Acts 5:24 When the police captain and the chief priests heard this, they were frantic, wondering what would happen next and where all this would end! 25 Then someone arrived with the news that the men they had jailed were out in the Temple, preaching to the people!
There’s a good reason for the police captain to be frantic, for guards whose prisoners escape are usually put to death. If the police captain can’t locate his prisoners, he will die along with many of his fellow officers. But God has no interest in this man dying. Soon, someone runs to the police captain, “Captain! Captain! Your prisoners are preaching in the temple!”
26-27 The police captain went with his officers and arrested them (without violence, for they were afraid the people would kill them if they roughed up the disciples) and brought them in before the Council.
28 “Didn’t we tell you never again to preach about this Jesus?” the High Priest demanded. “And instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring the blame for this man’s death on us!”
29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our ancestors brought Jesus back to life again after you had killed him by hanging him on a cross. 31 Then, with mighty power, God exalted him to be a Prince and Savior, so that the people of Israel would have an opportunity for repentance, and for their sins to be forgiven. 32 And we are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to all who obey him.”
Well, if the religious leaders think their threats carry any weight, they’re quite wrong. Peter proceeds to give another fiery sermon right there during the hearing. Who knows how many of these religious leaders are quietly considering becoming Christians? But the Council members are fed up and want to eliminate these irritating radicals, until a respected teacher named Gamaliel speaks up. (Gamaliel means “God is my reward.”)
33 At this, the Council was furious and decided to kill them. 34 But one of their members, a Pharisee named Gamaliel (an expert on religious law and very popular with the people), stood up and requested that the apostles be sent outside the Council chamber while he talked.
35 Then he addressed his colleagues as follows:
“Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! 36 Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About four hundred others joined him, but he was killed, and his followers were harmlessly dispersed.
37 “After him, at the time of the taxation, there was Judas of Galilee. He drew away some people as disciples, but he also died, and his followers scattered.
38 “And so my advice is, leave these men alone. If what they teach and do is merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. 39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them, lest you find yourselves fighting even against God.”
Why does God allow Gamaliel’s advice to be quoted? Not only is Gamaliel a brilliant scholar, but he also is a man who loves God deeply. And in addition, Gamaliel also is the mentor for a young firebrand named Saul of Tarsus. We know Saul by the name he takes after Jesus confronts him, Paul. Even though Saul persecutes Christians, there’s never any evidence that Gamaliel has encouraged him to do so. Perhaps Gamaliel already is quietly following Jesus.
40 The Council accepted his advice, called in the apostles, had them beaten, and then told them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and finally let them go. 41 They left the Council chamber rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer dishonor for his name. 42 And every day, in the Temple and in their home Bible classes, they continued to teach and preach that Jesus is the Messiah.
We read this and wonder about the disciples. Rejoicing after being beaten? Are you kidding? But the disciples know that God has given them the messages they have been preaching, and their consciences are clean before God. There’s a story about John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church. Wesley faced enormous opposition when he began, and many people attacked him whenever possible. One day a man was standing in a field behind a hedge as Wesley was passing. Wesley was musing to himself, worried that he might be losing his focus because nobody had attacked him for a week. The man said, “There’s that man Wesley! I’ll take care of him!” and tossed a rock at Wesley. Wesley immediately reacted, “Praise God! I’m still going in the right direction!”
When we have mountaintop experiences, we expect to enjoy some euphoria and divine protection, not to be attacked. But God has enemies everywhere, and if we are truly following Him, we must be willing to endure suffering. Remember that in Northern Nigeria, Southern Sudan, and other places, Christians are dying as their churches are attacked by Islamic terrorists. May God help us to remain faithful, no matter how much opposition we face.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to remain faithful, even in the face of opposition. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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