4-19-15 AM Acts 5:12-42 READING: Acts 5:12-17 & 34-39
Our God is a saving God, a God of deliverance. The Bible is filled with examples of Divine Deliverance. When the wickedness of the world became so severe that the Creator God actually repented that He had ever made man, (Gen. 6:6), He stopped short of total annihilation - using Noah as a type of savior, saving his own family, along with a remnant of the creatures that dwelt on the earth (Gen. 6-9). A God of Deliverance
Our God is a saving God, a God of deliverance. The Bible is filled with examples of Divine Deliverance. When Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his own Brethren, God rescued him from bondage, making him into the greatest leader in the history of Egypt, and effectively, through his God given knowledge of the future famine a type of savior to his own people, Israel (Gen. 37-50). A God of Deliverance
Our God is a saving God, a God of deliverance. The Bible is filled with examples of Divine Deliverance. David from Goliath; Daniel from the Lions, The world, from Sin, through the blood stained Cross of Jesus Christ. Two Great Acts of Deliverance
Our God is a saving God, a God of deliverance. The Bible is filled with examples of Divine Deliverance. Peter and John Today we find God delivering Peter and John first from prison and then from death itself And all to His own glory. Two Great Acts of Deliverance
As Luke describes the events; The Apostles Popularity, quickly leads to Persecution, and culminates in God s Divine Deliverance; thus our title- Popularity, Persecution, and the Deliverance of God. Acts 5
12 At the hands of the Apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon s portico. 13 But none of the rest (the vested leadership) dared to associate with them; However, the people held them in high esteem. (popularity) Acts 5:12-16
14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, 15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. Acts 5:12-16
16 Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed. Acts 5:12-16
Before we rush on- Remember that this popularity comes on the heels of the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira for lying to the Holy Spirit, and not very long after Peter and John s first encounter with the law Respect for Authority
In other words, those who loved the Lord and respected His authority, supported the work of the Apostles. They recognized the Apostles AS the Lord s workers and took their authority and teaching to heart. Respect for Authority
Sad Superstition? Sincere Faith? It s hard to tell exactly what the people were thinking but the indication of Scripture is that God rewarded those who came to the Apostles for healing. As Acts 5:16b records- They were all being healed. Peter s Shadow?
However you interpret it- the effect was that Peter and John were types of the Savior, and the people flocked to them. The Multitudes
The church was growing rapidly More and more believers in the Lord were added to their number, crowds of both men and women (Acts 5:14). The NASB uses the word multitudes. The church had been growing rapidly since Pentecost: The Multitudes
Acts 2:41,47b say- So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved, (Acts 2:41,47b). The Multitudes
Acts 4:4 says- But many of those who had listened to the message believed, & the number of men came to about five thousand, (Acts 4:4). The Multitudes
In Acts 5:16 we read- And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number. The Multitudes
We know from Acts 4:16 that the leaders could not refute the miracle performed through the Apostles, nor the association these men had with Jesus Acts 4:13. Yet they would not allow themselves to follow the evidences wherever they might lead. Following the Evidence
But the common people did. They recognized the power of God at work in the Apostles. They followed the evidence. Following the Evidence
And it drew them together and made them ONE people, with ONE Heart and ONE soul; Unifying them in a way no other message on earth can; Acts 4:32-5:16. So, when it came the common man, the Apostles & their message was very popular with people. Unity in Christ
But, when it came to the Sanhedrin the Apostles were ANYTHING but popular. They were bitterly jealous. Nearly as jealous as they had been of Jesus Himself. Persecution
17 Now the High Priest rose up, and all those with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 They laid hands on the Apostles and put them in a public jail. (Persecution) Acts 5:17-19
19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, 20 Go and stand in the Temple courts and proclaim to the people all the Words of this Life. (Rescue/Deliverance) When they heard this, the Apostles entered the Temple courts at daybreak and began teaching. Acts 5:19-20
21 Now when the High Priest and those who were with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin that is, the whole high council of the Israelites and sent to the jail to have the Apostles brought before them. 22 But the officers who came for them did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, Acts 5:21-22
23 We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside. (Miraculous Intervention). 24 Now when the commander of the Temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were greatly puzzled concerning it, wondering what this could be? Acts 5:23-24
25 But someone came and reported to them, Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the Temple courts and teaching the people! 26 Then the commander of the Temple guard went with the officers and brought the Apostles without the use of force (for they were afraid of being stoned by the people). Acts 5:25-26
27 When they had brought them, they stood them before the council, and the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, Didn t we give you strict orders not to teach in this Name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man s blood on us! Acts 5:27-28
The religious leaders were more concerned with saving their positions of authority, (not to mention their own skins), then considering the possibility that Jesus really was the Deliverer/ Savior, sent by God, and instead of believing the Apostles Words of Life, they would rather imprison the messengers Shoot The Messenger
Some of the guards must have thought, What s next? First, it was the empty tomb of Jesus; now, it is the empty cell (of P.& J.). What s going on here? We know, because we believe. If your heart is ONE with Christ believing is a simple thing. What s Next?
Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the Temple courts and teaching the people! (Acts 5:25) The tables have seriously turned. The Chief Priest and the Sanhedrin no longer have the upper hand. (They never really did, but now they know it!). Acts 5:35
PETER AND JOHN NOW TAKE THE PLACE OF THE INQUISITORS! Earlier before this same body of men, Peter had asked; Whether it is right before God to obey you rather than God, you decide, for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard, (Acts 4:19-20). New Inquisitors
But Peter and the Apostles replied, We must obey God rather than people. 30 The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, whom you seized and killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted Him to his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses of these events, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him. Acts 5:29-32
Enter a Wiser Member of the Sanhedrin 33 Now when they heard this, they became more furious and wanted to execute them. 34 But a Pharisee whose name was Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the council and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. 35 He said to the council, Acts 5:33-40
Men of Israel, pay close attention to what you are about to do to these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and nothing came of it. Acts 5:33-40
37 After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census, and incited people to follow him in revolt. He too was killed, and all who followed him were scattered. So in this case I say to you, stay away from these men 38 Acts 5:33-40
and leave them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking originates with people, it will come to nothing, 39 but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them, and you may even be found fighting against God. Acts 5:33-40
He convinced them, 40 and they summoned the Apostles and had them beaten. Then they ordered them not to speak in the Name of Jesus [again] and released them. Acts 5:33-40
This term, rendered furious is used only one other time in the N.T. in Acts 7:34, RE. Stephen- When they heard these things, they became furious and ground their teeth at him. Here s why- Acts 5:33-40
51 You stubborn people, with your uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, like your ancestors did! 52 Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold long ago the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become! 53 You received the Law by decrees given by angels, but you did not obey it. Acts 7:51-54
What Luke indicates (both passages) was that such fury could only be satisfied with death! It took a very wise man like Gamaliel with very wise reasoning, to keep the distinguished Sanhedrin from literally turning into a pack of wolves and devouring the Apostles right then and there. Acts 7:51-54
P. & J. beaten ANYWAY. Like Jesus was. But the church of Christ is never deterred by persecution Injustices
Gamaliel s counsel not only stops an execution, it supports (in a form) The Gospel Message. And the gates of Hades shall not overwhelm it. Mt. 16:18b Divine Deliverance
Jesus was/is the leader of the Eternal church. He was killed. But today, due to the work of GOD, the world is faced with a blood stained Cross, an empty tomb and with tens of millions of followers All essentially preaching the same message Peter preached- Divine Deliverance
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31 He is the One whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him. Divine Deliverance
All the evidence pointed to the fact that God was in this, and that Jesus was/is the Christ, and that to oppose the Gospel, is to oppose God. Divine Deliverance
41 So the Apostles went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. The Sanhedrin lost. Because, no one can oppose God and win. Acts 5:41-42
By faith we obey His commands, (Noah) Preparing for the future (Joseph) Facing our giants (David) and our hungry Lions (Daniel) KNOWING that- Through the message of the blood stained Cross and empty tomb of Jesus Christ, we can be a type of Savior, sharing the Words of Life with a lost and dying world Divine Deliverance
When opposed- We answer in Faith, We must obey God rather than men rejoicing, that we have been considered worthy to suffer shame for His Name. (Acts 5:29, 41). Will you join us in this Movement? Will you obey the Gospel and stand with us & Christ? Popularity, Persecution, and the Deliverance of God