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The Apostles Arrested and Freed, Part Two

July 15, 2026 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Continuing in this series where the Apostles are arrested and freed, this is part two. Acts 5:21b-26. We seen the miracles and the arrest, followed by the get out of jail free card. We’ve also seen the apostles being obedient to God’s will. Let’s see what happens next eh?

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. ²²But 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.” ²⁴Now 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. ²⁵And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” ²⁶Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed, Part Two

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

This was not a casual get-together. This was a serious judgment time. Calling together the high priests, the council, and the senate. Calling for the apostles in for questioning.

Can you imagine their surprise?

²²But 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.”

SHOCK

I’m betting those guards were scared witless. Back in the day letting prisoners escape wasn’t exactly met with a slap on the wrist. But at least the prison doors were securely locked and the guards were still on duty. I’m guessing that might have helped, but I don’t really know. The prisoners…. GONE. Can’t you just picture the absolute shock everyone must have been in?

²⁴Now 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.

And then to discover that the apostles didn’t run away but were doing the very thing they were locked up for! Preaching to the people.

²⁵And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”

The end result, brought before all the muckety mucks. Not forcefully, because the police of the day, were afraid of the crowd using force against them.

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

So in the end nothing really changed.

The guards probably frightened, but there was proof they did no wrong.
Mob control had to be maintained, a quiet “can you come along with us” rather than a forceful dragging along.
They ended up standing before the council, high priests, and senate.

What was the point then?

Putting the fear of God into the leadership?
Testing the apostles and their determination to preach to the people as God told them to?
Showing the Jewish leaders that God is more than?
Helping us to see the benefits of obedience?
Showing us the power of God through the preaching of his word.

Hmm… consider this.

The police of the day asked the apostles to come rather than forcefully compelling them to come along. Because they were afraid of the potential voilence from the crowd. A crowd of people who “were so fully persuaded that a divine power attended the apostles, that they held their persons sacred, and would not have borne any open attack upon them.” (Hub) Eye-opening I’m guessing for the police force eh? When the head-honchos want a job done… you tend not to mess around. But here they took their time and played nice.

So God’s power at work.

God’s power shows up all the time.

We saw the miracles and works of wonder.

We saw the apostles arrested, jailed, and then walk out freely.

The amazement of the Jewish rulers at the locked jail and empty cells. we’ve seen.

Also seen in the fervour of the crowds with the apostles that the police had to be careful.

Isn’t it so cool to be aware of the might of God to move in the lives of his people?

a black and white photo of a prison cell — Photo by Héctor Berganza on Pexels.com

Follow Along

If you are interested in the rest of the series you will find them here eh?

The Long and The Short of It

July 10, 2026 By Annette1 4 Comments

Shakespeare’s 1602 comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor, first gave us the line “the Long and the Short of it”. What does this line mean? Can it lead us to discern a greater truth? Or does it just leave us living in the now?

Anyways, it’s an idiom. I remember having a French student once who was struggling with Canadian expressions or idioms. I looked up a bunch of well known expressions and had him research them. Discovering the history behind expressions such as “throw your hat in the the ring” helps us to better understand the expression itself.

Do you truly understand what’s behind this particular idiom? Let’s suss it out a bit eh?

the Long and the short of it

The long and the short of it
is how to start a tale,
a story with a bit of fib,
and a lot of truth to tell.

Or the long and the short of it,
could simply be sounded
out reasoning for why something
may or may not work.

Renovating the bathroom
we need to know the
long and the short of it
Ordering enough material important.

The long and the short of it
is sometimes an idiom used to
define the salient points of
an argument or a meeting.

The Long and the short of it
is made clear to us when
Jesus spoke to Nicodemus
“you must be born again”.

Without rebirth,
salvation is not possible.
Without being born again
We cannot truly know God.

The long and the short of it
is God wants no person to
be without him, but the truth
remains, we MUST be born again.

Make that choice today
Thread the eye of the needle
Be smarter than a camel
And find your salvation today.

sewing needles — Photo by Nic Wood on Pexels.com

John 3:1-8

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. ²He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

³Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

⁴“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

⁵Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ ⁸The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”^[

What’s the Outcome?

July 3, 2026 By Annette1 10 Comments

Okay, so it’s like 10 p.m. I’ve had a long day and tomorrow might be busy too! 🙂 I didn’t want to wait until Sunday to suss out an appropriate response to Kate’s word prompt Outcome. I got to thinking how funny it was at work today when I rearranged the pickle section at work. I maintained the same spacing for everything, and yet I ended up with 3/4’s of an empty shelf. It made no sense! My manager (not feeling well today) came walking by and asked how I was doing. I said “I’m done and I’m so confused. Why do I have empty space?” She double-checked everything and agreed it made no sense. What’s the outcome? The most favourite pickles got more shelf space. I’m still shaking my head over it….

What’s the Outcome?

What’s the outcome
I have to ask
What do you want to see,
as a result of this task?

Today I decided
pickles needed to move
I thought it was funny
helping them to groove.

All that moving
and shuffling about
Lots of empty space so
My manager used her clout!

This makes no sense
was her confused cry!
You moved them about,
This change makes me sigh!

It was decided that
despite exact spacing
We’d give the pickles
an increase in their spacing.

It’s made me think
at the end of long day
what other shuffling
needs to have sway?

Are there things in our lives
that aught not to be
things that God
might find unsightly?

Just like the pickles
that had to moved
Give God a chance
to help you find the right groove.

The Apostles Arrested and Freed, Part One

July 1, 2026 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

So this next section in the book of Acts is quite long so I’m going to break it up into smaller bits. I should be studying all of Acts 5:17-42 but I’ll break that down today into Acts 5:17-21. This is the start of the Apostles arrested and freed, part one.

¹⁷But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy ¹⁸they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. ¹⁹But 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.” ²¹And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

image of handcuffs on dark background. Ext The apostles were arrested and freed Acts 5:17-21

the Apostles arrested and freed, part one

Remember that signs and wonders were being performed on a daily basis? Well…the plot thickens.

The priests weren’t happy!!!

¹⁷But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy

Jealousy is an ugly emotion. This wanting something you don’t have. The wanting what others have. All these signs and wonders of God on display and it wasn’t with the high priests and the Sadducees.

Who were the Sadducees you ask? Good question. The Sadducees were predominately part of the Jewish aristocracy. So you are talking the high priests, the wealthy merchants, and noble families. A lot of them were part of the ruling council called the Sanhedrin. Highly involved with politics and yet having to work with other sects in order to maintain that power. Got Questions proved to be very helpful in teaching me more about the Sadducees.

Anyways, they were jealous. Jealousy can cause you to do all sorts of things. In this case, they arrested the apostles and tossed them in the clink.

¹⁸they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.

God acted

Do you think that God let them stay there? Nope. During the night, an angel of the Lord came to their rescue. He opened the prison doors and brought them out.

¹⁹But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out,

He didn’t bring them out to just send them on their merry way. He brought them out with a purpose. They were to stand in the temple and preach the word to the People.

and said, ²⁰“Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

And that’s exactly what they did’ Entering the temple at daybreak and began to teach the people the words of Life.

²¹And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

Like no hesitation eh? They just went and did what they where told. Solid men with a firm foundation of trust in God.

think written on white label — Photo by Eva Bronzini on Pexels.com

Think about it

Just think about this a bit eh? Being locked up, having an angel of the Lord stop by and tell you “keep preaching and teaching”, even though they’d JUST BEEN LOCKED UP!! My inclination would be to run hard and fast. BUT I also am not part of a group of people used to seeing God performing signs and wonders.

They had just be rescued from prison because God was doing marvelous things within their community and the men in power god jealous about it.

Perhaps they saw it as par for the course. God acted, men responded negatively, God acted, gave them a job, and they responded affirmatively. It was in essence the continuation of the same. Men of God being faithful and God showing up.

So here’s my question: why don’t we see signs and wonders happening in communities of the faithful now? Wouldn’t that change the face of the church now? Wouldn’t that create more believers willing to stand in the gap more firmly because they see God at work more often?

Don’t get me wrong. I see God at work all the time. Guiding conversations, coming the aid of his people in small ways, doing things in ways that those who know see it clearly. But signs and wonders that make the larger community see? Why don’t see those more often? That would shake up our world wouldn’t it!!!

The question is, would that be a good and needful thing? Isn’t God’s word enough to build faith? Can I trust God to continue building his church without those obvious signs and wonders? It’s hard sometimes right? I want the easier path sometimes you know? The obvious point it out… that’s God at work which doesn’t cause me to have to search out explanations or having to explain. Signs and wonders are just easier to point to.

TRUST GOD

That’s what it seems to boil down to. How much will I trust God to lead the church as he is currently doing? Who am I to demand it be any different? I should rather be asking God, how can he use me to facilitate his glory being known so that people are drawn to him? Isn’t that the goal of every community of believers? How can we showcase his glory so that our community of faith grows!?!?!

Can signs and wonders help? For sure, but as we’ve seen in this passage, those same signs and wonders can also create rifts that can ripple through the world around us. Those ripples can affect that community of faith.

I also wonder if they can create expectation? For instance, I have a young Christian friend who is always seems is looking for the next fix or high from God in action. What prophecy, what healing, what _____ He never seems happy is God tells him to wait, or to rest, or to just serve quietly. And if the church were filled every day with signs and wonders what atmosphere might that create? Might it create more “seeking the fun” believers? We need both, we need those constantly expecting God to act in big ways people, and those with a quieter, steadier faith of seeing God in the small things. Both create an active community of faith.

Good passage that’s helped me to think through a bit.

What do you think? Would the church benefit from a more signs and wonders time? Do you think that how things are in most North American churches is beneficial too?

Follow Along

If you are interested in the rest of the series you will find them here eh?

Don’t Know How to Pivot

June 27, 2026 By Annette1 10 Comments

The question facing us in someways. Now that mom is gone, who will draw us together? Family gatherings have fallen to the wayside over the past couple of years since mom has been declining. So what happens now? Will someone in the family pivot to cover the gap? Or will things happen as does in other families… the mom/dad dies and the family just falls apart? I would hope not. But I’m not quite sure how to do about rebuilding community in my family… Let’s explore this a bit perhaps eh? Because sometimes I don’t know how to pivot.

Don’t Know How to Pivot

Introverted, sensitive
to noise, and not handling
crowds well. Anything more
than one is a crowd.

So can one pivot from
how they are to be
something more for the
sake of togetherness?

I don’t know?

Does it have to be me
to pivot or can I be a
cog in the wheel of change?
Calling folks to plan?

If so, how does one
do that? I’m not a
planner so figuring the
logistics cause inward screams.

So I don’t know how

Is there a book, a
podcast, or youtube
that gives hints or a
step by step?

That would be helpful,
It’s not that I don’t know
how to pivot, it’s something
one does in life.

How to learn?

the pivoting with
unnamed/unlearned skills
seems a bit out
on a tree limb.

Maybe I’m getting
ahead of the game and
my sis, younger than,
will step into the gap?

Hope arises….

Mom’s Poem

June 25, 2026 By Annette1 8 Comments

I wrote this poem for mom’s funeral.

My sister asked if I’d read a poem at the funeral and I initially thought, this would be easy but… such as not the case. I searched through my writings trying to find the one that she liked most but I couldn’t find it. In the end decided I should just write one. I didn’t want to read the one the word prompt gave me on Friday. This morning the shower God gave me a start and the rest just flowed from there. I changed a couple lines while at the service, but overall, it’s what God gave me straight away. So here’s mom’s poem.

Mom’s Poem

Oh my sorrow
Mom has passed
Oh the glory
She’s home at last.

Netherlands born
My mom was brave
Crossing the ocean
Braving the wave.

Starting a new life
In a land far away
She met a tall fellow
Her heart’s full sway.

Gathering around a
Brood one two three
They didn’t stop
Until six there be.

Now all around here
Gathering nigh
Family, friends, and kin
Celebrate life with a sigh

Her kindness well known,
A smile welcoming all
Sharing her love
For those big and small.

God coming first
Her heart for him known
Did all perceive it
Was He well shown?

I’d have to say yes
For as you can see
So many gathered here
Love God just as she

If you don’t love God
I beg you to think
Why would we all lie
Or want to hoodwink?

Give a moment or two
To let it sink in
Life well lived knows
God forgives sin

See well the reason
Mom smiled so freely
God gives us his all
So see him completely.

Vibes of Sadness and Joy

June 22, 2026 By Annette1 8 Comments

Okay, let me preface this piece with some news. My mom has recently passed away, and my sister asked me if I could read one of my poems at her funeral. The poetry style I use has changed over the years, becoming more of a pause in thoughts commentary as opposed to lyrics/sonnets/rhyming style. My mom used to read my poems before her health started to fail and it’s been about two years since she’s said “I liked that one”. So the thought of having to search back two years for something that she liked feels rather daunting to me while I am currently running short on sleep. Therefore, today I’m going to try to write something she would have liked, but I’m not entirely sure I’ll succeed. The word of the week is Vibes. Not the easiest word to work with, but let’s give it a shot eh? Oh, I didn’t really succeed with the old style of writing with this piece: vibes of sadness and joy

Vibes of sadness and joy

text: vibes of joy and sadness
image: yard sale sign

Running through my body,vibes
start on Thursday with
the news that mom has passed.
Vibes of sadness and joy.

The home will need her room
cleaned and ready for a
new occupant, I have a yardsale
on the weekend it seems so
vitally important to me that mom’s
stuff is cared for well and placed
into new homes.

Friday, pack everything up.
Hubby and son lending a hand
giving me moments to pause
in memory, remembering mom’s
love for different things,
taking moments with her neighbours
to chat a moment.
Mom would have loved that.

Mom loved people
oh my, but she did.
It’s the thing everyone says
how nice she was to
everyone and the love she
always tried to show.

I saw it you know, in myself,
with her stuff. Talking to people
at the yardsale, welcoming them in,
chatting and bargaining.
I love to bargain, and I love
to make people smile.
And the number of people who
I made smile… mom would have
been pleased as punch.

A lady saw mom’s lawnchairs
and stopped to make conversation
before making an offer for them.
I could just see mom sitting down
with her to have a cup of tea
and having a good ole’ conversation.
She would have loved knowing
they went on to be useful
in conversation with others.

A young gal came by needing
something for her knick-knacks,
/&gt;counting her change, and<br />a white knick-knack shelf freely
found it’s way into her backseat.

Another lady stopping by
to chat about plants.
Not that I had any from mom,
but it reminded me of mom’s
love for plants and helping
others grow their own.

It’s good you know?
To see the past lived
out in the future and to see
how one’s faith helps mold that.

handshake after buying house — Photo by Thirdman on Pexels.com

HA! Surprise, I thought I’d try again and see if I CAN do an older style of poetry in memory of my mom. I’m not completely delighted with Vibes of Connection, but this tired mind is just done. 🙂

Vibes of Connection

It’s yardsale season again
I adore this season,
it doesn’t take much
Looking for a deal a reason.

This year a huge one at my place
Loads from my mom’s and my house
I brought out the bunnies,
and guinea pigs too, but not the mouse.

“I love to barter,
prices are in my head.”
a happy greeting to all
visiting my little homestead.

Connections made, dealers seen,
“I remember you a couple years back!”
Chatting over deals and profits made
there was plenty, not a lack!

A Chinese lady came, captivated by
beauty, seeing a vase
marveling at it’s shine.
It travelled off to her place.

I saw in her smile,
something of my parent
rejoicing in beauty
it’s so very apparent

Another couple came,
irritatingly so, looking for towels
to wash up their floor.
Taking the bargaining hard, but
no lower quality would meet demand.
bargaining done, finally walked out the door.

A teenager came,
trinket shelf on her mind
She took mom’s white
shelf, and thought I was kind.

Teacups, towels, clothes,
small tables, knick knacks and more
It was good and yet sad
the leaving of stuff mom adored.

But I know she would smile
that it wasn’t in vain
the keeping of stuff became
another person’s gain.

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The Apostles Arrested and Freed, Part Two