Things of Man Fade Away

Introduction

Acts 5:12-42

Acts 5:12–42 CSB

12 Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared to join them, but the people spoke well of them. 14 Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers—multitudes of both men and women. 15 As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. 17 Then the high priest rose up. He and all who were with him, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 So they arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple, and tell the people all about this life.” 21 Hearing this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full council of the Israelites—and sent orders to the jail to have them brought. 22 But when the servants got there, they did not find them in the jail; so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 As the captain of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, wondering what would come of this. 25 Someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the commander went with the servants and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them. 27 After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, 28 “Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while. 35 He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re about to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him. 40 After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. 41 Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name. 42 Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Pray

At All Cost

Despite the orders of the Sanhedrin the Apostles continue to preach and do miracles in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. And the apostle are so filled with the Holy Spirit that people are trying just to get into the shadow of Peter. Even his shadow is believed to have power the Holy Spirit is working so strong in him.

This however makes the Sanhedrin jealous. If you remember the Sanhedrin is the governing body of the Jewish people. At this time largely made up by the Sadducees. And they had the apostles arrested again. This time with the desire that they would learn there lesson. But this time the prison doors were opened by God allowing the members to escape. But they don’t run.

They go and preach at the temple. Not something that most criminals would do. They are back where the people who had them arrested hang out and they preach the message of Jesus Christ.

What a testimony preaching in any circumstance. No matter what the opposition. And when the Sanhedrin ask the men to come to them not arresting them by force because the apostles had such a following the crowd would have stone them. In order to be stoned “A court of at least 23 judges would have to be satisfied, to a legal certainty, that the capital offense had been committed by the accused before the court could impose a death sentence. Since the testimony of two eye-witnesses was required, and the witnesses were subjected to searching and detailed interrogation by the court, there was rarely an instance when the evidence met the prescribed legal standard.” In Deuteronomy Stoning took place outside of the town and rocks were thrown at the person until dead. “The Mishna in tractate Sanhedrin (45a) describes execution by “stoning.” The condemned defendant was pushed from a platform set high enough above a stone floor that his fall would probably result in instantaneous death” And then stones were thrown on top of you.

They were amazed cause they didn’t know how they had gotten out of prison. But they were also in their mindset of anger.

We told you not to preach in this name and we told you last time that there would be consequences. Seems like they are thinking about trying to have these men killed.

Peter the Spokesman for the group.

“We must obey God rather than men”

What a statement!! This is a true statement for you and for me. We must obey God rather than man. I believe that it won’t be too much longer before its illegal for me to say that things like Homosexuality is a sin or that divorce is a sin, or that pornography is a sin, or that sex with minors is a sin. It already heading that way in some countries, why not here.

There is a time that we must follow God over men and it is now. But if it isn’t against God then please obey the law. This is why the fight over mask and large church gatherings was and remains such a fight. What is God’s will. What is ok. When do we follow the law and when did the law over step its boundaries. And I am not even talking about a constitutional right. We are not talking about law vs law here we are talking about God’s word in relation with the law.

Peter doesn’t just quit there he accuses the Sanhedrin of killing The Messiah which is true, But as far as the Sadducees were concerned the charge was of contempt of Court. The Disciples were considered intolerable and obstinate, and the The Sadducees were furious and wanted to destroy them.

Under Roman law they couldn’t kill them just as they couldn’t Jesus Christ. But that also didn’t stop Jesus from dying. They could have found some pretext for handing these men over to the Romans for such action.

It’s actually at the intervention of a Pharisee that they were saved. Gamaliel. Same group of people Jesus calls a brood of vipers. Be careful what you do with these men. Theudas rose up He was killed and all who followed him were dispersed. Judas the Galilean rose up. He died and all were scattered.

Gamaliel has already noticed that something is different with this Group. They aren’t scattering. So let them alone if this thing is from man it will fade away. Just like the others. But if it’s not from Man but from God then nothing you can do will Stop them.

This didn’t fall away. Why because it wasn’t of man, It was of God. Thank God that it didn’t just fall way. We can hear the word of God and be saved.

Things of Man

The things of Man will always fade away. Nothing man made will last forever. Time eventually erodes everything. Religion is no different. Doesn’t mean all false religions will go away. Why because they are not all man made But from the master deceiver.

Some accept all religions

One must learn that truth may be expressed in a hundred thousand different ways, and that each of these ways is true as far as it goes. We must learn that the same thing can be viewed from a hundred different standpoints, and yet be the same thing

Swami Vivekananda - Hinduism

Some piggy back on the truth. Such as Mormonism

Some shift the focus of the truth, Islam

But all are not man made, But the craft of the one who wishes to be like God. The master liar, Satan himself.

Christianity is the world’s largest religion with 31.11% of the world’s population claiming to be Christian. However that still means 78% of the world is not Christian. 24.9% is Islamic.

Can be a scary thought but if God is for us who can be against us.

Praise God

Next Steps

The time is now that We have to stand for our beliefs, And practice them. Walking with God. Desiring to Be with God. Walking with Him, Have to listen to God and not man. Never ceasing to preach the resurrected Jesus Christ, In Life, In dead, And In word

Pray

Bibliography

http://www.cjcj.org/uploads/cjcj/documents/comparative_study_0.pdf

Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Book of Judges, Sanhedrin, chapter XII

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religious_populations