Acts 5:16-21a “The people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all being healed. But the high priest stood up, along with all his associates (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy and resentment. They arrested the apostles and put them in a public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, and leading them out, he said, “Go, stand and continue to tell the people in the temple courtyards the whole message of this Life [the eternal life revealed by Christ and found through faith in Him].” When they heard this, they went into the temple courtyards about daybreak and began teaching.”
Today, our pastor continued in our church’s Sunday Sermon series teaching through the Book of Acts. In this passage of Holy Scripture, the pharisaical religious leaders of the Israelites hated the popularity of Jesus’ Apostles due to their miraculous healing of the people, arrested them and threw them into jail as prisoners. never thinking that the healing acts that they were accomplishing were in reality acts of God. Little did these Jewish religious leaders know that a heavenly angel of the Lord supernaturally freed their captivity and led them out unnoticed, telling them to go preach the Gospel back at the temple.
Acts 5:21b-26 “Now when the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court), even all the council of elders of the sons of Israel, and sent word to the prison for the apostles to be brought [before them]. But when the officers arrived, they did not find them in the prison; and they came back and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened the doors, we found no one inside.” Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these things, they were greatly perplexed, wondering what would come of this. But someone came and told them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing right here in the temple area, teaching the people!” Then the captain went with the officers and brought them back, without hurting them (because they were afraid of the people, worried that they might be stoned).”
The temple guard and chief priests realized that inmates cannot simply disappear from a secure prison, especially individuals performing miraculous healings in the name of the Messiah of God. Bible commentator Matthew Henry concludes that those often distress and embarrass themselves that think to distress and embarrass the cause of Christ. Their doubt is, in part, determined; and yet their vexation is increased by another messenger, who brings them word that their prisoners are under your nose preaching in the temple. Prisoners, that have broken prison usually abscond for fear of being retaken; but these prisoners, that here made their escape, dare to show their faces even where their persecutors have the greatest influence. Now this confounded them more than anything. The captain of the temple guard went with officers and brought them back peacefully, but not because of their fear of God and His Divine power manifest, but a fear of the people.
Acts 5:27-28 So they brought them and presented them before the Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court). The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name [Jesus Christ], and yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this Man’s blood on us [by accusing us as His murderers].”
They had disobeyed the commands of authority against their express order, and would not submit to the injunctions and prohibitions given them. Thus those who make void the commandments of God are commonly very strict in binding on their own commandments, and insisting upon their own power. Let’s look at the Apostle Peter’s response and the deeper meaning in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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