
Some times God delivers His children, and some times He doesn't.
Isaiah 42:7
To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon, And those who dwell in darkness from the prison
Luke 21:16-17
But you will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 17 and you will be hated by all on account of My name
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myeveningdevotional.substack.com/subscribe