Lessons From Acts – Lesson 6
God obviously knows better and for reasons plural that we don’t know God decided to show that picture on Ananias and his wife for the sin of lying to God. And the believers did not judge God for it and they did not let it derail them or side track them from their purpose.
And people were getting healed and saved. Christians were working and God was moving. You would think that everyone would be happy. Thousands are escaping hell for eternity and thousands are getting to live a better life on this earth until then.
Saved people like us would see that and go Praise be to God. But not everyone is happy about what is going on.
Act 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,
Act 5:18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
Act 5:19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
Act 5:20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
It was not, you got arrested and I am letting you out so you can go and hide somewhere. It was you got arrested and I am letting you out to go and preach in the stronghold of those who had you arrested.
The apostles do not argue or debate with the Lord’s angel. And they do not delay in obeying.
Act 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.
Act 5:22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,
So the council gathers in the morning and calls for the apostles to be brought out of prison. They have no idea that God is at work and that the Apostles are at that moment preaching in their temple to their followers.
So much for the best laid plans of men when God is at work. This would have been quite the embarrassment for them. They had called the council together and also all the senate of the children of Israel.
They had imposed on the time of many powerful leaders. They were expecting a big show trial and the satisfaction of harsh punishment being dispersed. And to them it was as good as a done deal. And imagine the shock when nope. The apostles are gone.
Act 5:23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
The doors are still shut with all safety. And the keepers are still on guard without the doors. What happened was literally a miracle. The power of God. The angel came got them out and the guards never heard or saw anything.
They had no way of explaining how this could be. And they knew that the new Christians would give God the credit and that they would spread the news.
Act 5:24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
They considered and doubted, they did not know, how much this would grow. And all the while that they are having the prison searched and investigating this the apostles are teaching in the temple. Bold and out in plain sight.
Act 5:25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
Act 5:26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
What a switch around that God has done. The religious leaders were used to having the people fear them. That is what they liked and wanted. Power and control over the people who cower at their commands and demands.
But now it is a total 180. The religious leaders are fearing the people. The apostles are giving the good news of salvation in Jesus and people are listening and some are responding. And the apostles are giving the truth in love, they are not preaching hate or insurrection.
Their message is the Love of God that saves sinners from hell. They are preaching forgiveness and mercy and grace. The death and burial and resurrection of Jesus.
What they were preaching was good. If they came in and responded to the good with violence and took them violently, they feared the people might rise up. I believe that it was God who put that thought in their minds and put the fear of the people into those wicked religious leaders.
So they took the apostles into custody again and they reconvene the council, but you got to know that the tone of it is now going to be completely different than what they had planned.
God intervened with a supernatural prison break and God intervened by putting the fear of the people into these leaders.
Act 5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
Act 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.
Ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine. I love that part. These preachers got it. They were putting getting God’s word out first. They were busy at it. It was job number 1. They had filled Jerusalem with it.
The leaders say and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. I got news for you. That blood was already upon them the moment they had Jesus crucified. No one had to bring it upon them, they were guilty and brought it upon themselves.
Peter and the other apostles answer with two things. We are going to obey God rather than you and then they give them the gospel. The gospel needs to go to everyone even God’s enemies. We have an example of that here.
Act 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Act 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Act 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Act 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
When you get confronted with this truth, you really have very few options. 1 you can get right. Humble yourself and agree with it and ask God to save you. That is the best option. Option 2 some people will just wave it off, to each his own, ignore it. Option 3 is to get mad.
The religious leaders choose option 3. They have a huge amount of pride, a huge amount of sin and these apostles are taking away their followers.
Act 5:33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
They were convicted. Cut to the heart so much so that murder is on their minds. They are having a discussion on how can they do it. Remember they are now afraid of the people.
God put that fear there and God also was at work by placing Gamaliel there. Gamaliel was a famous teacher of the law. Paul studied under him. He is a lost man. God can and sometimes does use lost men for His purpose. God has Gamaliel give some calming wisdom.
Act 5:34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
Act 5:35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
Act 5:36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
Act 5:37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
He gives two examples from the past that all of them knew about. Examples of times when a new movement rose that was taking people away from them but both did not last long.
Act 5:38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
Act 5:39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
The argument is basically if this movement be of men then it will die down on its own, but if it be of God and since God is all powerful and all knowing, then you cannot win. You will not be able to stop it.
Either way don’t fight this. Let it die on its own or let it grow if it is of God. The wisdom is don’t fight against God. The wisdom is let God deal with this instead of getting your hands dirty.
That is wisdom given by a lost man. However, it is still good wisdom and a good biblical truth that we should always remember. Have faith and trust and let God be God. Let Him work and let Him guide and let Him open doors or shut doors. That is just a good general principal.
Act 5:40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
While they agreed with the principal, their wickedness and hate needed some outlet. They just could not completely let this go. They had been challenged and in their eyes disrespected. Their power over the people had taken a hit and they were mad.
So they had the apostles beat before they let them go.
And the reaction to this of the apostles is important to notice.
Act 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
They did not blame God for the beating. They did not hold it against God. They understood that God does have reasons for allowing His servants to suffer some things in His name.
God kept them from being killed. God empowered their work. But being a Christian does not guarantee that everything is sunshine and lollipops.
And think about what it shows the world.
Act 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
They got beat and went out and kept teaching and preaching Jesus.
What does that show forth?
- That God is worthy.
- That what they are teaching is true
- That God has grace that He gives His own to strengthen them and give them boldness.
- That it is better to obey God than man even if it means pain.
- It shows forth their faithfulness and love to the Lord.
God does have reasons for allowing hard things come into our lives and it is important that when that happens we handle it correctly. It is very important that we always put God first and obey God rather than men even if it means some persecution.