009 Acts 5:17-42 Boldness to Preach

009 Boldness to Preach

One thing to keep in mind when studying the book of Acts is this book is an historical account of the beginning of the Church, it is not an instructional book.

Instructions to the church are the letters the Apostles wrote to the church.

The book of Acts will give examples of what the Apostles instructions.

For example, Throughout the Paul’s letters he instructs the Church in unity of the believer here in we read of how the church was one, which was quit an accomplishment.

John instructions to the Church is to love the brethern, in we read of how that was accomplished.

I Cor. Paul talks about Church discipline, gives the reason why.

Sin was in the camp Anaias and his wife lied to God and God wasn’t going to let them get away with it. As a result of their death, fear sell upon the church which gave the Apostles a boldness to preach about the resurrection of Jesus.

Ananias and Sapphira

THE RENEWED OPPOSITION TO THE CHURCH (5:17–42)

1. The Sadducean arrest of the apostles (5:17, 18)

The High Priest and the Sadducean members of the Sanhedrin were filled with “indignation” Why were they angry? they were evious of the apostles.

the apostles were replacing them (the Sadducees) as the religious authorities and teachers in Jerusalem (5:12–16, 28), so they arrested them and put them in prison.

2. The angelic release of the apostles (5:19–21a)

An angel miraculously released the apostles from their prison and commanded them to go to the temple and go, stand and speak

“all the words of this life [the gospel, the words offering eternal life].” The following morning, probably when the temple doors opened at 9:00 a.m.,

a. , The disciples hid themselves for fear of the Jews

a. they obeyed this command.

b. The Apostles obeyed the angel’s command for the fear of God.

3. The Sadducean re-arrest of the apostles (5:21b–26)

On the morrow after the nighttime angelic release of the apostles, the High Priest and his Sadducee colleagues called the entire Sanhedrin together and then sent officers to have the apostles brought before the court (made up of Pharisees as well as Sadducees). The High Priest and the Sadducean members of the court were bewildered, embarrassed, and worried when the officers returned with the report that they had found the prison empty, although the prison doors were shut and the prison keepers were at their posts of duty. Then the report came to the court that the missing apostles were teaching in the temple. Officers were dispatched to the temple and without violence they arrested the apostles and brought them before the court.

4. The religious trial of the apostles (5:27–40)

a. The question of the High Priest (5:27, 28)

“Didn’t we command you to teach no more in Jesus’ name and yet you have disobeyed us and filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to make us guilty of Jesus’ death?”

What a testimony from the chief enemy of the church in Jerusalem to the effectiveness of the apostles’ witness!

What a testimony from the Sadducean High Priest to the ineffectiveness of the Sadducees’ efforts to end the new religious movement in Jerusalem!

b. The answer (the sermon) of Peter (5:29–32)

(1) We ought to obey God rather then men. (have to remember these were Jewish men).

(a) Their boldness came out of the fear that fell upon the Church

(b) Their boldness came by seeing first hand the power of God.

Power when Jesus rose from the dead

Power when they spoke a laguage that they never learned

Power of God when thousands of people were saved

Power of God when the lame man was healed

Power of God when sin was exposed in the Church

Power of God when they were released from prison

The boldness they had gave them confidence to speak against the Sadheidren

no longer afraid-

You can’t stop us, throw us in prison God will release us, kill us we will continue to live.

With boldness they responded

(1) “You slew Jesus”—Peter charges the court with Jesus’ shameful death. See 4:10.

(2) “God raised up Jesus”—Peter misses no opportunity to contrast God’s treatment of Jesus with that of the Jews, 2:23, 24; 3:14, 15; 4:10; 5:30.

(3) “God exalted Jesus”—“God exalted Jesus to His right hand to be a Prince (Lord) and a Savior, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.”

(4) “We are Jesus’ witnesses”—“We apostles are witnesses of Jesus to His death, His resurrection, His ascension, His exaltation, and His readiness to forgive sins on the condition of repentance and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to them that obey Him.”

* Note two things:

(1) The witness of the Holy Spirit must be behind our witness, 5:32; , (or else our witness is ineffective) and

(2) the Holy Spirit is given by God to all who obey Him (obey His command to believe on Christ, ; ).

(5) “Jesus commanded us to witness and we ought to obey God rather than men”—Here we have the secret of the apostles’ power. Their obedience to God brought the fullness of the Spirit and the fullness of the Spirit brought power.

c. The response of the court (to Peter’s sermon) (5:33)

Peter’s sermon and His defiance of the court’s command to cease teaching in Jesus’ name infuriated the court and they plotted to slay the apostles.

d. The advice of Gamaliel (to the court members after the apostles had been taken from the room) (5:34–39)

Gamaliel, a disciple of Hillel and an instructor of Saul (Paul), ,

counseled “let these men alone, leave them in the hands of God. If this new movement is of men, it will come to nothing but if it is of God, you can’t stop it.” Gamaliel’s advice summarized was “wait and see.”

e. The action of the court (5:40)

They heeded Gamaliel’s advice not to slay the apostles. Then they beat the apostles, commanded them to speak no more in Jesus’ name, and released them.

5. The post-trial activities of the apostles (5:41, 42)

5. The post-trial activities of the apostles (5:41, 42)

a. They rejoiced—They rejoiced that God had counted them worthy of suffering shame for Jesus (this was their first physical suffering for Christ’s sake).

b. They kept on preaching and teaching Jesus—They kept on obeying God rather than men, preaching and teaching Jesus daily in the temple and in private homes.

Have you ever felt intimindated in telling others about Christ?

Do you fear the laws of the land, what we believed, God’s instruction of how we are to live and teach our children can often be wrongly inturpted.

Go, stand, and proclaim the words of life.