Acts 5:33-42
33When they heard this, they
were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34But a Pharisee in the council named
Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and
ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. 35Then he said to them,
“Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you propose to do to these men.
36For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of
men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was killed, and all who followed
him were dispersed and disappeared.
37After him Judas the Galilean rose up at
the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all
who followed him were scattered. 38So in the present case, I tell you, keep
away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this
undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; 39but if it is of God, you will
not be able to overthrow them—in that case you may even be found fighting
against God!” They were convinced by him, 40and when they had called in the
apostles, they had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the
name of Jesus, and let them go. 41As they left the council, they rejoiced that
they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. 42And
every day in the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim
Jesus as the Messiah.
What was it they heard that so enraged them and they wanted
to kill them?
Peter and John were opening preaching, and the priest and
Sadducees recognized them as followers of Jesus. They ordered them not to preach anymore.
Peter and John told them they could not do that, they had to continue
speaking. They were told again to stop
speaking but they would not. The priests and Sadducees wanted to punish them,
but because of the people around, they let Peter and John go. Many went home to
tell what they had heard and began to following their teachings.
Eventually, the high priest took action and arrested Peter
and John and put them in prison. But they kept right on speaking in prison and
during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors. Again, Peter and John are brought back, but
they say they must obey God rather than human authority. Now that got them enraged!
Gamaliel, a teacher of the law gets up and speaks about
others who commanded followers, when they were gone, so were the
followers. He names some examples. Gamaliel rationalizes if this is of human
origin, it too will pass. If from God, you will not be able to overthrow him,
and in fact will be fighting again GOD!
So they brought in Peter and John, did not kill them but had them
flogged, and again instructed them to not speak the name of Jesus, and then let
them go. But they kept right no
speaking.
I wonder, is our commitment to God, to Jesus as strong. Is mine?
I don’t like pain, flogging would have done me in—I think I would rather
have died.
Using Gamaliel’s explanation, surely this is of God, for we
are here centuries after Peter and John, centuries after those who followed
them, and so on. It is now our call to
speak and share, to risk in order to proclaim Jesus in all we do and say.
Eternal God, you sent your Son to bring life and healing to
this broken world. We love you and we
want to share this with others, but there is risk. Risk of being labeled a Bible beater, a goody
two shoes, and for some even the risk of losing our life. Encourage, in courage us to stay strong, to
not let anything get in the way of living our life in you. Amen
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