Acts 5:17-42
Imprisoned Apostles Freed
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 18 and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. 19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life."
21 And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
Apostles on Trial Again
22 But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 23 saying, "Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!" 24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. 25 So one came and told them, saying, "Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!"
26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!"
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."
Gamaliel's Advice
33 When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. 34 Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them: "Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God."
40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
The lesson given by example in the church from its beginnings has been to never cease pre and teaching Jesus as the Christ, and Him crucified 1 Corinthians 2:2) to demonstrate He is God fused with man (John:1, 14) and sacrificed Himself as our redeeming Savior from God’s wrath on our sin. We are to maintain and proclaim this gospel of the whole counsel of God and not in any way compromise our account of Him as the only way, truth, and life (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) irrespective of the circumstances we may face. The apostles stood firm in telling the whole truth and were thrown in prison for their testimony of Jesus Christ but were freed by God’s work to “stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” We are likewise reminded to stand firm and speak all the words of the gospel’s words offering eternal life for salvation and daily living as we are conformed to the image and likeness of Christ Himself (Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 3:18) in this race we run towards (Philippians 3:14) Him. These apostles were faithful even when facing imprisonment and death as an example to us. We find how God can set us free as He did with them after being taken back into custody after God delivered them the first time to speak the words of this life. They were ordered by law to stop speaking the gospel but answered by telling them it was far better to listen to God than man (Acts 4:19-20) when eternal life and the kingdom of God were at stake for the hearers. The council of the religious law, however, took offense at the message being taught because it included their guilt in bringing the blood of Jesus on themselves (Acts 2:23) and so they tried to force the apostles to cease and desist their preaching and teaching the truth. Peter once again boldly told them they were guilty in the murder of Jesus on the cursed tree of the cross but God resurrected Him as Prince of peace and Savior at God’s right hand of power and authority (Matthew 28:19-20) to bring salvation through repentance and forgiveness to His people (Israel and all others from the nations) by His grace and mercy. The apostles told them plainly that they were His witnesses just as the Holy Spirit of God Himself also was who is given to all who believe in obedience to the gospel (John 6:29). These religious leaders wanted to enforce their manmade laws by killing these men as they had done to Jesus, but the wise Gamaliel gave advice to let God handle the matter by stopping their message over time if it was not from Him and to avoid opposition to God if it was from Him. He warned them not to fight against God, wise advice to any government whose aim should be a separation of church and state by not controlling the gospel (and not by keeping others from proclaiming it as we see today). The council therefore just beat them as punishment and a war before turning the apostles loose once more to continue God’s word and work. They were faithful to continue teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ in both the temple (church) and public square (house to house). May we do the same as we learn from their example of faithfulness. We preach Jesus as the Christ of God, the man who was God among us and saves us from God’s wrath on our sin by Him.
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