Empowered Disciples week 13

Apostles Arrested

This morning we are continuing our study through the book of Acts.

Last weeks sermon and today’s I originally studied it and prepared it as one sermon, but last week as I was reviewing it, God led me to separate it.

Last week we looked at Acts 5:12-16 at the signs and wonders the apostles were doing.

We need to remember that a person coming to salvation is the greatest miracle.

God used the apostles through the power of the Holy Spirit to heal the lame beggar, but He can use each and everyone of us to point people to Jesus for salvation.

Signs and wonders accompanied the preaching of the Word of God, and no one could deny that God was at work in a new way among His people.

Not everybody was happy with the success of the church.

The religious leaders that had opposed the ministry of Jesus, and then crucified Him, took the same hostile approach toward the Apostles.

As the apostles were obedient to God and allowed the Holy Spirit to use them, people were constantly being added to the church.

That is people were being saved.

This drew attention from the religious leaders.

The Prison

Acts 5:17–21 NASB95

17 But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 20 “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” 21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach.

The high priest and the Sanhedrin had three reasons for arresting the Apostles:

First, they had not obeyed the order given to Peter and John to stop preaching in the name of Jesus Christ.

Second, their witness was refuting the doctrines held by the Sadducees, giving evidence that Jesus Christ was alive.

Third, the religious leaders were filled with jealousy, envy, or indignation, at the great success of these untrained and unauthorized men.

The apostles did not resist arrest or organize a public protest.

They quietly went along with the temple guard and actually spent a few hours in the public jail.

During the night, an angel set the apostles free and instructed them to return to the temple and continue witnessing.

The apostles were to resume their witness, preaching the gospel that leads to life, the message of salvation.

The apostles did as they were told and went to the temple early in the morning just as many would be gathering to observe the morning sacrifice.

The apostles were not concerned about their safety.

Many years ago, Christian missionary John Bunyan was imprisoned for preaching without government approval.

While confined, he wrote The Pilgrim's Progress, a book that has influenced millions.

The prison that was meant to silence him actually amplified his message.

The religious leaders thought prison would stop the apostles, but God opened the doors and sent them right back to preaching.

Opposition does not mean God has abandoned His work.

Sometimes obstacles are opportunities in disguise.

When God calls us to serve, share our faith, or build relationships in the community, fear and resistance will come.

Faithfulness means obeying despite opposition.

The Temple

The apostles were preaching in the temple, were arrested, then an angel releases them and instructs them to go back to preaching in the temple.

The apostles arrive back in the temple preaching at day break as we pick up in the second part of verse 21.

Acts 5:21–26 NASB95

21 Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought. 22 But the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back, 23 saying, “We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this. 25 But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” 26 Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

The scene shifts from the apostles preaching in the temple, to the council chambers where the Sanhedrin had gathered for its morning session.

The first item on the agenda was the interrogation of the apostles; so officers were sent to the jail to fetch them.

But they were not there.

The officers quickly return to the council chambers to deliver the startling news.

The prison doors were securely locked.

The guards were properly standing at their posts.

Yet the interesting part of the story is there was no one inside the prison.

How in the world did the apostles, the prisoners, get out through locked gates, and past the guards?

The council and temple guards were at a total loss.

Someone came into the council chambers with good news, or was it bad news?

The prisoners, the apostles had not completely escaped or left, they were on the temple grounds, back to teaching the people.

The captain of the temple guard decided he had better handle the matter personally.

The Sanhedrin was totally helpless to control the situation.

The whole situation was in God’s hands.

The only reason the apostles finally appeared before the council was their own willingness to do so.

They were willing to do so because the events of the night had convinced them once more that they were very much in God’s hands.

A firefighter does not run from the fire because there is danger; he runs toward it because there are people who need help.

Christians are called to move toward people who need the hope of Christ.

Instead of hiding, the apostles went back to the very place where they had been threatened.

Courage is not the absence of fear; it is obedience in the presence of fear.

God calls believers to keep showing up where He has placed them.

The mission field for many believers is their neighborhood, workplace, school, or community gathering place

The Council

The apostles have been arrested, placed in jail, released from jail by God, then arrested and taken to the Sanhedrin to stand trial.

Acts 5:27–32 NASB95

27 When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31 “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

The trial begins with the apostles being brought before the Sanhedrin.

There are two charges against them: first, they had broken the court order of the Sanhedrin and continued to preach in this name; second, they were determined to lay the guilt for this man’s blood on them, that is the Jewish leaders.

The high priest is the one that would do the interrogation and give the charges.

The high priest did not mention the escape from prison, maybe out of embarrassment, and he avoided mentioning Jesus by name.

There were formal charges against the apostles, they had been warned by the Sanhedrin to stop preaching in the name of Jesus, and yet they had fully ignored it.

The high priest’s concern about being charged with responsibility for Jesus’ blood had significance.

To lay someone’s blood on someone is an expression for a charge of murder and demands the death of the guilty party.

In the high priest mind it was if the apostles were trying to get the religious leaders killed by saying that Jesus’ blood was on them.

The apostles were not trying to get anyone killed but rather lead them to salvation.

Peter speaks up to the Sanhedrin and once again tells them We must obey God rather than men.

Peter then gives witness once again before the Sanhedrin this time more of a summary of of his message he gave at his first trial.

The basic elements are all there - the guilt of the Jewish leaders for crucifying Jesus, the resurrection and exaltation, repentance and forgiveness in Jesus name.

Peter’s purpose was to demonstrate that Christ is indeed the risen Savior and to urge repentance and commitment to Jesus’ name.

Peter was issuing an invitation to the Sanhedrin.

A compass continues pointing north regardless of the weather.

Storms do not change its direction.

Likewise, a disciple's obedience should remain fixed on God regardless of circumstances.

Peter boldly declared, "We ought to obey God rather than men."

Every believer faces moments when culture, friends, family, or society pressure them to compromise.

Following Jesus sometimes requires standing alone.

The Holy Spirit gives courage to speak truth with grace and conviction.

I want to challenge you to identify one place you regularly visit—a coffee shop, grocery store, gas station, sports field, or workplace—and intentionally build relationships there.

Build relationships there with the long term purpose of sharing your Jesus story and the gospel message with that person.

We need to Expect God to work among the people around us

We need to Persevere through opposition when following Christ becomes difficult.

We must Return to the mission field daily where God has placed us

We absolutely must Obey God above all else when faced with pressure to compromise.

Pray for boldness to share our faith with people in our community.

The power of God attracts people, but the bold proclamation of Jesus changes lives.