Acts 5:24 When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening. 25 Then someone came in and announced, “Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts, teaching the people!”
26 At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them. 27 They brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, where the high priest interrogated them. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us responsible for this man’s blood.”
29 But Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree. 31 God exalted Him to His right hand as Prince and Savior, in order to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Gamaliel’s Advice
33 When the Council members heard this, they were enraged and wanted to put the apostles to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time. 35 “Men of Israel,” he said, “consider carefully what you are about to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered.
38 So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
40 At this, they yielded to Gamaliel. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and released them.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Every day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
After the angel led the disciples out of jail, they followed instructions and began teaching at the temple as soon as people began coming in for morning worship. The religious authorities were incensed! The high priest accused them of blaming the Sanhedrin for the death of Jesus; this in a city where everybody knew exactly what had happened. Most of the religious authorities were ready to kill the disciples and end the whole thing; however, Gamaliel, a highly respected teacher and a Pharisee, pointed out the fact that in the past, false messiahs had arisen and had perished. (None of those pseudo – messiahs had ever performed so much as a single miracle.) Gamaliel very sensibly pointed out that if this movement was only man – made, it would fail, but if God was in the thing, those persecuting the disciples would find themselves fighting God.
Today many of us are worried and upset about some of the high – handed orders being handed down by mayors and governors. While caution is necessary, many of us are worried that our civil rights are being seized and will not be returned. But please remember something: God is still on the throne. If these modern rulers are found to be wrong, they may find themselves fighting God.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we bow before your throne. We beg you to guide all of us, those of us who are ordinary citizens and those of us in positions of authority. Lord, do not allow the hand of the wicked to rest on the land of the righteous! Save us from despots! And Father, guide these leaders so that they will look to you for their help and strength and guidance and not to someone else. To the praise and glory of your holy Name. Amen.
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