INTRODUCTION

Christians ought to be the best possible citizens of the country in which they live. Their heavenly citizenship in the kingdom of God does not nullify but rather increases their responsibilities in their earthly citizenship, since they recognize earthly rulers as in a sense ministers of God [Romans 13:1-7].

Sometimes, however, earthly rulers set themselves in wicked opposition to the God they either do not know or knowingly disobey. Even so, we are still under divine command to obey human authority so far as we can without disobedience to God. If we follow apostolic example, it is only when the orders of human authorities directly conflict with our duty to God that we are justified in maintaining that "we ought to obey God rather than men."

As we find in our lesson, when worldly rulers interfere with the preaching of the gospel there is such a conflict, so that faithful servants of God must disobey men in order to obey our higher Authority.

The following outline may be useful:

1. Arrest, Acts 5:17-20.
a. Priestly persecutors, 17-18.
b. Prompted preachers, 19-20.

2. Alarm, Acts 5:21-23.
a. Morning meetings, 21.
b. Missing martyrs, 22-23.

3. Abeyance, Acts 5:24-26.
a. Disturbing doubts, 24.
b. Daring demeanor, 25.
c. Delicate delivery, 26.

4. Adjuration, Acts 5:27-28.
a. Council condemning, 27.
b. Council complaining, 28.

5. Affirmation, Acts 5:29-32.
a. God the sovereign, 29-30.
b. God the Savior, 31-32. 

NOTES ON THE TEXT:

ARREST, Acts 5:17-20.

Previous context tells of the phenomenal growth of the early church with its preaching of the resurrection of the crucified Savior — preaching and witnessing accompanied by miraculous manifestations of the power of the Holy Spirit, including miracles of healing. To the 120 members of the church before Pentecost [Acts 1:15] about 3,000 souls were added at Pentecost [2:41], and somewhat later about 5,000 more men, not counting women and children [4:4].

Beyond all this, we read that "believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women" [5:14]. It almost seems that conversions came so fast that there was no longer any attempt to keep an exact count, though of course we can be sure that God knew each one. We may conservatively guess that by this time the church at Jerusalem could very easily have numbered from 25,000 to 50,000 members.

Naturally the religious leaders who had rejected the Christ and had brought about His crucifixion were concerned about this amazingly successful ministry of His apostles. As they had misused their authority against Christ, so now they arrested His apostles.

Priestly persecutors, 17-18.

Historically, religious persecutors have been among the most cruel and pitiless in persecuting religions which they disapprove. It is sad to read of the high priest and his associates doing violence to the chosen messengers of the God they professed to serve; but those priests were Sadducees, the "liberals" or "modernists" of their day, whose infidelity had long since disgraced and degraded their office.

Prompted Preachers, 19-20.

For this time, however, God chose not to permit His preachers to be silenced; and so "the angel of the Lord" brought the apostles out of the prison and prompted them to preach "the words of this life" to the people in the temple.

ALARM, Acts 5:21-23.

Usually an escape of prisoners is cause for alarm to the authorities, but in this case the alarm was delayed because the miraculous escape was not immediately discovered.

Morning Meetings, 21.

While the apostles were holding a meeting or meetings in the temple, the high priest and his fellow officials arranged a meeting to "try" the men they had put in prison.

Missing Martyrs, 22-23.

Only when the officers came to the prison to take the prisoners to judgment was it discovered that the prisoners were no longer there.

ABEYANCE, Acts 5:24-26.

The circumstances were startling enough to cause a temporary suspension of violence. God can allow the forces of persecution to run wild or can hold them in abeyance as He will.

Disturbing Doubts, 24.

It is not surprising that members of the priestly crowd were disturbed and perplexed by the report of the empty prison, and were wondering what might happen next.

Daring Demeanor, 25.

Next they learned that the arrested apostles, far from fleeing for their lives, were boldly "standing in the temple, and teaching the people."

Delicate Delivery, 26.

Perhaps with some respect now for the bold apostles, but certainly with considerable fear of a multitude of people sympathetic toward the apostles, the officers handled their prisoners rather delicately "without violence," and so brought them to the council.

ADJURATION, Acts 5:27-28.

So far as the formalities of law are concerned, the apostles were thus brought before a legal court, supposedly to be put on oath and allowed to defend themselves against whatever charges might be brought against them.

Council Condemning, 27.

Really, of course, there could not be much of a "trial." It was a foregone conclusion that the council which had condemned the Master to death would likewise condemn His apostles. They must condemn every threat to their own unbelief and apostasy.

Council complaining, 28.

When they were riotously demanding the crucifixion of Christ, as persuaded by their leaders, the mob had cried out, "His blood be on us, and on our children" [Matthew 27:20-25]. Yet now these same leaders in council complained to the apostles, "Behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us." Few murderers, we may suppose, wish to be reminded of their crime.

AFFIRMATION, Acts 5:29-32.

If the high priest, as spokesman for the council, had hoped to frighten the apostles into silence and submission, he was quickly disappointed. Instead, he had to listen to a courageous affirmation of facts and of faith by "Peter and the other apostles."

God the Sovereign, 29-30.

Here we have the only possible and reasonable attitude for a true believer in the sovereign God: "We ought to obey God rather than men."

This sovereign God overruled the tragedy of the cross with the triumph of the resurrection, so converting the greatest display of wickedness in all history to the greatest display of divine love and righteousness.

Consider the force and the cutting edge of Peter’s words. It was "the God of our fathers," the very God that these religious leaders professed to serve, that "raised up Jesus." And this Jesus was the very One "Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree." Surely this Word was "sharper than any two-edged sword" [Hebrews 4:12].

God the Savior, 31-32.

No defeated martyr could save his followers, but the risen and exalted Christ can be and is both Prince and Savior. He can give repentance to Israel [as also to Gentiles, Acts 11:18], and with repentance the forgiveness of sins. His redeemed people and the Holy Ghost indwelling them "are his witnesses of these things."

CONCLUSION [Acts 5:41]

On the advice of Gamaliel [verses 33-40], the apostles were released for this time, but not until after they had been beaten and "commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus." The apostles did not complain about the beating; rather they rejoiced "that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." We cannot understand the joy of the apostles unless we have their faith.
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[From AAB, April 7, 1978, pp. 2-3. -- jrd]

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