Thoughts From Acts 5 - Part 3

 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. Acts 5:27-42

        Gamaliel was right, if this teaching is of God, no matter what you do to the followers of Jesus, it can't be stopped. His belief was incomplete though because if a teaching is from Satan it can't be stopped either like Mormonism or Islaam. The Sanhedrin was mistaken in thinking that they were in power or control at all. The reality is that there is an unseen world that is in control and although we have illusions of control and in charge of our destiny, if our eyes could be opened we would see, like Gehazi Elisha's servant, armies of angels in fiery chariots surrounding us. The Sanhedrin was like people in The Matrix having the impression they were living a free life in power in charge and living a great life, all the while being plugged into a large energy complex being used as a battery. (that made no sense unless you've seen the movie)

       The Sanhedrin wasn't in charge and Jesus promised that the gates of hell would not stand against His church. Nothing could stop the spread of the gospel and here we are 2000 years later and the gospel is still expanding. We saw 7 people baptized this past Sunday! Satan's main tactic now is having Christians suffer for proclaiming the name of Jesus, but that didn't work back then and it doesn't work now because suffering just brings us closer to Jesus and more passionate for Him.

       I love the last verse and would want it proclaimed at my funeral - "Jim never stopped proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah." Or better yet, " Day after day, Jim never stopped proclaiming that Jesus was his Lord and Savior, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the only way to the Father." Can that be said about you? I hope it's always said about me!