MEMORY VERSE: “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
TEXT: Acts 5:12-42
The Acts of the Apostles chapter five begins with the unsavoury judgment meted on a couple, Animals and Sapphira, for hypocrisy and dishonesty in the early Church. The immediate effect of that was a renewed sense of God’s presence and power in the church. A holy fear effectively kept away lightness of character and superficial profession of faith. God knows how to preserve His presence and power in the church. When God’s presence, power and fear prevail in any church, there will be spectacular conversions, growth, miracles, signs and wonders on one hand, and on the other, persecution, opposition and resistance from the enemies of the gospel. In the case of the early Church in Jerusalem, the adversaries were represented by the high priest, the Sadducees and Jewish council of elders. These people responded to the sweeping revival by arresting and imprisoning the apostles in order to contain their growing influence and acceptance among the people. The way the apostles managed the situation provides us with enduring lessons in Christian comportment, especially in times of persecution and it instructs us on how to handle cases where secular authorities and legislations run contrary to divine commandments and precepts.
REVIVAL AND MIRACLES AFTER JUDGMENT (Acts 5:12-16; 1 Timothy 4:20; 2 Samuel 6:5-12; Acts 4:29,30; John 3:2; Revelation 19:20)
“And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch” (verse 12). The timely rooting out of the seed of hypocrisy represented by the death of Ananias and Sapphira had salutary effects on the church. First, it ushered in a | sense of solemnity among the believers and repelled those whose professions of faith were insincere. Second, there was a sense of holiness following the judgment, which bound sincere believers together in singleness of heart and purpose. Third, it conferred respect on the apostles, for the people magnified them and held them as custodians of God’s power for the benefit of the people. Fourth, the people gave more diligence to the apostles’ doctrine. The experience of the early Church shows clearly that a church that stands steadfast on the truth will attract those who genuinely thirst and hunger for true righteousness to itself. On the other hand, there were those who, rather than be affected positively by a sanctifying fear of sin and its consequences, chose to abandon the fellowship in a defeatist fear. It was written about them: “And of the rest durst no man join himself to them”. However, the divinely appointed way to effectively escape God’s judgment is not by distancing oneself from His.. commandments, but by repenting from sin and accepting Christ as Saviour. The judgment visited on. Ananias and Sapphira is representative of discipline in the church. The purpose of rebuke and discipline in the church is to instil “godly sorrow [which] worketh repentance to salvation” (2 Corinthians 7:10). “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear” (1 Timothy 5:20). In spite of the temporary pain or shame of discipline or judgment visited on those who sinned, we should consider the unspeakable blessings discipline brings on those who receive it with sincerity of heart. The same hand that punished Uzzah’s presumptuous attitude to the ark of God rewarded Obededom for accepting it into his house (2 Samuel 6:5-12). The apostles, while under the first wave of persecution that followed the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful gate, prayed, “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus” (Acts 4:29,30). It was apparent that they reaped the harvest of their prayer as “There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one” (Acts 5:16). Miracles of God’s mercy have often attended the preaching of the Word by His ministers. Such miracles serve important complementary roles in the gospel ministry. In the case of the apostles, they proved the divine origin and approval of their doctrine. Two, they relieved the people’s sufferings and confirmed the Scripture that “…godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). Three, the apostles were encouraged and emboldened to preach even more fervently in spite of the attendant opposition and persecution. Four, they helped to convince sceptics who would otherwise not come to the faith, by lending credence to their divine commission (Acts 8:6). Nichodemus said concerning Christ, “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:2). However, it must be emphasised that miracles are not an end in themselves; they are meant to lead us to the saving grace in Christ. Jesus condemned the error of running after miracles without appreciating their deeper spiritual significance. He rebuked the Jews who benefited from the miracle of the loaves without the spiritual purpose. “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed” (John 6:26,27). Besides, not all seeming miracles are truly from God. A prayerful examination of the miracle-worker’s antecedents and lifestyle may help distinguish true servants of God from deceivers. For, “Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16).
RESISTANCE AND OPPOSITION BY HERETICS (Acts 5:17-25; 2 Timothy 3:12; Luke 1:75; 2 Corinthians 1:10)
The spiritual gifts operating in the ministry of the apostles led to the conversion of many souls and a harvest of spectacular miracles. They also stirred up bitter opposition from the high priest, the Sadducees and the council of elders of the Jews (the Sanhedrin). “Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison” (verses 17,18). The reason for opposing the gospel is basically the same at that time as it is presently. Persecution often arises as a response to a perceived threat to the interest of the persecutor. The high priest feared that he would lose his authority, dignity and grip on the people if the doctrine of the apostles should gain ground. With him were the Sadducees whose stake was that the gospel ran contrary to their own doctrine and tradition because it promoted the concept of a world to come, the reality of resurrection and the existence of angels and spirits, all of which they did not believe. Their common fear was that embracing the gospel would lead to repudiating the tenets of their false doctrine and the loss of their religious authority. Today, the reason for the persecution of believers from the religious circle can still be located within the general compass of perceived threats to ungodly personal or partisan interests. Because the gospel is an eye-opener that turns people from the power of Satan to God, satanic agents would always stir up opposition against it. In the case of the apostles, they were arrested and confined to a prison. Their aim was to halt the spread of the gospel, intimidate them and so check their growing influence among the people. God, however, sent an angel to effect their release from prison. It is a great comfort to persecuted saints in all ages that God’s care is over them even in the severest of persecutions. “But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life” (verses 19,20). Neither the bars of iron and brass nor the vigilance of the guards could stop divine help from reaching the persecuted apostles. They could not stop the resurrection of Christ and cannot stop our Christian witness. The angel’s charge to the liberated apostles was a re- commissioning to do what the high priest and the Sadducees aimed to stop. Similarly, when we receive divine healing or deliverance, it is meant to make us serve God better. The Scripture enjoins, “…that we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies might serve [God] without fear” (Luke 1:74). This is, however, not a case for exposing ourselves unnecessarily to physical dangers but for prudent continuance in what we know to be the will of God, though we are threatened. The high priest summoned the council of the Sanhedrin and the Senate of Israel – a house of about one hundred and sixteen persons and sent for the apostles to be brought. The officers were confounded beyond words upon opening the prison doors, when they found that their prisoners were gone. The consternation of the council of the Sanhedrin when the disappearance of the apostles was announced can be imagined! The lesson here is that God knows how and when to disappoint the expectation of the adversary. He delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fiery furnace; Daniel from the den of lions and Peter from Herod’s prison. Every persecuted believer can equally expect God’s power on their side. He who delivered them from so great a death, can be trusted to deliver us also (2 Corinthians 1:10).
RESPONSE OF THE REDEEMED TO PERSECUTION (Acts 5:26-42; Jeremiah 1:7; Isaiah 58:1; Hebrews 2:3)
It was written concerning the apostles that “with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 4:33). But as we observe their conduct and comportment under fiery persecution, it seems that they exhibited even more divine grace and power in their suffering than in their preaching. Their conduct under persecution provides a good challenge to other believers. In obedience to the express command of the angel, the apostles went back to the synagogue to preach to the people. It was from there they quietly submitted themselves to arrest and arraignment when they came for them. They were charged for disobeying the order prohibiting them from preaching Christ. Peter and John had, when they were first commanded not to speak at all or preach in the name of Jesus, made it clear that “. “…we cannot but speak of the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). Now, on this second occasion, the question was, “Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us” (Acts 5:28). The apostles’ answer was in the same tenor as before, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (verse 29). They followed up with an eloquent message to the council. The reply of the apostles is highly instructive. One, it was precise and in consonance with logic and commonsense. They affirmed clearly their loyalty to the higher authority of God’s command, which the Sanhedrin sought to contradict. Two, they were unequivocal in telling them the truth about their sin in killing Christ, although they knew that they would be unwilling to hear it. Jeremiah was commanded, “be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them” (Jeremiah 1:17) Similarly Prophet Isaiah wrote “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet and shew my people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1). Three, their reasoning to justify obedience to Christ’s commission was firmly grounded in the Old Testament Scripture, which the Sanhedrin themselves admitted. Starting from the point of common agreement, they showed that God ordained what they preached and affirmed. The lesson in all these is the need to clearly articulate our Christian perspective whenever the need arises. The response of the Sanhedrin to the eloquent exposition of the gospel by the apostles was typical of hardened religious sinners. The Sanhedrin were supposed to be men of learning and reason, yet their response to the clear defence of the gospel was disappointing. Like many, they were angry to be confronted with the error of their ways. Rather than repent, they became angry and plotted to kill them. Some people would not examine the evidence of the gospel nor advancé valid reasons to refute it, but because it runs against their lives, they reject it. God indeed has many weapons in His armoury. In this instance, He raised an escape route for the apostles through the mouth of a member of the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel. He argued against killing the apostles and counselled them to let them alone, on the grounds that they would fizzle out if the movement is of human origin. If however, it is of God, it would be tantamount to fighting against Him to try to suppress it. In spite of the obvious injustice and indignity meted out to the apostles, they neither reviled nor threatened anyone. They meekly submitted their plight to the righteous Judge. They considered it an honour that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ. In it all, their passion for souls was not abated. What a challenge to present-day believers!
Questions for review:
What were the effects of the divine judgment of Ananias and Sapphira on the early Church?
Explain the purpose of discipline and rebuke in the church.
What is the role of miracles in the preaching of the gospel?
Identify the basic reason for the opposition of the gospel.
What can we learn from the miraculous release of the apostles from prison and the directive that they go back to the synagogue to continue preaching?
Mention at least two other instances in the Bible when God intervened to deliver persecuted believers.
7. What can believers learn from the response of the apostles to the charge levelled against them before the Sanhedrin?
