Lesson 7 - Acts 5:25-35, 38-42 - IMPRISONMENT AND RELEASE
INTRODUCTION: Last week, in Acts 4:36-37; 5:1-11, Luke reported two events that contrasted examples of good and evil actions by members in the early Jerusalem church. In the first example, a man named Barnabas sold a piece of property and laid the entire proceeds from "at the apostle's feet" to be used for the needs of the poor people in the church. The second example reported the grim story of Ananias and Sapphira, a married couple, who sold a piece of property and represented they were giving the church the full price, when in fact, they had held back a part for themselves. When, the Holy Spirit told Peter they were lying. Peter told them (Ananias first, and Sapphira later), that they were lying to the Holy Spirit, in effect, lying to God, and God stuck both of them dead. As Christians, this lesson taught us that lying to the Holy Spirit-the same as lying to God's face-can be deadly. God might not strike us dead like these two, but He can surely judge us for it in other ways.
This week, in Acts 5:25-35, 38-42, we will find not only Peter and John, but all of the apostles, being arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin. Two weeks ago (in 4:1-13), after healing a man crippled since birth, we saw Peter and John arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin to answer for their preaching of Jesus as the Messiah and the resurrection of the dead. When the Jewish rulers ordered them to stop preaching in the name of Jesus, both Peter and John refused, but because they had committed no crime, they were released. In the verses directly preceding our lesson (5:17-24), the high priest had ordered that all of the apostles be arrested and locked in jail, but during the night, God sent an angel to release them who told them to return to the Temple and continue to teach the people the message of Jesus Christ. The next day, the Temple guards not only found the jail empty, but heard that the apostles were standing in the Temple teaching the people! This is where we come into our text for today.
Read Acts 5:25-26 - THE OFFICERS PROCEEDED TO BRING THEM BACK
25 But someone came and reported to them, "The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!" 26 Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).
v. 25: But someone came and reported to them, "The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!" - When the temple guards found the jail empty, they probably thought the apostles had fled for their lives out into the country; however, they received word that their erstwhile prisoners were actually back in the Temple (not inside the building itself but out in the Temple courts that surrounded it) teaching the message of Jesus Christ!
v. 26: "Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned)." - By this time, the apostles had become so popular with the people that the "captain" and other guards had to be very careful not to create any impression that they might harm them, lest they cause an violent reaction- "that they might be stoned." The apostles had become local celebrities in much the same way that Jesus had been popular with the large crowds that that constantly surrounded Him from place to place during His earthly ministry. And in that way, the Spirit-filled apostles were continuing His work.
Read Acts 5:27-38 - THEY STOOD BEFORE THE COUNCIL
27 When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us."
v. 27a: "When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council." - When rounded-up again, the apostles came along with the captain and his guards peaceably, following Jesus' own example of nonviolence and no retaliation when He was arrested (Luke 22:52-53). At the same time, we understand that even though the Spirit-filled power of the apostles was superior to that of the guards, they offered no resistance because they saw their appearance before the Sanhedrin as giving them another favorable opportunity to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.
v. 27b: "The high priest questioned them," - This was presumably Annas, the same Sadducee high priest who questioned Peter and John in Chap. 4. We need to remember that the Sadducee majority on the Sanhedrin are more opposed to Jesus' teachings than the Pharisee minority, who believe in a Messiah and resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees are more like present day liberal Christians who claim the Bible isn't the inspired Word of God they can modify it to allow lower standards of morality. The chief concern here is the apostles' failure to obey the Sanhedrin's orders. These Jewish rulers wanted to maintain the status quo and are afraid if people refuse to obey their authority, there will be anarchy, which in turn, might cause the Roman authorities to intervene.
v. 28a: "saying, "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching" - This is the first charge that the high priest levels against the apostles: That they have not only defied the Sanhedrin's order of silence but have persisted to the point that they had "filled Jerusalem with your teaching."
v. 28b: "and intend to bring this man's blood upon us." - This is the second charge. Notice first of all that the high priest carefully avoids using Jesus' name, referring to Him as "this man." The apostles have not only taught people about Jesus and the resurrection of the dead, but have also openly accused the Sanhedrin of blood-guilt (i.e., a life for a life) in bringing about Jesus' death.
Read Acts 5:29-32 - WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31 He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."
v. 29a: "But Peter and the apostles answered," - This phrase clarifies that all 12 apostles are under arrest before the Sanhedrin. Peter and John answered for themselves in Chap. 4, but now the all the apostles answer them as a completely unified body.
v. 29b: "We must obey God rather than men." - Similar to Peter's earlier pronouncement in 4:19, all of the apostles declared their responsibility to obey God rather than men, which included the Sanhedrin. However, their purpose is not disobeying official authority (i.e., political insurrection), but obeying the charge God has given them to be witnesses for Jesus Christ. In fact, both Peter and Paul later exhort Christians submit to their civil authorities in matters than don't conflict with their faith, e.g., paying taxes, giving honor and respect due. (1 Pet. 2:13-14; Rom. 3:7).
v. 30a: "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death" - Note the paradox: The Sanhedrin killed Jesus, but God reversed them by raising Him from the dead. And as a further irony, by compelling the apostles to appear before them, the Sanhedrin is giving the apostles yet another golden opportunity to spread the gospel message about Jesus Christ.
v. 30b: "by hanging Him on a cross." - This phrase is derived from OT Law, where God ordered the Israelites to execute persons convicted of capital crimes by hanging them "on a tree." (Deut. 21:22). Therefore, the apostles liken Jesus' death to that of an condemned person in the sense that Jesus took upon Himself all the sins of the world when He died on the cross.
v. 31a: "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior," - The apostles now establish that while the Sanhedrin hung Jesus on a cross, God had lifted Him up to the place of supreme authority in heaven, namely, at God's right hand, to conclusively establish that Jesus was Israel's "Prince" (Messiah) and the "Savior" of the Jewish people-the One foretold by OT prophecy.
v. 31b: "to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." - God's purpose in lifting up Jesus was not so that He could take revenge on his accusers but to give sinners the opportunity to repent of their sins and receive forgiveness. The good news is that this same repentance (a change of heart and mind) and forgiveness is available even to the Sanhedrin-who murdered the Messiah.
v. 32a: "And we are witnesses of these things;" - The apostles have seen the risen Christ and therefore meet the standard legal criteria to serve as qualified "witnesses." In the first person, they had walked with the risen Christ and could openly testify about that which they had seen and heard.
v. 32b: "and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him." - The "Holy Spirit" provided the witness which bore undeniable evidence to the fact that Jesus was the promised Messiah foretold by OT prophecy; and the apostles saw themselves as the human mouthpieces of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent them to bear witness to all things concerning Himself. With the Spirit's empowerment, the apostles now comprehend Jesus in ways they never had during His early ministry.
Read Acts 5:33-39 - BUT GAMALIEL STOOD UP
33 But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. 35 And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God."
v. 33: "But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them." - At this point the Sadducee majority is so infuriated that they are ready to order the death of the apostles regardless of the any potential public reaction to it.
v. 34: "But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time." - Gamaliel's advocacy of moderation forms the main point of Luke's record of the apostles before the Sanhedrin. While the While less numerous than the Sadducees, the Pharisees were far more influential with the common people; and Gamaliel was the most respected and revered Pharisee of his day, and because of his stature among the people, the Sadducees would listen to him.
v. 35: "And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men." - After the apostles left the room, Gamaliel addressed his Sadducee colleagues courteously as "Men of Israel" and cautioned them not to take action that they might later regret.
Synopsis of vv. 36-37: In these verses, Gamaliel explained two similar past movements that had collapsed after their leaders died.
vv. 38-39: "So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God." - Gamaliel's main point was that if God was not behind these apostles, their efforts would prove to be fruitless over time. In any event, he did not consider them as posing a serious threat to these Jewish leaders. So, he strongly advised his Sadducee brethren simply to wait and see. He apparently believed this to be the case or else he would have become a Christian himself. Indeed, Gamaliel's view represented the mainstream view of non-believing Jews who regarded the apostle's preaching as well-meaning but mistaken.
Read Acts 5:40-42 - THEY TOOK HIS ADVISE AND RELEASED THEM
40 They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
v. 40: "They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them." - After Gamaliel convinced the Sanhdrein that killing the apostles was pointless, they decided to settle for flogging them, probably giving them 39 lashes apiece according to scholars, enough to turn their backs into bloody ribbons. This was the first recorded instance of Christians receiving physical violence for witnessing. After threatening the apostles again, they set them free, while the official ban against preaching in Jesus' name remained in force.
v. 41: "So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name." - Instead of emerging dispirited, the apostles came away rejoicing! While they could not have enjoyed the flogging, they considered it a distinct honor to have suffered the indignity for the sake of Jesus' name. Earlier, Jesus had told them that they were blessed when people persecuted them and to rejoice and be glad, for their reward in heaven was great. (Matt 5:10-12; Luke 6:22-23).
v. 42: "And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." - Thus, this treatment did not deter the apostles one bit. Instead, it spurred them on to continue explaining and evangelizing daily and publically in the Temple and privately, from house to house, declaring that Jesus Christ was the Messiah. They were confidant.
APPLICATION-Obeying God No Matter What
1. Like the apostles, obedient Christians should fear God more than man. Like the apostles in today's lesson, Christians today must obey God rather than accept the secular, man-made standards we see in our society today. The recent furor over abortion rights is a case in point. The Bible must be our guide, because man alone is Incapable of determining what is right and what is wrong. We can never accept human standards.
2. Like the apostles, obedient Christians will experience the Lord's power through the Holy Spirit. The apostles and the early church experienced the Lord's power through its powerful witness and the resulting in powerful conversions of thousands and thousands of sinners. In today's text, the Holy Spirit empowered the apostles to comprehend and proclaim the message about Jesus Christ in the face of intense persecution (v. 32), and like these apostles, the same Holy Spirit empower us today to be the human mouthpieces who bear witness to all things concerning Jesus, even in the face of opposition. Amen?
3. Like the apostles, obedient Christians should persistently proclaim the message of life in Jesus Christ, no matter what the cost. The apostles in today's lesson were threatened with death, and even when the Sanhedrin relented, they were brutally flogged before being released. This is our model-to follow the example of the apostles in going out among the crowds and house-to-house
to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to people, despite hardships and persecution. Are you willing?
