Do you fear humans or God?
Acts 5 has revealed much about the fear of God, how valuable, and what a blessing it is. The second arrest of the Apostles contrasts the fear of God and it’s transformative power with the fear of human beings and is debilitating consequences. The weak are raised up by fear in God and the strong and wise (by wordly standards) are crushed by their fear of human beings. The current powerlessness of the Church proves that we need to repent of our lack of fear of God and plead with Him to restore it.
Scripture
Acts 5:17-42 ESV But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy [18] they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. [19] But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, [20] “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” [21] And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. [22] But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, [23] “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” [24] Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. [25] And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” [26] Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. [27] And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, [28] saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” [29] But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. [30] The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. [31] God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. [32] And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” [33] When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. [34] But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. [35] And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. [36] For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. [37] After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. [38] So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; [39] but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, [40] and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [41] Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. [42] And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
Bible study questions
The deceitfulness of human intellect
Sadducees were rationalists that prized their own intellect and knowledge. The high priest was highly educated, powerful, wealthy and influential, why would he possibly be so jealous of a few simple fisherman?
Acts 5:17-18 ESV But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy [18] they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.
The unavoidable truth of the Scriptures
Sadducees don’t believe in angels or in life after death, they didn’t believe all of the Bible was from God and rejected parts of it.. Ironically, God chooses to send an angel to set his Apostles free. What does that tell us about how careful we should be with our beliefs and make sure that they are rooted in all the Scriptures?
Acts 5:19-21 ESV But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, [20] “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” [21] And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
The blindness of misplaced fear
Despite the inexplicable miracle of the release of the Apostles and the testimony of their fearless committent to preaching the Gospel, the religious leaders were still more afraid of the people than of God? What does that tell you about their relationship with God?
Acts 5:22-26 ESV Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. [22] But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, [23] “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” [24] Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. [25] And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” [26] Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
The power of the clarity of purpose
Despite their dire circumstances and their being overpowered and outnumbered, the Apostles show no fear of the people who have the power to execute them like they executed Jesus. The religious leaders show their fears and concerns by what they say, while Peter shows his fears by what he says. What is the difference between the Apostles and the religious leaders?
Acts 5:27-29 ESV And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, [28] saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” [29] But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
The conviction of the Gospel
The religious leaders were jealous and angry that the Apostles didn’t fear them, but they become enraged to the point of murderous intent at what the Apostles answer. What causes this severe reaction?
Acts 5:30-33 ESV The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. [31] God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. [32] And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” [33] When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
The endurance of God’s Gospel
Gamaliel was a Pharisee like Paul. He was different in his beliefs to the Sadducees, he believed in life after death and the authority of all Scripture, yet hel more tightly to human traditions than to the Scriptures. Nevertheless he spoke wisely and warned the leaders not to oppose God. What does the fact that the Christian Church has prospered over the last 2000 years tell you about it’s origin, and Who the leaders were actually opposing? What can we learn from Gamaliel in our own walk of faith?
Acts 5:34-39 ESV But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. [35] And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. [36] For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. [37] After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. [38] So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; [39] but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,
The shame and glory of preaching the Gospel
The Apostles were shamed and dishonoured by people but honoured by God. What did this realisation sit up in their hearts and how did it affect their ministries?
Acts 5:40-42 ESV and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. [41] Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. [42] And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.