*Acts 5:17-42
Arrested for preaching, the apostles are freed by an angel and defiantly return to teaching about Jesus.
- The Apostles Arrested and Freed:
- The high priest and his associates, who are Sadducees, are filled with jealousy and arrest the apostles, placing them in the public jail.
- An angel of the Lord opens the prison doors during the night and brings them out, instructing them to go to the temple courts and continue teaching the people about the new life in Jesus.
- The apostles obey and start teaching in the temple courts at daybreak.
- The Apostles on Trial Again:
- When the high priest and his council gather and send for the apostles in jail, they find them missing and later learn they are teaching in the temple.
- The apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin without violence, as the guards fear the people might stone them.
- The high priest questions them, accusing them of intending to bring Jesus’ blood upon them, despite being previously ordered not to teach in His name.
- Peter and the apostles respond, “We must obey God rather than human beings,” asserting that God raised Jesus, whom they had killed by hanging him on a cross.
- Gamaliel’s Advice:
- A Pharisee named Gamaliel, a respected law teacher, advises caution and tolerance toward the apostles.
- He references past movements that failed after their leaders died and suggests that if this movement is of human origin, it will fail, but if it is from God, they will not be able to stop it and may even find themselves fighting against God.
- The council is persuaded by Gamaliel, has the apostles flogged, orders them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then releases them.
- The Apostles’ Reaction:
- The apostles leave the Sanhedrin rejoicing because they were counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
- Despite the warnings and the beating, they continue to teach and proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Messiah every day in the temple courts and from house to house.
Acts 5:17-42 teaches us to stay faithful to God, even when we face challenges. The apostles were arrested for preaching about Jesus, but they didn’t stop—they kept sharing the good news because they knew obeying God was more important than pleasing people. Even when they were punished, they rejoiced because they were serving Jesus. We can apply this by standing firm in our faith, even when it’s difficult. Instead of being discouraged by opposition, we should trust that God is with us and keep sharing His love with others, knowing that following Him is always worth it.
Acts 5:17-42 (WEB)
5:17 But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy 18 and laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody. 19 But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said, 20 “Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”21 When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest and those who were with him came and called the council together, with all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this. 25 One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.27 When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. 32 We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them. 34 But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while. 35 He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. 38 Now I tell you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown. 39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”40 They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.42 Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.