Acts 5:17-42
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Introduction
Introduction
Peter and John had already stood before the Sanhedrin.
The Sanhedrin’s verdict was clear and unmistakable - Acts 4:18 “And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”
The Apostles believe the name of Jesus was the key that unlocked the door of salvation.
Everything they were doing was done in the name of Jesus
Baptized in the name of Jesus - Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
They healed in the name of Jesus - Acts 3:6 “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”
Their authority came in the name of Jesus - Acts 4:10 “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.”
Signs and wonders done in the name of Jesus - Acts 4:30 “By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.”
In short, the Sanhedrin wanted to shut the operation down.
As clear and unmistakable of the Sanhedrin’s verdict, was Peter’s answer - Acts 4:19 “But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.”
The ruling that had the most weight in Peter’s life was God’s word and calling, not the Sanhedrin’s verdict.
Points to the value of be filled with the Spirit of God - Acts 4:8 “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,”
After returning to the church, the church prayed - Acts 4:29-30
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
The signs and wonders authenticated the message.
As aspect of the signs and wonders was the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira.
The signs and wonders
created fear amongst the people
Help purify church growth
People came from all over Israel for healing - not salvation
All the healing would have been done in the name of Jesus and the healing would have been a foundation for the Apostles to preach in the name of Jesus. In short, the name of Jesus was not just being preached in Jerusalem but by extension of people coming from all over Israel to be healed, was being preached nationally.
The Sadducees anger - Acts 5:17-18
The Sadducees anger - Acts 5:17-18
Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
The Sanhedrin was made up rulers, elders and scribes. This makeup was divided into 2 parties - Sadducees and Pharisees. The Sadducees made up 2/3 of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was led by the High Priest. The priestly office was largely Sadducee. They controlled the narrative and verdicts.
Seeing they were in control, they took the action of the Apostles very serious.
The High Priest and Sadduccees were filled with indignation
The word indignation speaks of red hot passion.
It is the same word translated “envy” in Acts 13:45 “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.”
James Boice Montgomery - "They were jealous of Jesus because it was His Name, rather than theirs, that was being proclaimed. They were also jealous of the apostles because they were preaching powerfully and doing miracles and because people were following them. The religious leaders wanted both of these things: They wanted to be well known, to have a “name” among the people; and they wanted people to follow them.
One commentary speaks of the word “indignation” in this way: “religiously motivated rage.”
They were filled with indignation because they were quickly losing power.
The church threatened the entire establishment that was controlled by the Sadduccees.
A good question to ask was why were the Sadduccees threatened with he name of Jesus by these unlearned and ignorant men?
The Sanhedrin gave an answer - but the answer was just the surface - Acts 5:28 “Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
What is underneath the surface?
The Gospel of Jesus Christ frees people from this control
John 8:32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:36 “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
William MacDonald - True Holy Spirit ministry invariably leads to conversion on the one hand and bitter opposition on the other.
With that as the context, we can better understand why the High Priest and the Sadduccees were filled with indignation - Acts 5:17 “Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,”
Whatever you are filled with influences our thoughts and decisions.
Their attitude effected their actions - Acts 5:18 “And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.”
Life Application Commentary - DANGER! TROUBLE AHEAD! The apostles experienced power to do miracles, great boldness in preaching, and God's presence in their lives, yet they were not free from hatred and persecution. They were arrested, put in jail, beaten, and slandered by community leaders. Faith in God does not make troubles disappear; it makes troubles appear less frightening because it puts them in the right perspective. Don't expect everyone to react favorably when you share something as dynamic as your faith in Christ. Some will be jealous, afraid, or threatened. Expect some negative reactions, and remember that you must be more concerned about serving God than about the reactions of people
The Sovereigns Answer
The Sovereigns Answer
Typically, I love debates. Although, I am finding little joy in today’s political debates:
A moderator’s questions are framed by their bias world view.
A moderator’s purpose is not to come up with their own questions.
Politicians do not answer all the questions.
However, I tend to enjoy debates on theology. The moderators does not ask questions, but provides an agreed upon proposition to be discussed and ensures both parties stay within the rules, usually, there is an affirmation and rebuttal.
In our text, the proposition is “silence the teaching and preaching in the name of Jesus.” The Sanhedrin, controlled by the Sadduccees affirmed this position by arresting them and - Acts 5:28 “Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
God gives a rebuttal. God’s rebuttal annuls the affirmation of the Sanhedrin. God’s rebuttal annuls the affirmation of the world.
God’s rebuttal - Acts 5:19-21 “But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.”
God sent an angel to release them from prison.
The rebuttal starts with the word “but.”
When it comes to God, the word “but” is a game changer
Romans 5:7-8 “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Consider Jacob fleeing from Laban in Genesis 31.
Genesis 31:7 “And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.”
Genesis 31:23-24 “And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead. And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.”
Genesis 31:41-42 “Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times. Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.”
Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”
Matthew 19:25-26 “When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
2 Chronicles 20:15 “And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
1 Samuel 23:14 “And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.”
Psalms 73:26 “My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”
Jonah 2:6 “I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; The earth with her bars was about me for ever: Yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God.”
Acts 3:15 “And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.”
is Luke contrasting? In one moment they were put into prison by the hands of man, but they were put out the next moment by the hand of God through His messenger an angel.
Don't you love the irony here! The Sadducees did not believe angels (Acts 23:8), and yet here Luke describes an angel freeing the apostles from prison! God's Spirit has a sense of humor!
Psalms 34:7 “The angel of the Lord encampeth Round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.”
A story appeared Moody Bible Institute’s devotional magazine Today in the Word, (October, 1991, p. 18), the story of John Paton, who was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands.
• One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them.
• Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them.
• When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers leave.
• A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, "Who were all those men with you there?"
• Paton knew no men were present--but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station.
Margaret Nikol was born into a pastor’s family in Bulgaria. Her mother and father were murdered for their faith by the communists in the 1960s. Margaret was a brilliant violinist, and in spite of opposition she got an excellent education. She achieved fame throughout Europe and became concertmaster of the Dresden Symphony. But because of her faith in Christ, she was subjected to physical and emotional cruelty. Eventually, she was given a prison sentence—to begin as soon as the concert season was over.
But God had other plans. Margaret was invited to play in Vienna at an Easter concert in 1982. The communists repeatedly denied permission, but finally, because of outside pressure, they relented. “God was faster than they were,” testifies Margaret. In Vienna she requested political asylum, and no less than five free nations offered it! Today, Margaret Nikol travels all over the world in behalf of a growing ministry in Bulgaria.
The same God who delivered Margaret from communist oppression, and who sent an angel to free the apostles from prison (Acts 5:19), can also rescue us from whatever is holding us captive—physically or spiritually. We must never give up hope! God is our great deliverer.
God does not always deliver but always has the final say.
Matthew was beheaded with a sword.
Mark died in Alexandria after being dragged through the streets of the city.
Luke was hanged on an olive tree in Greece.
John died a natural death, but they unsuccessfully tried to boil him in oil.
Peter was crucified upside-down in Rome.
James was beheaded in Jerusalem.
James the Less was thrown from a height then beaten with clubs.
Philip was hanged.
Bartholomew was whipped and beaten until death.
Andrew was crucified and preached at the top of his voice to his persecutors until he died.
Thomas was run through with a spear.
Jude was killed with the arrows of an executioner.
Matthias was stoned and then beheaded – as was Barnabas.
Paul was beheaded in Rome.
The charge
With freedom comes responsibility
Every “but” in the Bible has a purpose.
Their purpose was to go to the gates of Hell and preach in the name of Jesus - Acts 5:20 “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”
The “life” that God had in mind.
3 Greek words in the New Testament translated “life”
Bios - Luke 8:14 “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”
Psuche - Matthew 16:25 “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
Zoe - John 1:4 “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”
The “life” that God wants them to preach about is “Zoe.” They were to say everything they could about the life of Jesus Christ and Eternal life.
They were to preach in the very place the Sadduccees control the name of Jesus.
The narrative opens up with the High Priest standing in opposition to the Gospel. Here, God wants them to stand their ground in support of the Gospel.
Their obedience - Acts 5:21 “And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.”
COMMANDS THAT BRING CRISIS - The angel of the Lord gave the apostles a command that, when followed, would lead to a brutal flogging. If that strikes you as odd, it is probably because of the prevailing idea among many believers that obedience inevitably leads to blessing (defined as "a problem-free, blissful existence"). Serious students of the Bible know, however, that obeying God often results in pain and suffering. They also recognize that being persecuted for Christ is a deeper kind of blessing. What biblical commands, if obeyed, might result in discomfort for you today? Will you commit to live them out anyway? (Life Application Bible Commentary – Acts)
No hesitation. No vacillation. No statements like "Maybe we should pray about it first." Sometimes God's will is obvious and our response should be simply to obey.
“and taught” imperfect tense - they continued teaching - over and over again.
Conclusion
Conclusion
God’s rebuttal that provides freedom brings responsibility
Margaret Nikol: When I came here [to the United States], I had two most prized possessions: I had my violin, and I had one page from God’s Bible—only one page. Probably you would ask me why didn’t I buy myself a Bible. In our country, we did not have it.
The Communists took power, and they confiscated God’s Word from churches, and hymnals. They went to houses and confiscated the Bibles available in our country. How did I get my page? A lady from our church, she was reading her Bible one night, and she overheard when the police came talking at the door to her husband that they wanted to confiscate her Bible. And she thought, “No, never my Bible,” and she sat on it.
And they looked for hours in her house, everywhere, but not under her skirt; and there was the Bible. Then she came to church and tearing it page, by page, by page, she shared with us her Bible with tears in her eyes. With all respect to God’s Word, Pastor Woodall, I was so happy I didn’t get one from the Numbers. I had a very good page—Genesis 16 and 17. The promise of God to give Abraham and Sarah a son.
And here I was in this country, and it was close to Christmas when I came. The second Sunday when I went to the same very small church, next to me sat an old couple. It turned out they were German immigrants after the first World War. So, we able to communicate in German, and I told them I am ten days in America.
I was so excited when they said, “We would like to give you a Christmas present. What would you like?” Probably they thought I would say, “Let’s go shopping till we drop.” I didn’t. Do you know why? Because I was twelve when I got my page [of the Bible] and for twenty-five years I prayed, “Lord, I so want to have your Word.”
And when they asked me, I said, “If possible, I would like to have a Bible.” They said, “Oh, honey, this is America; Bibles are available. You can have it.” So the next morning they came, and they brought me to the Bible bookstore. And can you picture me—the woman with one page for her entire life—getting into that Bible bookstore and seeing all the shelves—black, blue, green, brown, and red Bibles.
I stood there in the middle of that bookstore and wept and cried. I couldn’t believe that after so many years, prayers God will answer. I got a Bible and hugged it to my chest; and I wept, and I wept. My friends, it was joyful, and then it became sorrow. First I thought of my brother. He was a pastor in Bulgaria, having a fifteen hundred-people church and preached from couple of pages copied by his own hand, and so were the others. No Bibles.
And I said, “But Lord, what about them? What about them? If they could all come here, and You could send Bibles.” That is why I so respect all the missions, Brother Andrew and the others, who smuggled Bibles, but they couldn’t smuggle for all of us. I made the covenant with God that day. And I said, “Father, I am not the man; I am not the preacher; I am not the teacher; I am not the evangelist; I am a musician and a woman on top of that. What can You do with my life? But You have it.”
And I thank God that He never looks for able people. He looks for available people. I thank Him for that. The first three and a half years I was in a quandary. I didn’t know what to do. I was professor of music and gave concerts, and then the call came, and I gave up everything and started traveling to raise funds for Bibles.
In 1993 I was in Bulgaria, back with 10,000 Bibles printed in the country—this very same Bible. The pastors of that country had their first conference in freedom. In that hall when I entered with the Bibles, and with my hand started giving each pastor their first Bible. The joy and the tears and the gratefulness of their hearts, and the prayers which went for you, for the American Christians who send them the Bibles.