Continuing our series in Acts, We now come to Chapter five, verses 27-32. This mini series is called The Apostles were Arrested and Freed, this is part three. So far we have seen God at work in a variety of ways, let’s see what God will do today. But you know what? After finishing this passage I want to change the name of this post to Obey God not Man
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, ye t here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Obey God Not Man
A brief recap. When we last spoke the council had been surprised that the jail (where the apostles were supposed to be) was empty. Not only that the apostles were back in the courtyard preaching!! The police of the day went and asked them to come before the council. This way the people listening wouldn’t get violent.
So we have the apostles standing before the council. This council consisted of the high priests and the senate.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council.
Now to be questioned. It’s like he’s saying.. what gives man?!?!?!?!?! We told you not to do this! We locked you up. You left the prison and you are right back doing what we asked you not to do!!!! What’s going on!!!!
Do you see the extent to the preaching the apostles did. They “filled Jerusalem with” their teaching. So the apostles were the talk of the town. The message of Jesus was getting out to the people. Isn’t that cool?
And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”
Now I have to admit I don’t understand the statement “you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us”. Commentaries were not much help though one hinted that it was a fear of the Romans. You see they killed Jesus (they may have forgotten their own part in this), and since the apostles were preaching the message of Jesus…maybe the Romans would take it out on the Jewish leadership. So fear was a real part of their desire to not have the apostle extolling Jesus’ message.
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
But the apostles said this “we must obey God rather than men”.
Obey God Not Man
How many of us hold to that? How often do we keep our mouths shut because we are afraid of mockery from co-workers, or the government puts laws into place that don’t protect you, or whatever the reason be. Are we not convinced that God will hold to us? That even if he gives us times that are hard that he won’t be with us?
The apostles saw all that God had done. Raising Jesus from the Dead. Exalting Jesus to his right hand as leader and saviour. WHY? So that Israel could repent. So that we could have forgiveness of sins.
Knowing this, seeing this, made God more important to the apostles than anything the Jewish leadership could do. Should we not be the same?
What have you seen?
So what have you seen of God in action that you can speak too?
I know that no one alive today has seen what the apostles did. We haven’t gone to a tomb expecting to see the body of Jesus to find him gone. We haven’t walked down a road only to find Jesus there talking with us and explaining the Old Testament to us, and how it points the way to him.
But those of us who know God, what have some real awareness of Jesus have seen or experienced things that define logical explanation.
For instance, I remember food dropped off at my door when I had need and I hadn’t told anyone about it. I remember God giving me minor car accidents when I needed to stay home and chill out for a few days for my own mental health. Seeing God provide near misses for life ending situations. God has done much in my life to keep me hale and hearty.
What has he done in your life?
Will you extol his goodness to those around you? Will you be brave enough to be obedient to God in this? What truth of God can you let those around you know?
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