“But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, “Go stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach.
“…The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!’….,” The high priest questioned them, 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.”
But Peter and the apostles answered ,
“We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:17-42
As the doors of their prison cells swung open, the words of the angelic messenger resounded in Peter and the apostles’ hearing: “Go stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” The implication being that the people had not received the whole message of this Life. It is not just about physical healing, but about being made whole—righteous before God. The whole truth, as Peter and the apostles were finding out, and as Jesus had forewarned them— “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.” (John 16:2)
The Lord was calling these good observant Jewish men to their own people to declare, in the houses of worship, that the long awaited Messiah has come, and they had missed it! Not only had they missed it, but they had killed Him:
“We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 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. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” When they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them…..” (Acts 5:29-33)
Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee, stood up and offered this counsel . He suggested they dismiss the teaching as they had the two other rebels; Theudas, and Judas of Galilee, both of whom were killed and their following dispersed and came to nothing. He then says: “..(F)or if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown, but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39)
Gamaliel was prophetic about the Council—they were fighting against God. These “defenders of the faith” were ironically at enmity with the very God to whom they claimed allegiance.
How does this occur? How does one who in all earnestness looked to please God end up opposing God. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus by night. Jesus knew what he wanted and got straight to the point: “ Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) The new birth requires a receptive soul, the seed of the Word (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit to seal it. Jesus told Nicodemus, you must be born again. “But as many as received Him , to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His Name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of men, but of God.” John 1:12-13
It was more than earnestness, good intentions, and the right credentials. The Council had all that. But the new birth was lacking and they could not see the Kingdom of God. In their “rightness” they could not see it was God they were opposing.
As for the first century apostles, they received their 39 lashes from the Council and then went their way rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as The Christ. (5: 41-42) Seeing the Kingdom. Born again!
Questions To Think About:
“…The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!’….,” The high priest questioned them, 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.”
But Peter and the apostles answered ,
“We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:17-42
As the doors of their prison cells swung open, the words of the angelic messenger resounded in Peter and the apostles’ hearing: “Go stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” The implication being that the people had not received the whole message of this Life. It is not just about physical healing, but about being made whole—righteous before God. The whole truth, as Peter and the apostles were finding out, and as Jesus had forewarned them— “They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.” (John 16:2)
The Lord was calling these good observant Jewish men to their own people to declare, in the houses of worship, that the long awaited Messiah has come, and they had missed it! Not only had they missed it, but they had killed Him:
“We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 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. And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” When they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them…..” (Acts 5:29-33)
Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee, stood up and offered this counsel . He suggested they dismiss the teaching as they had the two other rebels; Theudas, and Judas of Galilee, both of whom were killed and their following dispersed and came to nothing. He then says: “..(F)or if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown, but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39)
Gamaliel was prophetic about the Council—they were fighting against God. These “defenders of the faith” were ironically at enmity with the very God to whom they claimed allegiance.
How does this occur? How does one who in all earnestness looked to please God end up opposing God. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus by night. Jesus knew what he wanted and got straight to the point: “ Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) The new birth requires a receptive soul, the seed of the Word (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit to seal it. Jesus told Nicodemus, you must be born again. “But as many as received Him , to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His Name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of men, but of God.” John 1:12-13
It was more than earnestness, good intentions, and the right credentials. The Council had all that. But the new birth was lacking and they could not see the Kingdom of God. In their “rightness” they could not see it was God they were opposing.
As for the first century apostles, they received their 39 lashes from the Council and then went their way rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as The Christ. (5: 41-42) Seeing the Kingdom. Born again!
Questions To Think About:
- The apostles stated, “We must obey God rather than men.” In your current season of life, where do you find the most pressure to conform to human expectations at the expense of God’s instructions ?
- The Council thought they were “offering service to God”while actually opposing Him. How can we ensure our religious activities and “rightness” aren’t actually masking a heart that is resistant to the Holy Spirit ?
- The angel told the apostles to speak the “whole message of this Life.” Are you currently embracing the “whole” Gospel—including the parts that call for repentance and sacrifice —or are you only focusing on the parts that that offer comfort and physical blessing ?
- Jesus said that without being born again, one cannot “see” the Kingdom. In what ways has your spiritual “sight” changed since you began your walk with Christ? What can you see now that was invisible to you before?
- When you feel a strong urge to defend your position or “the way things have always been”, is that urge fueled by a love for God’s truth or a desire to maintain control ?
Posted in Fighting Against God