Time Will Tell
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This morning we are picking back up in our study of the book of Acts.
If you’re new to our church, it would be good for you to know that we practice a form of preaching called Expository Preaching.
What that means is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking books of the Bible and then studying them from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, in order to understand what they mean in our lives today.
With that said, we are currently doing that through the NT book of Acts. A book that was written to tell the story of how the church started, but more importantly to teach us how the church is meant to function in order to accomplish the mission of taking the gospel to the entire world. A mission that Jesus himself gave to the church.
So, if you haven’t been with us, I would encourage you to go online to MCF.LIFE where you can listen to all of the messages leading up to today.
As we come back to out study today, we are coming to the end of chapter 5 as Luke wraps up the second act of persecution on the early church.
A persecution that came by way of a religious group known as the Sadducees. A religious body that was greatly concerned and threatened by the growth and popularity of the early church.
Why were they threatened? Primarily for two reasons.
First, the message of the church ran contrary to the theology of the Sadducees. The Sadducees didn’t believe in life after death. They believed when you’re dead your dead. Game over. That’s why they are Sadducee. But the early church was teaching the resurrection of the dead. Back in chapter 4 Luke writes:
1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
Acts 4:1-
But the early church was teaching the resurrection of the dead.
This then led to a second problem. In addition to teaching the resurrection of the dead, they were teaching that Jesus is the promised redeemer of Israel and savior of mankind, and that if a person wants to have eternal life, they need to put their faith in Jesus. And it was a message that threatened the political stability of the region.
A message in the minds of the Sadducees that threatened the political stability of the region. Largely because the Sadducees had a political agreement with the Roman government. An agreement that gave the Sadducees extensive power and control in exchange for their commitment to keep the Jewish people submissive to the Roman government.
Why? Because the Sadducees had a political agreement with the Roman government. And the agreement was as long as the Sadducees kept the Jewish people in check, Rome would give the Sadducees extensive power and control.
And herein lies the problem. Because if the people begin to think there is a redeemer. If they start to believe that they could be delivered from Roman occupation, this hope could unravel the agreement the Sadducees have with Rome causing them to lose their power and influence.
As a result, the Sadducees were bent on getting rid of the church and its politically destructive message, which in chapter 5 led to the arrest of two key disciples, Peter and John.
But as we learned, the plot to arrest and publically humiliate the disciples went south on the Sadducees. Because Luke says during the night an angel came into the prison and set the disciples free. As a result, Peter and John went back to preaching the message of Jesus.
And now the Sadducees have a bigger problem on their hands. Because not only are the disciples out preaching again, but their supernatural escape from prison has emboldened the people. And now the Sadduccees fear for their own safety. Luke writes:
26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
Acts 5
Luke says recognizing their plan failed, the Sadducees are fearful a forceful attempt to subdue the disciples may lead to their own demise. So, they decide to take a different approach. Now, instead of forcing the disciples to come to them, they invite them to come.
And as we learned last week, this provided an amazing opportunity for Peter and John to now defend and share the message of Jesus with a group of people who desperately needed to hear it.
And that’s exactly what they did. So, what did Peter and John say to the Sadducees? Not what they wanted to hear. Because in a Christ like and respectful manner, Peter and John told them the truth. Listen to how Luke describes what they said:
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you 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 Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Acts 5:27-
Luke says while respectful, the disciples didn’t hold anything back as they presented them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As they told them they were guilty of sin. As they told them that God had provided a savior for their sins. And then pointed them to Jesus who is able to provide forgiveness for their sin.
So, how did the Sadducees respond? Well, we’ll get that in a minute, but before we do, and in order to get our minds around what we are about to read, I’d like to begin by asking you to consider a possible scenario you may have experienced at some point in your life when facing a conflict.
And the scenario goes something like this.
So, in order to paint a picture of what we are about to read, I want to begin by asking you
Scenario: How many of you have ever been in a situation where you presented an argument or you took a position on something where you believed or knew you were right and the person or party opposing you was wrong?
For example, maybe as a parent, you’ve been in a situation where you were trying to instruct your child or teenager on an aspect of life that you knew to be true, but they were pushing back refusing to listen or believe you.
Any moms or dads ever been in a situation like that?
I think we probably all have. So, let me ask you this. When you’ve been in a situation like that, how did your child or teenager respond as you insisted you were right and they were wrong?
Well, more than likely they pushed back and got upset, right? So, why did they get upset? Possibly for a couple of reasons.
Number 1, they might have got up set because they knew you were right, but they didn’t want to admit it. So instead of admitting you might be right, they got angry instead.
And I think a lot of us do that, right? Somebody makes a valid point, and we know they’re right, but we don’t want to admit it, so we get angry. I see that happen a lot in marriages.
Or number 2, they might of got upset because they actually believed you were wrong and they were right. And because you insisted on being right, they responded by getting angry and upset. I think that happens a lot as well.
Again,
But regardless of why they got upset, at the end of the day they were upset or angry because you insisted they you were right and they were wrong. And the truth is, the more you insisted on it, the uglier the situation became and the angrier they got.
But regardless of why they got upset, at the end of the day they were upset or angry because you insisted they were wrong and you were right and vice versa. And the truth is, the more you insisted you were right and they were wrong, the angrier they became.
And as a result, the conversation didn’t end well with each of you leaving the conversation frustrated, discouraged, and angry.
We’ve all been there, right?
Now, let me ask you this, in a situation like that, when you can’t get somebody to see the truth, how does a situation like that get resolved?
Well, it could get resolved if the opposing party were willing to conceded admit they were wrong. For example, the child admits they were wrong. Or the parent admits they were wrong. Or the husband admits they were wrong. Or the wife, well, that’s probably not going to happen. I’m just kidding.
Or it could be resolved if a third party were to get involved and helped each side come to an agreement or understanding as they help each side or one side see reason or truth. That’s another possibility.
But what if I told you there is another way to resolve it. A way that without a doubt determines who was in the wrong and who was in the right. A way that doesn’t involve somebody admitting they were wrong. A way that doesn’t involve a third party or a counselor. What if I told you there is an absolute with out a shadow of a doubt way to determine who is right and who is wrong. Would you be interested in knowing what they way is?
So, what is that way? What I’d like to suggest to you is that he best determiner of who is in the right and who is wrong is TIME. TIME.
Because the truth is, given enough TIME in any situation, somebody is going to be proved right and somebody is going to be proved wrong. That’s true, right?
For example. Let’s say the argument between you and your teenager has to with them doing well in school and getting good grades. And as a parent your position is, “Working hard and doing well in school lays the groundwork for future success.” And there’s a lot of truth to that statement. But your teenager doesn’t agree with you. They think school is a waste of time and as a result give minimal effort.
Now, let me ask you this. As a parent, what is on your side and what is going to prove that your position on school and grades is right? Time will, right? Because if your teenager doesn’t listen to you, in time they’re going to discover through personal experience and consequences that you were right, and they were wrong.
I love what one parent once told me. They told me it’s not until about age 25 that your kids finally realize you weren’t stupid. Why? Because time, personal experience, and consequences have taught them that mom and dad might have known what they were talking about.
So, where am I going with this? I ask you to consider this scenario, because in many ways, that’s how the sharing your faith with an opponent works. Because the truth is, convincing somebody they are a sinner and that they need to put their faith in Jesus could lead to a difficult conversation.
A conversation that may lead to an argument.
A conversation that may lead to somebody getting angry.
A conversation you may result in you having to walk away a little beat up and agreeing to disagree.
And that can be discouraging. Especially if the argument is with somebody you really care about.
So, how do we overcome such arguments? How do we eventually convince somebody of their need for Jesus? How do we prove that our position is right? How do we walk away when there doesn’t seem to be any resolve?
What I’d like to suggest to you is in most cases it will be time.
So, to help us see how this works, here’s what I want to do this morning:
First, I want to read through our passage, because in our text this morning, the disciples are facing such a challenge.
Second, I want to go back through the passage and look at two specific responses we can expect from people who oppose our faith. And then I want to look at how we can confidently respond and rejoice regardless of how our opponent responds.
Finally, I want to end by determining how this understanding of sharing our faith applies to our lives.
With that said, let’s pick back up in as disciples get push back from their opponents after telling them their need for Jesus.
Beginning in verse 33, Luke writes:
So,
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
Acts 5:
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
==
Acts 5:
Luke says after Peter and John share the gospel with their opponents, there are two responses from two different groups. So, let’s take a look at the first response and the first group. And I would state the first response like this. When you share your faith:
Some people are going to infuriated by the truth.
Luke writes:
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
The first response Luke addresses is that of the Sadducees. And Luke says they weren’t just a little upset at what Peter and John had said, but that they were “enraged”.
The word “enraged” here is translated from the Greek word “diaprio”. It’s the idea that they were “sawn in two”. In other words, they were infuriated. To the point that they now wanted to kill them.
Another way to say it would be, “They were filled with rage”.
And to be honest, this is a response we need to be prepared for when sharing our faith. Because the message of the gospel is offensive. The message of the gospel calls people actions, behaviors, and beliefs into question. And the fact of the matter is, not everybody responds well to that.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
So, why don’t they respond well? Why do they get so upset? The Apostle Paul gives us some insight into this. Listen to what he says about people who refuse to accept God’s truth. Writing in he says:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Paul says people who adamantly oppose God’s truth, oppose it because they would rather live life by their own standards and beliefs. That’s why he says, “they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.”
In other words, instead of putting their hope in God, they have put their hope in what the world offers and what they believe to be true. And they do it even though the truth about God is obvious because God has made himself plainly known to them through various means. In other words, just look around, its obvious there is a divine creator. But they deny it.
This then leads to some really poor decision. Because Paul goes on to say:
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Paul says because they followed their own passions, they exchanged the truth for a lie, and now their lives are full of all kinds of evil desires as they pursue sinful passions. Paul then gives us an example of what he’s talking about. Listen to what he says:
25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Paul says exchanging the truth for a lie eventually leads you to denying nature itself as he gives us the example of lesbianism and homosexualism.
But it doesn’t end with the physical, Paul says exchanging the truth for a lie affects the mind as well. Listen to what he goes on to say about the mental state of people who reject truth. Picking up in verse 28 of , Paul writes:
Because Paul says when you give yourself to the lie, the heart is darkened. And the results aren’t good. Listen to what he goes on to say about people who reject truth. Picking up in verse 28 of , Paul writes:
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Paul says the consequence of refusing truth leads to a dark and demented mind that fills a person’s life with all kinds of evil.
Here’s what we need to understand. When you share your faith with somebody who has continually given themselves to a lie, the truth is going to be offensive. It’s going to cut against the lie they have for years given themselves to. And in that moment, when you expose the lie, what is in their heart is going to come out. The anger is going to come out. The rage is going to come out. The ruthlessness is going to come out.
That’s why our culture gets so upset with Christians today. That’s why we are seeing such an uprise against religious, moral, and ethical beliefs. Because when you point people to truth, it messes with their lifestyle. It messes with their belief system. It unravels the lie that they have given themselves to. And in that moment the rage is released.
That’s why people get upset when you tell them their religious tradition isn’t what saves them.
That’s why people get upset when you tell them they can’t live how they want with no consequences.
The fact is, even when you do it with gentleness and respect, some people are so entrenched in the lie that their not going to handle the truth well.
And the Sadducees are a great example of this as their rage against the truth comes out.
Maybe you’ve experienced that in your life. As a Christian, you’ve tried to share the truth with someone. Maybe you tried to convince a friend that religion doesn’t save but Jesus does. Maybe you’ve tried to convince a co-worker, that if they keep living the way their living, it’s not going to end well. And while you did it with respect and with love, your friend, your family member, or your co-worker didn’t respond well. They got angry. They got upset.
So, how should we respond to their anger? How do we convince them their wrong? We’ll get to that in a moment. But first let’s look at a second response we can expect when sharing our faith with our opponents. Because while some will get angry:
2. Some people are going to be skeptical to the truth, but remain open.
Luke writes:
34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while.
34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,
In this next passage Luke identifies a second religious body that is present at this meeting. A religious group known as the Pharisees. And unlike the Sadduccees, the Pharisees are a little more sympathetic and opened minded to what Peter and John are saying. Why are they more open minded? Basically for two reasons:
First, unlike the Sadducees, the Pharisees believe in the resurrection of the dead and they believed that God was going to send a redeemer for Israel. So, theologically they are on the same page as the disciples.
First, unlike the Sadducees, the Pharisees believe in the resurrection and they believed that God was going to send a redeemer for Israel. Now, the truth is, they aren’t convinced that redeemer was Jesus. In fact, most of them didn’t think Jesus was. But theologically they are on the same page as the disciples. They believe in the resurrection of the dead and an after life.
However, they aren’t convinced that Jesus was the redeemer. In fact, most of them didn’t think Jesus was. Most of them had voted to kill Jesus. But theologically they agree with the disciples. They believe in the resurrection of the dead and an after life. So to that point they are sympathetic.
Second, the Pharisees are more spiritually minded than the Sadducees. In other words, they have a spiritual side to them.
And because they are spiritually minded, they are willing to look at what the disciples are claiming through a spiritual lens. We know this based on how one of the Pharisees responds to the disciples claims about Jesus. A Pharisee by the name of Gamaliel.
So, before we get into what Gamaliel had to say, let’s begin by asking the question, “Who is Gamaliel?”
Well, according to Jewish history, Gamaliel was the leader of the Pharisees from about 25 A.D. - 50 A.D. and was the grandson of one of the most famous Rabbi’s in Jewish history. A rabbi by the name of Hillel. In fact, it might surprise you to know that Jesus himself often quoted and referenced the great rabbi Hillel.
So because of his position and linage, Gamaliel is a man of high esteem and a man who holds great power. That’s why Luke references him as “a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people.” As as a result, when Gamaliel has something to say, everybody listens.
It would be like the way evangelicals viewed Billy Gram when he was alive. Or how Catholics view the Pope. Because of their power and position, they are held in honor, and when they speak, everybody listens. Same with Gamaliel.
And apparently after listening to the disciples, and after observing the destructive response of the Sadducees, Gamaliel has something to say. But he doesn’t want the disciples to hear it. So Luke says, after standing up to make a statement, he gave orders to have the disciples put outside. Why did he put them outside? We can only speculate. But he probably didn’t want the disciples to think he was at all on their side.
So, what does Gamaliel have to say to the Sadducees? Luke tells us. Picking back up in verse 35 Luke writes:
35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.
35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,
Acts 5:35
Luke says in a moment filled with emotional rage, Gamaliel provides some sound reason and spiritual guidance.
First, he begins with reason as he points to the past and references two instances where individuals who claimed to be the Messiah and redeemer of Israel rose up, gathered followers, but then came to nothing.
He begins first with a man named Theudas, and he says, “You all remember who Theudas was, right? Remember how he claimed to be somebody and gathered about 400 men to follow him. But then he was killed and all his followers came to nothing.”
“Or how about Judas the Galilean who rose up. Remember him? He too claimed to be somebody and gathered followers. But like Theudas he perished as well and his followers were scattered.”
So, why is Gamaliel brining up these false redeemers from the past? What’s his angle? Luke tell us. Because Gamaliel goes on to say:
Acts 5:38
38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail;
You see what Gamaliel is trying to help the Sadducees see is if they are just patient, more than likely history will repeat itself. And just like Theudas and his movement, and Judas and his movement failed, this movement will have its end as well. And while he doesn’t say it, what Gamaliel is implying to the Sadducees is, “Look guys, just like Theudas and Judas, their leader, Jesus, is already dead. We killed him. So more than likely it’s just a matter of time before his followers come to nothing as well.”
In other words, “Chill out guys. Like other radical movements, this one will die out as well.”
So, that’s Gamaliel’s voice of reason. But he doesn’t stop there, because he has some spiritual advice to give as well. Because he goes on to say:
39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,
Acts 5:
Here’s where see the spiritual side of Gamaliel, and the side he probably didn’t want the disciples to see, as he now warns the Sadducees of the spiritual consequences that could come for them. Because while it appears this Jesus movement is just another fad like other failed movements in the past, if it’s not, and if it really is of God, then they may find themselves guilty of opposing God. In other words, if Jesus is who they claim He is, then you wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of that.
So, bottom line, what Gamaliel is really saying is, “Guys, you need to chill out and let time run its course. Because time will determine the truth. Time will prove if this movement is of man or if it is of God. So, let’s just sit back and see what happens. Let’s remain skeptical and just wait and see if God is in this or not.
And apparently Gamaliel’s words calmed the Sadducees down. Because Luke says after listening to Gamaliel, “they took his advice.”
Here’s what this is saying to us. When you share your faith, there are going to be people who are open to what you have to say, but will remain skeptical to your claims. People who are going to want to think about, process, observe, and see how what you claim about faith in Jesus plays out.
To be honest, I think that’s how a lot of people in our community view and have responded to our church. Yes, there are some totally and completely opposed to our message. People who wish we would go away. People who wish MCF would fall off the map.
However, there are many in our community who are open but skeptical. People who are waiting to see before they make a decision.
Waiting to see if MCF continues to grow.
Waiting to see if the excitement dies down.
Waiting to see if the contemporary approach is just a fad.
Waiting to see if the excitement of a new building is going to eventually wear off.
Waiting to see if people who attend MCF really experience spiritual and life change.
Waiting to see if this Jesus thing is going to survive the test of time.
So, if that’s the case, how should we respond to that? How do we respond to people who are skeptical? Believe it or not, we respond in the same way we would to those who are adamantly opposed. Which leads us to our response. A response that Peter and John model for us. And I would state their response like this:
3. Regardless of how people respond, we should rejoice knowing time will prove our faith true.
Picking back up in verse 40, Luke writes:
40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
Acts 5:40
Luke says after the Sadducees decide to listen to Gamaliel’s advice, a couple of things happen that I want you to notice:
First, the disciples are brought back in and they are beat and charged not to speak in the name of Jesus.
So, a good question might be, “If the Sadducees took Gamaliel’s advice, why are they beating and charging the disciples not to preach in the name of Jesus?”
Well, they have to do something to flex their muscles. They can’t just let these guys walk out unscathed. So, since killing them isn’t a good option right now, they take it as far as they can. And so they whip Peter and John with the standard 40 lashes, threaten them to stop preaching Jesus, and set them free.
Here’s the second thing I want you to notice. As they leave beaten and threatened, they rejoice. In other words, they leave this confrontation seeing it as a win. A win that leads them to ignore the threats and continue to preach the gospel even more.
Now, a good question would be, “How in the world do Peter and John see this as a win? How do they continue to preach about Jesus after nearly being beaten to death?”
Two
They are able to do it number 1 because
They are able to do it number 1 because
Here’s how. Notice what Luke says. Luke says they rejoiced because they had suffered as Jesus had suffered. In other words, they had just recieved the same kind of beating that Jesus had recieved. They are being treated exactly like Jesus had been treated.
So, why is that something to rejoice about? Because in the end, Jesus won. In the end, even when they tried to kill him, it didn’t work. In the end, Jesus rose. In the end, Jesus lives. In the end, Jesus is enthroned on high. In the end, when its all said and done, God wins!
Bottom line, they know that time is on their side. They know that their message will eventually prove itself true because they don’t serve a dead savior like Theadus or Judas. No, they serve a living savior. A savior who overcame death, hell, and the grave. A savior named Jesus. And they know that regardless of what the Sadducees and Pharisees do, or really anybody does, nobody is going to be able to stop the gospel from advancing. In time, their message will prove itself true, because they know Jesus isn’t dead, and someday He’s coming back. And when He comes back, everybody is going to know the message is true.
Now, you might be thinking, “Pastor, how do you know that? How do you know time will prove the gospel true?”
I know it for two reasons:
Number 1, because Gamaliel was wrong and right all at the same time. He was wrong in thinking the church was a man made endeavor that would eventually fade out. Because it never did. In fact, as we’re going to see in the book of Acts, the church continued to grow at an unstoppable pace as the gospel spread to the entire known world.
But it didn’t stop there. It continued to spread across continents and centuries as over the past 2000 years millions upon millions of people have put their faith in Jesus. You see, while Gamaliel was wrong about it being a man made endeavor, he as right in saying it might just be a God endeavor as the gospel has continued to grow, spread, and prove itself true. History testifies to that fact.
And number 2, I know it because the Bible says in time God will prove it true. Listen to how John the revelator puts it in :
John the revelator puts it like this in Revelation 1:
7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
John says a day will come when the clouds will break open, Jesus will return, and every eye will see the truth.
And what was true for them, is true for us as well. You see, we don’t have to worry about winning the argument. We don’t have to be discouraged when people or opposed or skeptical of our message. Because the fact of the matter is, time will prove our faith true.
You see, we don’t have to worry about winning the argument. We don’t have to be discouraged when people or opposed or skeptical of our message. Because the fact of the matter is, time will prove our faith true.
So, as we close, a good question would be, “How does this apply to us?”
Well, outside of just giving you some hope and encouragement, which I hope it has, I believe this applies in a few important ways:
Application #1 - If you’re discouraged that somebody you care about is opposed to the gospel, the good news is that time is on your side. In other words, even though their opposed now, given enough time, they may come to faith.
The truth is, we don’t know if any of those Sadducees or Gamaliel ever came to faith. But here’s what we do know. We know that one of Gamaliel’s most famous and dedicated students did. A radical student and Pharisee named Saul.
3 “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated at the feet of Gamaliel according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God as all of you are this day.
And while the Bible doesn’t say Saul was present that day, it’s probably safe to assume he was, because according to the Bible, Saul hated Christians. In fact, as we’re going to learn in chapter 6, Saul was responsible for the first christian martyr.
But as hateful as Saul was towards Christianity, time eventually led Saul to faith in Jesus. As one day Jesus met him on a road to Damascus. And in that moment, the man who hated Christianity more than anyone at that time on the planet, Saul put his faith in Jesus, and literally became a different person. So much so, that he changed his name from Saul to Paul, and became the greatest Christian and author of the NT.
You see, regardless of how your friend, family member, or co-worker responds, it’s not hopeless, there’s still time for God to work. There’s still time for them to see the truth.
This leads to a second application.
Application #2 - The fact of the matter is, if you want your friend, co-worker, or family member to come to faith in Jesus, to some degree it could rest on your witness.
Because the truth is, if their opposed or skeptical, it may be your ongoing witness that proves to them that what your saying is true or issn’t true. In other words, you’re going to be the living example to them of whether Jesus is legitimate or not as they watch your life in Christ unfold. And the question about you for them will be:
“Are they just hyped up right now or has something spiritually significant really happened? Is this just a fad their into or is this something real and lasting? Do they really believe Jesus is their savior, or is it just a band wagon they’ve jumped onto? Has their life really changed, or are they living the same way they always have? Is what they are saying really true or are they just putting on a show?
Here’s how I know. Because Gamaliel was wrong and right all at the same time. He was wrong in thinking the church was a man made endeavor that would eventually fade out. Because it never did. In fact, as we’re going to see in the book of Acts, the church continued to grow at an unstoppable pace as the gospel spread to the entire known world.
And guess what, time will tell. Time will tell if you really believe what you say you believe as you live out your faith or don’t live it out. Because the fact is, your friends, family members, and co-workers are watching you. And some of them are waiting to see if the work in you is of man or of God.
You see, what bothers me the most is when somebody claims to be a Christian, starts telling everybody how God has changed them, and then in a few weeks, a few months, maybe a year, they’re back to living their old life as they fail the test of time, and in doing so push people further away from the truth.
But it didn’t stop there. It continued to spread across continents and time as over the past 2000 years millions upon millions of people have put their faith in Jesus. No, it didn’t die out like Theadus’s or Judas’s movement. It continued to grow, continued to spread, continued to prove itself true.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be the person that pushes somebody further from Jesus. I want my life to be an example of the truth. I want my life to be a living illustration of what happens when a person puts their faith in Jesus. 5 years from now, 10 years from now, 20 years from now, I want people to be able to look at my life and say, “What Brad told me about Jesus must be true, because I’ve watched it play out in his life.”
So, as we close this morning, I’d like to leave you with three questions to consider:
Question 1: If somebody were to look at your life from the time you put your faith in Jesus until now, would the testimony of your life lead them to accept the truth?
In other words, after watching your faith play out over time, would they be able to say, “Maybe there is something to what they believe. Because I thought by now it would fade. I thought by now they’d be back to their old ways. I thought by now this Jesus thing would have run its course. But it hasn’t. After all this time, they’re still living for Jesus. They’re still changing. They’re becoming what I wish I could become. Maybe, what they told me is true. Maybe I need to put my faith in Jesus.”
Question 2: If you don’t think somebody would be able to say that about your faith, then why not? What is keeping you from living out the truth in your life? What truth have you exchanged for a lie? What sinful behavior, attitude, or action have you allowed into your life? What is keeping you from walking in truth and displaying the truth of what Jesus can do?
My challenge for you is to ask the Lord to help you identify what is keeping you from walking in truth. And to turn from the lie, and start walking in truth once again.
Question 3: Maybe you’re hear today, and the fact is, you’ve never accepted the truth. You’ve never put your faith in Jesus.
Maybe you’ve been opposed to it or maybe you’ve just been skeptical. But regardless, you haven’t accepted the truth about Jesus.
My challenge for you today is to stop opposing God. To maybe for the fist time consider that what the Bible says is true. Because the fact of the matter is, you only have a certain amount of time to decide that. Because a day is coming when your time will run out. It will run out when you die or Jesus returns, and guess what, you don’t know when either of those times are. So, the clock is ticking. And more than anything God wants you to turn from the lie the world has been feeding you and turn to the truth. To turn to his Son. And today could be that day for you.
Here’s the bottom line. The greatest defense of our faith won’t come through words, but through the testimony of our life over time. That’s what people are going to watch. That’s what will lead many of them to the truth. And that’s why we can rejoice. Because we know Jesus isn’t dead, He’s alive. We know He’s coming back. We know time is on our side, and one day Jesus will return, and all will see the truth. But for that to be a day we rejoice in, we have to have accepted the truth.
Let’s Pray
10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
Acts 5:
‘Thus says the king, “Put this fellow in prison and feed him meager rations of bread and water, until I come in peace.”’” 28 And Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” (ESV)
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