The Trial: 5:26-39

Acts 5:26-39

26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 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.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 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. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 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. 37 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. 38 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; 39 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...

Once again the apostles are re-arrested and are then made to stand before the Jewish authorities a 2nd time for questioning. What we are witnessing is the limits or powerlessness for the earthly authority that sets itself against the glory of God.

There are two authorities: (1) The World, who commanded the apostles not to teach of Jesus (2) Jesus who commanded the apostles to preach his gospel. RESULT: They had filled Jerusalem with their teaching, and on top of that were determined to to bring this man's blood upon them. Which apparently they didn't seem to remember that is exactly what they had requested.

The Apostles had no plan on obeying the world in opposition to the Christ, and on top of that, they had no plan on defending themselves but to simply lift of the Christ at all cost. Let me point out, just as we did in the last post, that it is generally our responsibility to obey all civil authority, until they cross the line of calling us to disobey God. Which is exactly what we see being played out in the lives of the apostles. So, as the apostles show that there is no true power in the authority of the state, they emphasize two elements about God.

1. First, they contrast the lasting ability of different authorities: The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree - in other words, your authority has limits.
2. Second, God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins, once again, overriding their authority, even if they merely choose to condemn the flesh, God overrides it and grants salvation to those he chooses, not matter the earthly verdict.

Let us be quick to notice that this short sermon begins and ends with obedience to God, this is our mandate. Okay, so now that the Religious authority has been proven to be no stronger than straw when compared to God's authority, they are angry, and ready to go nuts on the Apostles. However, a man by the name of Gamaliel steps in and stops the Pharisees from putting the Apostles to death. Gamaliel was a Pharisee and the grandson and follower of the liberal Rabbi Hillel, and was given the title Rabban or 'our teacher.' Gamaliel had a reputation for his scholarship, wisdom, and moderation and was respected by all the people. On this occasion he stood up and gave instructions for the apostles to put the men outside for a little while. so that the council could meet in a private session.

From there he gave two examples of two men, one was Theudas and the other was Judas the Galilean. Gamaliel, simply reminded his fellow pharisees of their histories. Both men fought Judaism, both men gathered a following, and both men ended up killed, and the result was that their followers scattered and the movement faded. He then compared their two mini-movements to that of the apostles, and basically called his brothers to 'relax' because, if 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!”

This is a good lesson for us. The truth is, when we are following God, and obeying God in the midst of a culture that continually seems to win and opporess the truth; we know the truth is that sooner or later all that is from and of God will last, and everything else will disolve and fail!

The Imprisonment - 5:18-25

Acts 5:18-25

17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 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 and all the senate of the people of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 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. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”

This time it wasn't just Peter and John who were booked, but rather it says, the apostles in general, and they were quickly put in a public prison. However, during the night they were rescued by an angel of the Lord. Luke, allows us to see that this rescue mission from the angel of the Lord was not about the safety and security of the apostles, but rather the glory of God, as the angel commanded them to go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life. Verse 21 tells us they obeyed the angel of the Lord, but in doing so we must note that they publicly disobeyed the Sanhedrin, who had told them not to speak in the name of Jesus.

This is NOT a section of scripture teaching us that we have the right to disobey the authorities that God has placed us under, for ALL Authority is from God. However, because God is sovereign and will even use the sin of humanity to ultimately bring glroy to His name we must trust that as he sets up unjust leaders, it is because he will ultimately bring glory to his own name, by showing their authority to be impotent.

However, because God sets up all authority, we are to respectfully obey them UNLESS, they command us to do that which God, through His word commands us not to do or they command us to stop doing what God has made clear to us. This is not a call for rebellion, but a call to submission to God! We live in a world of anti-authority, and in the church we have learned well to hide our rebellion behind 'God.' The truth is, we can't find anywhere in scripture where it is ever okay to disobey our leaders no matter how unfair they are unless they ask us to cross the line and disobey God. Which the truth is, most of us don't struggle with this. We are willing to disobey our authorities when it fits our selfish needs, but in a land where spreading the gospel is legal, for the glory of God we halt at this...may we switch our perspectives...