The Second and Third Arrests of the Apostles
Acts 5:17-42
17 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, 18 And laid their
hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19 But the
angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and
said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the
words of this life. 21 And when they heard that, they entered into
the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they
that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the
children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22
But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned,
and told, 23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety,
and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we
found no man within. 24 Now when the high priest and the captain of
the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them
whereunto this would grow. 25 Then came one and told them, saying,
Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching
the people. 26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought
them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been
stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the
council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, 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. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought
to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up
Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted
with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to
Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of
these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that
obey him. 33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and
took counsel to slay them. 34 Then stood there up one in the
council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation
among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 35
And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to
do as touching these men. 36 For before these days rose up Theudas,
boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred,
joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were
scattered, and brought to nought. 37 After this man rose up Judas of
Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also
perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. 38
And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this
counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: 39 But if it
be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against
God. 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the
apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the
name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the
presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer
shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house,
they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Introduction:
Reminder: Title(s) of Acts?
The Acts of the
Ascended Christ through the Holy Spirit by His Apostles
Review 5:1-16
Overview/Introduction of Chapter 5:
Patterns:
1. miracles → witness
2. preaching to the Jews → Gospel rejected by the Jews → preaching to the Gentiles
3. Jewish opposition to the Gospel and
persecution of the Christians →
the spread of the Christians and the Gospel
Significant events - Between the
first two “Pentecosts” (Jewish in Acts 2, and Samaritan in Acts 8), and
following the birth of the Church in Acts 2
Significant persons - Peter is
at the forefront here, later Paul’s ministry will be the focus
Geographical movement - still in
Jerusalem (Acts 1:8), soon to move to Judea and Samaria prior to the journeys
to “the ends of the earth”
Outline:
I. Freed From Prison (5:17-25)
II. Fill the World (5:26-33)
III. For His Name (5:34-42)
Transition: Probably not many here have experienced being
arrested twice in one night!
I. Freed From
Prison (5:17-25)
17 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, 18 And laid their
hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19 But the
angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and
said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the
words of this life. 21 And when they heard that, they entered into
the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they
that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the
children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22
But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned,
and told, 23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety,
and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we
found no man within. 24 Now when the high priest and the captain of
the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them
whereunto this would grow. 25 Then came one and told them, saying,
Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching
the people.
esp. vv. 19-21
1. Who?
2. How?
3. What?
4. Why?
1. Who?
“19. the angel.
Ac 8:26. 10:3. 11:13. *12:7-11, 23. *16:26. 27:23. Jg 6:12. 13:3. Ps 34:7.
105:17-20. 146:7. Is 61:1. Mt 1:20, 24. 2:13, 19. 28:2. Lk 1:11. 2:9. He *1:14.”
[Smith, J. H.
(1992). The new treasury of scripture knowledge:
The most complete listing of cross references available anywhere- every verse,
every theme, every important word (1242). Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson.]
“5:19 The
phrase “an angel of the Lord” for a heavenly messenger occurs several times in
Acts (5:19; 7:30 [D 33 1739 ]; 8:26; 12:7, 23; cf. 7:38; 12:11; cf. “angel of
God” [10:3; 27:23]) and elsewhere in the NT. It reproduces the common OT
designation for God’s agents. In the OT, however, there is some reference to a
specific figure, “the angel of the Lord,”
and it is a moot point whether this figure is intended here (Barrett 1994–1998:
284).”
[Beale, G.
K., & Carson, D. A. (2007). Commentary
on the New Testament use of the Old Testament (554). Grand Rapids, MI;
Nottingham, UK: Baker Academic; Apollos.]
2. How?
You can no more explain this deliverance than you can
your’s from sin!
There are no details here about the “how”. The focus is on the simple fact of the event,
and especially the “why”!
3. What?
Remember Giant Despair and the Key of Promise
“My chains fell off…”
Christ led captivity captive!
Christ set the prisoners free!
1)
Prisons of the mind, emotions and the will
2)
Prisons of family, culture and circumstances
3)
Prisons of limitations, background and inabilities
The prison doors are open to believers! There is not a lock made by man that can hold
you against the will of God! Whom God
sets free is free indeed!
4. Why?
“all the words of this life” - to whom shall we go? You
have the Word of Life!
“20…..all the words…..Ac
11:14. 13:26. Ex 24:3. Jn 6:63, 68. 12:50. 17:3, 8. Ph 2:16. 1 J 1:1-3. 5:11,
12.”
[Smith, J. H.
(1992). The new treasury of scripture knowledge:
The most complete listing of cross references available anywhere- every verse,
every theme, every important word (1242). Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson.]
Freed to preach!
Freed to be witnesses!
Is “freedom” just another word for nothing left to lose?
You always have something to lose!
The world or your soul? Which will it be?
Transition: Divine deliverance has a counterpart on the
slavery of sin! Has Christ set you free?
Or are you still in bondage? If Christ has freed you then you are free indeed! If He has not, then your bondage is fearful
indeed! If someone speaks to me of their freedom, I want to know
who freed them. There is no freedom, liberty, or liberation to anyone
whom Christ has not freed! Slaves in Christ are freer than any imagined “freed man”
apart from Christ. In fact, there is no
comparison! Christ is the only Deliverer, the only Liberator, the only
Emancipator in the entire Universe!
II. Fill the
World (5:26-33)
26 Then
went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they
feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 27 And when
they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest
asked them, 28 Saying, 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. 29 Then Peter
and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged
on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a
Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of
sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also
the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 33 When
they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
1. The Third Arrest of the Apostles (5:26-28)
2. The Defense of the Apostles (5:29-32)
3. The Effects on the Council (5:33)
1. The Third
Arrest of the Apostles (5:26-28)
The
Double Indictment of the Apostles (5:28):
(1) ye have filled Jerusalem with
your doctrine
The earth shall be filled with
the knowledge of the Lord
Turn the world upside down!
“noised abroad”
(2) and intend to bring this man’s
blood upon us
2. The Defense
of the Apostles (5:29-32)
1)
The Single Answer to the Indictments (5:29) -
We
ought to obey God rather than men
2) The Double Reason for the Exaltation of Jesus
Christ (5:30-31):
(1) to be a Prince and a Saviour
(2) for to give repentance to
Israel, and forgiveness of sins
3)
The Double Witnesses to the Person and Work of Christ (5:32):
(1) The Apostles - And we are his witnesses of
these things
(2) The Holy Ghost - and so is also the Holy Ghost,
whom
God hath given to them that obey him
3. The Effects
on the Council (5:33)
The Double Impact:
1) they were cut to the heart
2) and took counsel to slay them
Transition: The is an alternative to filling the world
with the teaching of Christ. There is
only one alternative to His fulness.
That alternative is the emptiness of soul and vanity of mind produced by
sin, and sourced in the depravity of human nature apart from Christ.
III. For His
Name (5:34-42)
34 Then
stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the
law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles
forth a little space; 35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take
heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 36
For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom
a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all,
as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. 37
After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew
away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed
him, were dispersed. 38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these
men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will
come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest
haply ye be found even to fight against God. 40 And to him they
agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded
that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were
counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the
temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
esp. vv. 40-42
1.
Gamaliel’s Warning to the Council (5:34-39)
2. The
Council’s Agreement with Gamaliel’s Warning (5:40)
3. The
Apostles’ Responses to the Council’s Actions (5:41-42)
1. Gamaliel’s
Warning to the Council (5:34-39)
34 Then
stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the
law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles
forth a little space; 35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take
heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 36
For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom
a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all,
as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. 37
After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew
away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed
him, were dispersed. 38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these
men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will
come to nought: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest
haply ye be found even to fight against God.
“The Gamaliel in question here was Gamaliel I, who is
referred to in several places in the rabbinic literature, though surprisingly
sparsely for a man of his stature. He was the son or grandson of the famous
Hillel and seemed to have been at the prime of his influence from about a.d. 25–50. Rabbinic tradition gives him
the title of Nasi, or president of the high court, and has his son Simeon
follow him in that role. His grandson Gamaliel II held the presidency after a.d. 90, when the court met at Jamnia.
Perhaps nowhere is the esteem in which he was held better expressed than in the
following statement of the Mishna:
“When Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died, the glory of the Law ceased and purity
and abstinence died.” For Christians he is best known through his pupil, Paul
(Acts 22:3).”
[Polhill, J.
B. (1995). Vol. 26: Acts. The New American Commentary (171).
Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.]
“Turner cites Zerwick who says in part, “Gamaliel seems
strangely biased. He says doubtfully, “If it should be of men” but confidently
“If (as it seems) it is of God,” the one hypothetical, the other “real” (Nigel
Turner and James Hope Moulton, A Grammar
of New Testament Greek, vol. 3, p. 114). A. T. Robertson states “This
condition assumes that the thing is
so without affirming it to be true” (Word Pictures, vol. 3, p. 69).”
[Smith, J. H.
(1992). The new treasury of scripture
knowledge: The most complete listing of cross references available anywhere-
every verse, every theme, every important word (1243). Nashville TN: Thomas
Nelson.]
2. The
Council’s Agreement with Gamaliel’s Warning (5:40)
40 And to him they agreed: and when
they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should
not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
3. The
Apostles’ Responses to the Council’s Actions (5:41-42)
41 And they departed from the
presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer
shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house,
they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Transition: We may minister for His Name, and we may witness for His Name, or we may not do so at all. We have no power or authority otherwise. The
alternative is to have no answer when asked in whose name we speak and teach
and minister and witness. If we do so in
His Name, we can only do so based on His authority, and in faithfulness to His
teachings. Any ministry or witness that
does not accord to His doctrine is invalid under His universally absolute authority and is therefore not “in His Name”!
This is an all or nothing proposition.
The Sovereign Savior will not tolerate compromise when it comes to His
Name. Human authority goes “out the
window”, and is non-existent when it comes to the obedience of Christ’s
witnesses to His Humiliation and Exaltation!
Conclusion:
We have been freed from prison to fill the world for His
Name!
[Sermon preached 29
SEP 2013 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown,
PA.]
Resources:
G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old
Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.
Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W.
Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007).
F. F. Bruce, The
Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd
ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).
I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And
Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New
Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).
David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentaries,
gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).
John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed.
David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992).
Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New
Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012).
William H. Willimon, Acts, in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching,
series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed. Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville,
KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).
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