The Danger Of Neutrality

The Disciples Imprisoned (vv. 17-32)

This is a good representation of what is happening today(v.17)

They were filled with jealousy

jealousy n. — a greedy or prideful longing for something that belongs to other; even something intangible, such as a skill.

It was because of this jealousy the Sadducees had the apostles jailed.

The reasons they wanted the Gospel of Jesus Christ silenced is because it did not line up with the teachings that were customary and beyond that, acceptance of Christ meant not only change on a personal level but also the loss of status and authority

to fall under the authority of Christ meant to serve instead of being served

The difference in the Sadducees and Pharisees is that they help firm to the old covenant as where society today holds to anything as long as it is self serving.

Man is free to choose the truth that best suits him and the reality of the matter must adjust accordingly

The Angel of the Lord opened the gates and released the men

They immediately return to sharing the Gospel

They were brought before the High Preist

The apostles proclaimed loyalty to God (v. 29)

Gamaliel’s council

b. do nothing

Makes reference to Theudas

Biblical Relevance

Theudas appears in the book of Acts in the context of Peter and the other apostles’ trial before the Sanhedrin (). In response to Peter and the apostles’ refusal to stop teaching in Jesus’ name, the Sanhedrin “were enraged and wanted to kill them” ( NRSV). However, the Pharisee Gamaliel reminds the Sanhedrin that if the apostles’ mission is of human origin, it will fail, whereas if it is of divine origin, there will be no stopping it (). As an example he mentions the failed revolutionary Theudas, who managed to persuade “a number of men, about four hundred” to follow him, “but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared”

In saying that Theudas was killed he was saying in the same sense that Jesus was killed

In using Theudas as the example, Gamaliel was painting the standing for Christ as a failing effort that given time would just go away.

In using Theudas as the example, Gamaliel was painting the standing for Christ as a failing effort that given time would just go away.

He was telling the Religious leaders just do nothing when it comes to the matter of Jesus and He will just die out and go away

While from an overall standpoint this may have seemed to be good advise, from the individual standpoint, a person cannot take a neutral standpoint when it comes to dealing with Jesus.

When it comes to dealing with Jesus, there is no such thing as being neutral. You either accept or deny Christ and an acct of neutrality equates to an act of rejection.