Nothings gets in God's Way
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Caught, released, caught again
Caught, released, caught again
Back in Acts 4
Previously, the apostles were arrested and brought before the council:
And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
He had sympathy for their ignorance:
“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
They were told not to speak again of Jesus, but answered:
Acts 5:
But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,
But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
So they were released:
And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.
And got back to it, with the help of the Holy Spirit, as we saw last time:
Acts 4:
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
We talked about their perseverance:
Lead on the Spirit
Spoke the Truth
Prayed for Boldness
Redoubled their efforts
Stay out of God’s way!
Stay out of God’s way!
And so we come to the consequence:
Acts 5:17-22
But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
They are again arrested and imprisoned, in the public prison, where everyone could see their ‘shame’. But this time God is not going to let it get in the way so He sends an Angel to release them and put them straight back to work! We’re going to see this happen again in , where the angel escalates again and actually breaks them out leading to the sentries being put to death. Be careful, of getting in the way of God’s message!
And look at how the Angel describes the message, “the words of this Life”. Christ came to bring Life!
The apostles get straight back to work, unlike the Sanhedrin who end up looking pretty stupid, and afraid.
So Peter preaches to them again, and this time he knows they don’t act in ignorance:
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 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.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Look how the Sanhedrin do not want to be labelled with murdering Jesus, they are afraid, “and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter doesn’t let them off the hook, “Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.” Peter is alluding to God’s law:
“And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.
and describing that Jesus was punished in the way God prescribed for sin, hence the Crucifixion is a valid payment for our sins.
Who do you obey?
Who do you obey?
The Sanhedrin assert their authority “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name”. Peter has no doubt who he obeys, “We must obey God rather than man”, because they know the truth of what they are preaching and the reality of the Holy Spirit “whom God has given to those who obey him.”
How do the leader react?
Acts 5:33-
When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 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. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 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. 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. 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; 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, 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. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
They’re enraged, but they are cautioned by Gamaliel, a teacher, who we shall meet again:
“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.
He reminds them of the danger of getting in God’s way if it is true, “but if it is God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!”.
What does this tell us of the truth of the Gospel?
Nothing get’s in God’s way!