Acts 5, Part 2, Verses 17-42: Hatred and Opposition
EXACTLY what we see today when the Word of God is preached
This early church grew rapidly (v. 14). The people of Jerusalem were overwhelmed by the miraculous evidence the apostles presented; would God endorse of falsehood with genuine miracles? No, He would not, and intelligent minds knew it. They also couldn’t deny the eye-witness reporting of the resurrection by the apostles, especially since no one had produced any counter-evidence to disprove the report. These people in Jerusalem were in a position to know and investigate the facts, and those facts led them to become followers of Christ.
But, hatred of Christianity started early—and it has never stopped to our very day. The same people who rejected the overwhelming evidence Jesus provided for them and killed Him “were filled with indignation” (v. 17), arrested the apostles, and threw them in jail (v. 18). That isn’t where God wanted them, so that night, an angel released them and told them to continue to speak “all the words of this life” (vs. 19-20). So, the apostles, the next morning, were back in the temple, bold and unafraid, preaching and teaching (v. 21). The religious leaders wanted to interrogate (threaten? bully?) the apostles again, and sent to the prison to have them brought to trial (v. 21). Lo and behold, the apostles weren’t there! (vs. 22-23) The guards were still there, but no prisoners. What was going on? (v. 24) Somebody came and told the “leaders” that the apostles were back in the temple preaching (v. 25). So, the “captain” went and arrested the apostle again, but gently and “without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned” (v. 26). God’s men were brought before the council and second time (v. 27).
The high priest was indignant. “Didn’t we ‘strictly command you’ not to teach any more? ‘You have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine” (v. 28). “We ought to obey God rather than men,” Peter told the council in verse 29, which is, of course, exactly right. He gave the council a short discourse about Jesus again, His crucifixion, resurrection, and exaltation to God’s right hand, and the fact that the apostles were “His witnesses to these things,” as is the Holy Spirit, “whom God has given to those who obey Him” (vs. 30-32). Peter and the apostles didn’t back down. They knew what they had seen and heard and would be lying and disobeying God if they did anything other than speak the things they had witnessed.
People with dishonest hearts, and political or religious leaders who love power, glory, and self-aggrandizement more than they do God will not humble themselves before the Almighty and obey Him. The price is too high to pay. Even though these religious leaders were very aware of the miracles the apostle were doing, and the implications of it, they simply could not give up their high positions of privilege. They were incensed at the apostles (v. 33), and wanted to kill them. No doubt they were angry at what the apostles were preaching, but just as much these arrogant, self-righteous elite were infuriated that these peasants wouldn’t do what their masters told them to do. Does that sound familiar today? So, they plotted to kill the apostles. These “wonderful” “religious leaders” wanted to commit murder—again.
There was one wise head among them, a well-respected teacher named Gamaliel (v. 34). After putting the apostles outside the room, he spoke to the rest of the council. His message, in effect, was, if what these men are saying isn’t true, it will soon die away (v. 38). He even gave a couple of similar examples of “uprisings” that had failed (vs. 36-37). “But if [this] is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God” (v. 39). Before we do something rash, Gamaliel suggested, let’s just wait and see what happens. We’ll find out soon enough.
Cooler heads prevailed and the others agreed with him (v. 40). But, they couldn’t resist getting in the last word, and being barbaric about it. They had the apostles beaten, and “commended” them again not to preach Jesus any more. Then they let the apostles go (v. 40).
The apostles went away “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (v. 41). Were they cowered? Absolutely not. “Daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus Christ” (v. 42).
The religious leaders hated Jesus (John 7:7), so they killed Him. They thought that would end His movement. But, it didn’t. Facts and historical truths are stronger than emotion, and the church grew. As Gamaliel said, if it is from God, you can’t overthrow it. And, after 2,000 years of attempts, including many in our own day, Christianity is still here. And will be until the Lord Jesus returns to take His people home.