OPENED DOORS AND CLOSED MINDS
#775 OPENED DOORS AND CLOSED MINDS
Scripture Acts 5:17-42, NIV Orig. 2/17/1980
Passage: 17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.
When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.
25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.
27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
Purpose: To teach the message of the Book of Acts, that we as God’s own people are to be faithful to Him above all of the other events of our lives.
Keywords: Bible Study, Acts Testimony Faithfulness Trust
Timeline/Series: Acts
Introduction
One of the interesting early stories out of the Olympic Games was that of the Taiwanese. You will recall that it had its inception years ago, when a small colony of Chinese took up their positions on the island fortress of Formosa, and with America’s firm resolve, dared the red Chinese military machine to do anything about it. They referred to themselves as the true republic of China, and flew the flag of their homeland.
But in more recent days, the doors of communication and commerce have opened between China and America. In an effort to keep that door open, earth-shaking decisions had to be made about that national entity and flag that have sent Taiwanese/American relations reeling.
The Taiwanese try to enter the ’76 Olympics under the name and flag of their heritage. They were denied. They tried again at Lake Placid, and for these simple, sincere people, the lake wasn’t very placid. They wanted to enter as the appropriately recognized people of the Republic of China. That distinction had been given to the athletes of mainland China. Their pleas were rejected by the Olympic committees, and even by the Supreme Court of the State of New York. The Committee, in an effort to placate, offer to enter them under a neutral flag bearing the Olympic symbol. They refused. The members of the American team offered to give them quarter under the American flag as brothers and sisters in sport. Again they refused. If they could not participate as the national entity to which they felt they were entitled, they would not participate at all.
How strongly do we wear the badges which identify us? To what degree would we go to let the world know how deeply we are moved by love for our country? More important! How faithful to the task of being believers in an unbelieving world are we? What price are we willing to pay so that all may know that we are followers of the “King of Kings”? Tonight we examine the faithfulness of the early church to stand for the things that matter.
I. Setting the Tone. V12, The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. . . . More and more men and women believed in the Lord. . . . Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem.
Note the commonality of consequence with what has happened in Acts 4:1-31. After a busy day, apostles are arrested:
· Peter and John [and other] apostles (Mark 13:9);
· A night spent in jail;
· A warning from the religious leaders (Acts 4;19, Judge what you would do—we obey God, and Acts 5:29, We choose to obey God rather than you). Recall the similar circumstances of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: “Even if our God does not deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, be it known that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image”;
· Their release—natural, supernatural;
· An enlarged enthusiasm for the believers.
Note also, the reasons for the religious leaders’ concern. Note first, what they are. They are the priests and the Sadducees, the people of wealth and power who have the most to lose in an upsurgence. They are the security people who have a job to do, no matter that some heads get broken. They are the Pharisees who are the “separatists.” They keep the law, and they don’t care what happens to those who don’t. Note, additionally, what the believers were. They were a people in whose lives miracles were working. Can’t argue with a miracle. They were a people in total unanimity, v12. Growing numbers were being added to the faith.
II. Squelching the Testimony of the Saints. Acts 4:18, commanded . . . not to speak or teach at all; 5:18, arrested and put in a public jail; 5:40, They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus.
There is a developing pattern of sameness that not only frustrates but frightens the religious leaders. The believers are not intimidated. They are not afraid—frankly, they are acting a little too much like Jesus acted, and they could see themselves losing. It almost seems that these people are enjoying this; joy is the quality of the Christian life that Satan can’t handle.
Then, the worst conceivable thing happens, and they are inexplicably linked to Christ and His death. These Jewish leaders went through the farce of a trial, the agony of a crucifixion, and there was Jesus. They have threatened these men, they have put them in jail—coerced and intimidated and hated. You will indeed drink of my cup and be baptized with my baptism, Matthew 10:39. Now, like Jesus, they are out there walking around, teaching. V19, someone (angel, messenger) who knew his way around this prison, and the will of God, led them out and sent them on their way to speak “in the temple.” Can you imagine the rage of these men when they were informed? “They are not there. They have been spirited away.” The doors were closed. The guards were on duty. Sounds almost like a repeat scene from the “garden tomb.”
III. Sounding their Trust. V29, . . . “We must obey God rather than men.” The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead. . . . We are witnesses of these things.
This harassment had not intimidated their faith. Undauntedly, at dawn’s early light, they move back to the scene of prior victory. Acts 2:46, 3:11, 5:12. V20, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people . . . all the words of this life. Life: not just a new gloss to an old law; not different answers to the same tired rhetoric; not a bandaged up hope to replace the fragmented one; a new life. They moved back to that place to proclaim the message that had brought healing and freedom. Remember, Acts 2:22, identified Peter as the first Christian apologist, and identified his message. “Jesus, who was one of you, proved his credentials, but you, by wicked hands, crucified and killed, whom God raised up.”
The siege guns of legalism are being brought into place but the believers continue to show the way to those who will follow. They still care even about these persecutors. V28, You have filled Jerusalem with this teaching and now try to bring this man’s blood on us. Blood on the Jew, Matthew 27:25.
#157, Alas, and did my Saviour bleed, And did my Sovereign die. #158, What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. #159, Would you be free from the burden of sin? There’s power in the blood. #162, Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? #164, Dark is the stain that we cannot hide. What can avail to wash it away? Look there is flowing a crimson tide; whiter than snow you may be today.
They know that only this message will bring peace with God. V30f, The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of Sins.
IV. Stating the Terms of the Confrontation. V38f, . . . . Work be of madmen, it will come to naught: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Position, power, and wealth have said we will broach no quarter with these teachings. The most difficult responsibility the Christian gospel has today is to make inroads in a self-centered, sadistic, sophisticated society.
The theologically learned say that they will broach no quarter with these new teachings. Jewish history tells us about Gamaliel, a Pharisee (separatist), perhaps one of the most highly respected of all teachers. Chances are it will fail—Theudas, Judas/Galilee; outside chance it is of God; I wonder if we have ever been kept from doing something foolish because one man kept his senses about him.
The followers of Jesus say, “We’ll go on our way preaching the Word, rejoicing in any wounds that come in his name.” They were a people with singleness of purpose, to obey the commission of their Lord. It has been clearly fixed in their minds that there are limits on the Christian’s duty to the State, but none on their duty to Jesus. Aware of the Rightness of their position simply because God’s Holy Spirit affirms by His presence. V32, We are witnesses of these things; and so also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
They have already discovered that there are going to be some problems in their midst that the best technique for remedy is to let God handle it. Because, Brother, you may be wrong.
They have also discovered that joy in suffering is a unique New Testament experience. Punished like Jesus, Luke 22:63, to take skin off. I Peter 4:13, But rejoice inasmuch as ye are part in Christ’s sufferings. Philippians 1:29, For unto you it is given, . . . not only to believe . . . but also to suffer for him.