Daily Thoughts from Acts: Joy Despite Persecution (Acts 5:12-42)

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.

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.”

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.  (Acts 5:12-42 ESV)

The miracles are drawing the multitudes and the multitudes are being told that they allowed their Messiah to be crucified.  In jealousy and in anger at being held guilty for Jesus’ death, the high priest and Sadducees have all the apostles put in public jail.  But before they can bring them before the council of the Sanhedrin another miracle occurs.  An angel of God releases them and commands them to continue preaching and those guarding them aren’t even aware of it.

When the council finds them and brings them into judgment they remind the apostles of the Sanhedrin’s strict charge not to preach in Jesus’ name.  The response is not to the Sanhedrin’s liking.  God’s authority is higher than the Sandhedrin’s in this case and they refuse to obey the council and further charge the council with killing Jesus.  Jesus, they say, is at God’s right hand offering repentance and forgiveness to Israel, neither of which the council thinks it needs.

With it clear that a death sentence is following, Gamaliel, a rabbi who taught Saul of Tarsus (who later becomes a follower of Jesus), warns that if this movement is of God there is nothing the council can do to stop it but if not it will die out.  Strangely, his argument initially suggests that killing the leaders will lead to the followers dispersing, but the council decides to beat the apostles and release them, charging them pointlessly to stop teaching in Jesus’ name.

It is an honor to be persecuted for Jesus.  That is the mindset of the apostles.  They are suffering the same opposition as Jesus, their Master, did, which means they are considered to be like Jesus, something they aspire to.  Shouldn’t that be my mindset, also?  Yes, there is something to dread in the way people can bring pain and suffering into your life because of your beliefs, but can I also rejoice at being counted so worthy?

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12, ESV)

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.  They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”  Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. (Revelation 6:9–11, ESV)