The Apostles Persecuted Part 2

HOOK

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s the 8th day of October— another very promising Thursday— say something about the Vice Presidential debate last night

Yesterday right here at “The Message” we saw how the Sanhedrin reacted to the great miracle of Peter and the apostles healing many in the streets of Jerusalem. Filled with jealousy, they arrested them, they were thrown to jail— but they were miraculously freed by an angel and went back to the temple courts telling all the people about their new lives in Christ

After learning all these when the Sanhedrin gathered the next day— the apostles was arrested and brought in for questioning— from that exchange of the words between the high priest and the apostles, we learned:

I WILL GO AND TELL THE PEOPLE ALL ABOUT MY NEW LIFE

I WILL OBEY GOD RATHER THAN HUMAN BEINGS

Let’s see how that discourse went on— open your Bible to ACTS 5:30-42— once you get there, type “let’s finish chapter 5 today”

When reading in advance, whenever you’re studying God’s Word— look for words that defines that CHARACTER of God, COMMANDS to obey, PROMISES to claim, good EXAMPLES to follow and bad examples to avoid, ENCOURAGEMENTS & CHALLENGES to keep you going, reasons to be THANK GOD for, PRAYERS to pray

READ ACTS 5:30-42

BOOK

Acts 5:30–42 NLT

30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. 31 Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. 32 We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. 34 But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while. 35 Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! 36 Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing. 37 After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered. 38 “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!” 40 The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. 41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”

WHAT: The apostles were persecuted for teaching about Jesus and proclaiming that He is the Messiah

WHERE: Sanhedrin

WHEN: After healing many sick in the streets of Jerusalem

WHO: Apostles, the members of the Sanhedrin including a pharisee named Gamaliel— a teacher of the law of Moses— the teacher of apostle Paul

WHY: Part of the Sanhedrin’s effort to stop the apostles from teaching in the name of Jesus

LOOK

GOD EXALTED TO HIS OWN RIGHT HAND AS PRINCE AND SAVIOR

At this time Jesus already ascended to heaven and seated at right of the Father— He was given the title “Savior” at His birth— LUKE 2:11

THAT HE MIGHT BRING ISRAEL TO REPENTANCE AND FORGIVE THEIR SINS

All of what our Lord Jesus did was to lead Israel to repent and believe

THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO OBEY HIM

How can you obey someone whom you do not believe?— so in other words, the Holy Spirit is given to those who believed

The work of the Holy Spirit is to make the proclamation of the gospel effective and to perform miracles in the Church testifies to the reality of our Lord’s resurrection and salvation in Him

A PHARISEE NAMED GAMALIEL, STOOD UP IN THE SANHEDRIN

He ordered that the apostles be taken outside for a while— he addressed the Sanhedrin saying:

Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men— he reminded them of two similar instances

Theudas appeared claiming to be somebody— and when about four hundred men rallied to him— he was killed

Another man named Judas from Galilee appeared in the days of census and led a band of people in revolt— but he too was killed

THEREFORE, IN THE PRESENT CASE I ADVISE YOU: LEAVE THESE MEN ALONE

Let them go!— and these the core of what Gamaliel said:

IF THEIR PURPOSE OR ACTIVITY IS OF HUMAN ORIGIN, IT WILL FAIL

BUT IF IT IS FROM GOD, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THESE MEN

You will only find yourselves fighting against God, he added

Gamaliel’s speech persuaded them— they called the apostles back in the Sanhedrin— they flogged [beat them], and ordered them again not to speak about Jesus

The apostles left the Sanhedrin rejoicing

DAY AFTER DAY, IN THE TEMPLE COURTS AND FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE

Here you see how the church started— the temple courts did not belong to the church— they met at their houses

THEY NEVER STOPPED TEACHING AND PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS

Despite numerous arrest and warning from the Sanhedrin— they never stop teaching

Here are a couple of things that we can learn and must do

TOOK

THE PURPOSE OF GOD IS UNSTOPPABLE

I WILL NEVER STOP TEACHING AND PROCLAIMING ABOUT JESUS

SING

Anton Aquino— Praise His Name