Bible Commentaries
Acts 5

Verses 17-32

The Trials and Triumphs of Apostolic Testimony

Acts 5:17-32

INTRODUCTORY WORDS

Those were momentous days. On the part of the Apostles they were days of continued testimony, God working with miracles and signs and wonders. On the part of the High Priest and of the rulers of Israel they were days of timorous tremblings. The new faith was shaking the very foundations of Judaistic traditions.

The High Priest knew no recourse to prayer; he had no hope of Divine interposition in his behalf, for he knew that God was working with the Apostles. However the High Priest felt that something severe had to be done. Thus we read of

I. PERSECUTION AND IMPRISONMENT

Let us quote, in full, Acts 5:17-18 :

"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.

"And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison."

Persecution has always been fostered by a false and Godless religious system, centered in corrupt headship. Men who worship God in truth, need not press their cause by the sword.

The truth is that Satan's tactics against the early Church, as fostered by the High Priest and by his religious leaders, failed utterly to stop the progress of the Truth. Satan learned that the blood of martyrs became the seed of the Church. Where he slew one Christian a dozen more seemed to spring up as by magic.

It is not because we have reached in the twentieth century an era of advance in social ethics that the blood of the martyrs has ceased to flow. In proof of this we need but to point to the carnage and slaughter that marked the recent world war, when intellectuals and ethical propagandists faced each other in the most abhorrent butchery that the world has ever known. The blood of the martyrs has ceased to flow because their blood would only add fuel to the fire of truth and spiritual advance.

Satan, today, is following the method of a substitute but false piety, fashioned after the real. He is seeking to engulf the Church by a tidal wave of worldiness. He is endeavoring to beautify the present evil world with a halo of passing glory, that will cause the coming and abiding glory of God's eternal city to fade from view.

Thus it was that the High Priest and the Sadducees filled with indignation, laid their hands on the Apostles and put them into prison.

II. DELIVERANCE AND PREACHING (Acts 5:19 )

Satan and his embassage are helpless before the power of God. Apostles and saints are safe when in the will of God. We do not mean to say that God always delivers His faithful praying and preaching children. Stephen was stoned, James was killed. In fact, many have been the slain of Jehovah. However, Peter was delivered from prison; Paul and Silas were freed from their bonds. Many have been the saints who have been snatched from the hands of the enemy.

Here is the truth whether in death, or in life, God works in wondrous ways His marvels to perform. Therefore, whether it be by death or by life, we, the Lord's children, should always be willing to walk in God's way that His name may be glorified. When Paul went bound to Jerusalem knowing that bonds and imprisonment awaited him, he was the same cheerful, willing, obedient Apostle as when God was delivering him from every evil work.

In the case of Peter and of the other Apostles their work was not yet accomplished, their task was not done, therefore the angel of the Lord was sent to open the prison doors. In after years Peter approached his crucifixion with a courage that was sublime and beautiful.

Let us mark well that Peter and the Apostles were delivered that they might preach the Word of Life. They had not been freed from prison to cowardly run from their persecutors. They were commanded to do again the very thing that had caused them all of their trouble. Here is the statement of Holy Writ: "When they heard that, they entered into the Temple early in the morning, and taught."

III. A NEW NAMING FOR GOD'S GOSPEL (Acts 5:20 )

We feel constrained to tarry a moment as we consider the deep significance of the words of the angel "Speak * * to the people all the words of this life." The words of angels are sure and steadfast. Here then are words worth while. Here are words that carry an angel's estimate of the Gospel of God as Divinely delivered. The words of God are words of life.

Why are the words given by inspiration, "words of life"? They are words of life because they are Living Words. "For the Word of God is quick, and powerful"; that is "The Word of God is living and powerful." All other words written by men may live for a day or, for an age, and then they die. The Word of God, lives in a sense that no other word lives; and it never dies. God's Word is evergreen. Heaven and earth will pass away, but God's Word will never pass away.

Why are the words of God, words of life? They are words of life because they beget life. No word written by man can beget life. "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God." Men's words may be called "living" only in the sense that they exist and carry an influence upon life. However the words of men never beget life, and they are, therefore, in reality dead and not living.

God's Word creates life. Hear the Truth of God: "Receive with meekness the ingrafted Word, which is able to save your souls." Hear again the Truth of God: "So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth; it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please."

Christ said, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

No marvel that the angel commanded the Apostles to preach all of the words of this life, because that is the only preachment that begets life.

IV. FIGHTING AGAINST GOD A FRUITLESS CONFLICT (Acts 5:21-25 )

The Sanhedrin met with unusual pomp. The High Priest, and the council and the senate of Israel gathered with due dignity and ceremony. With a sway of authority suitable to the dignity of so august a body, court was called, and officers were sent to the jail to bring the Apostles before a court of authority in religious matters.

The officers returned from the jail with a most discomfitting announcement. They said, "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."

What amazement filled the minds of the court. They surely saw that they were fighting against God. They had crucified the Lord of glory and imprisoned Him in a tomb, made sure both by "sealing" and by guards, but the Lord had broken the bands of death, and had come forth alive. Now they had imprisoned the Apostles and behind doors shut with all safety and with guards sleeplessly standing by on watch, the Apostles had come forth.

Surely the day of miracles was not passed; surely the God of deliverance was not dead. The angel of the Lord had come forth from God and had opened the prison bars. Beloved, "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"

While prison doors were fastened, and guards stood on their watch their prisoners were standing in the Temple preaching all the words of life, Let no one think that they can wage a successful warfare against God. He who fights God must fall in shame before the Word of His power.

When the High Priest and the captain of the Temple heard these things they wondered whereunto the thing would grow. They felt that their efforts to throttle the Truth had only added fuel to its flame.

Saints of God, be encouraged. Be strong, be fearless. Hold up the hands that hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees; thy God liveth. He will avenge His elect. He will back the testimony of His saints with all the power of Heaven. Why should you cringe and fear before a Godless and Christless world? You are following a Captain who has never known defeat. All hell and earth, and air cannot produce a combined force sufficient to stand against one word from His mouth. "Be strong and of a good courage."

While the "court" stood startled and amazed by God's mighty deliverance, a certain one came and told them, saying, "Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people."

V. TRIED BUT TRIUMPHANT (Acts 5:26-28 )

When with due carefulness the Apostles were finally brought before the Sanhedrin, the high priest asked them, "Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this Name?" Then he charged two things: First, he charged that the Apostles had filled Jerusalem with their doctrine. And, secondly, he charged that they were bringing the Blood of Christ upon him, and upon his colleagues.

It was a spectacle worth witnessing. There stood the Apostles men without human culture or education, but men taught of God, and filled with the Spirit. On the other hand, there were the judges, men who represented the very best of the Jewish nation. The judges were the leaders, the men in authority, the men who laid burdens upon others which were hard to bear. The men before whom the populace were accustomed to bow and cringe.

These very men in after years gave authority to the young man Saul, and sent him forth to Damascus to bring back to prison and perhaps to death all Christians he could find.

Were the Apostles afraid? Not they. Did they cringe, and do obeisance? Not they. Peter and the other Apostles said, "We ought to obey God rather than men,"

Here is the crux of the whole life and testimony of the Christian, and of the Church?

It is true one shall be subject to another. The Holy Spirit shall have the right of way, but we greatly doubt if it is God's purpose that even organized Christian movements shall appoint one or more lords or supremes over the entire organized body. It may be true that the least of all may become a worthy advisor in a most critical time.

For our part we stand with Peter and the rest We should obey God rather than men. If God tells one of His Truth-bearers to go into such a city and preach the Word, that preacher need not bend the knee to the demands of the pastors of such a city, and abide their will and time? To be sure the evangelist should seek co-operation, But, whether is more important, for an evangelist to co-operate with a local church, or group of churches; or for a church or group of churches to co-operate with an evangelist?

After all the only thing to be considered is "What is the command of God?" Apostles dare not await the will of the men who hold religious supremacy? Shall saints preach only where, and when, and what the "leaders" say? God forbid. Let them preach the preaching He bids them. Let them preach where He bids them. Let them go when He bids them. What of the consequences? Leave them with God.

If Peter had watched the consequences he might have been disobedient to the command of the angel, and have sinned against God.

Let trials block our way. God will cause us to triumph.

VI. PETER CHARGES THE COURT THAT TRIES HIM (Acts 5:30-32 )

Peter had spoken before the same court not many days before the words as reported in Acts 3:14-15 , This all goes to show that bonds and imprisonment, threats and thundering of wrath had not in the least changed the message of the Apostle. He would not, he could not change his testimony because of threatenings. Truth was truth, and truth should be proclaimed.

The preacher is not sent to preach smooth things. To be sure he should not needlessly offend. He should not be harsh, just to excite animosity. He should by no means court persecution. However, the preacher should not tame down his message of vital truth because of persecution. The preacher should not fail to declare the whole counsel of God simply because that counsel will work against false teachers. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth must be preached.

What did Peter say? He said that his judges had slain and hanged upon a tree the Jesus whom the God of their fathers had raised up. He said more. He said that the very One whom God had raised up, had been exalted at God's own right hand "a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."

In Peter's words there was not only condemnation and warning; there was also salvation and forgiveness.

Peter contrasted, first of all, the attitude and treatment of Christ by the rulers, with that of God. They had slain Him, God had raised Him up; they had lifted Him up on a tree, God had lifted Him up to His own right hand; they had crucified Him, in shame and spitting, God had exalted Him to honor and glory.

Peter contrasted in the second place the wrath of the rulers with the mercy of God. They had crucified Jesus, the One who had come to save them from their sins; God had raised up Jesus and proclaimed Him a Saviour. They had slain the Son of God, and had cried out against Him; God had made the One they crucified their Redeemer. Their hatred was set over against God's love; their contumely over against God's grace.

VII. THE COURT WRITHED IN ANGER AT PETER'S CHARGE (Acts 5:33 )

We need not marvel that the rulers, realizing that the Apostles had turned the court into criminals, began to rage.

We need not marvel that the rulers realizing that the Apostles had made their villainy exceedingly vile by contrasting it with the mercy of God, began to rage.

Acts 5:33 gives us in succinct words the result of Peter's charge. It says, "When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them."

Why should the court have raged? Why were they cut to the heart? They knew that Peter spoke the truth. It is the truth that hurts. The hit dog howls. The guilty conscience cringes. They did not and they could not deny Peter's words. All men knew that they had hanged Jesus on a tree. All men knew that God had raised Him up. Peter told facts that were the common conception of all men.

Had the high priest thrown the lie as to their crucifixion of Christ, they had been hit with a boomerang. The Holy Ghost has come to reprove the world of sin. When the Spirit lays sin at the door, the sinner dare not deny his guilt. When God speaks, every mouth is stopped. Denial is folly. Sin has been too openly committed to be disclaimed. The human heart when convicted by the Spirit, is too conscious of its guilt to deny its iniquity.

What then should the high priest and his court have done? They should have repented of their iniquity; they should have confessed their sins. Peter plainly said that the Christ they slew was ready to forgive. The sin-offering was crouching at their door. Repentance and forgiveness of sins was freely proffered.

Here is the very glory of the Spirit's work. He reproves, convicts, convinces men of sin but that is not all. He offers to the sinner the sacrifice of the Saviour. With one breath Peter charged the court with having slain Jesus; with the next breath Peter proclaimed Jesus as a Saviour.

But why did not the court cry for mercy instead of taking counsel to slay the Apostles?

It is the same old story, of the criminal trying to shut the mouth of his accuser by ridding the earth of his presence. The human heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Knowing its guilt it will seek to hide it; knowing its salvation it will seek to slay it.

VIII. THE MESSAGE OF ALL MEN WHO WITNESS FOR CHRIST (Acts 5:32 )

Peter said, "We are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost." Witnesses of what things? That the Christ who died is exalted, a Saviour. Witnesses of what things? That the Lord is longsuffering, and willing to save.

Who are witnesses of these things? Peter alone? By no means. We are witnesses. We who live twenty centuries beyond Peter's day.

Who are witnesses of these things? All to whom God hath given the Holy Ghost. Let us stand then in our lot in these the last days, and keep the fires of witnessing burning.

To whom has God given the Holy Ghost? To all who obey Him. Who is it that obeys Him? Those who go where they are told to go. Those who preach the words they are told to preach.

Perhaps we need to stop here and think a while. Perhaps we need a bit of introspection? Why did God clothe Peter with the Holy Ghost and with power? It was because Peter was not disobedient to the angel's command. He went into the Temple. He went into the Temple and preached all the words of this Life. He shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God. He went where he knew he must pay dearly for going.

Do we want the Holy Spirit to be given unto us for testimony? Do we want Christ's promise, "Ye shall receive power" and "be witnesses unto Me," verified in our lives? Then we must cease from the fear of men. The breath of men is in their nostrils, why should we fear their wrath?

God wants men to preach His Word, who, Daniel-like, will say to the Belshazzars of our day, "Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting."

The obedience which brings unto the heart and into our testimony the unction of the Holy Ghost, must include the obedience which Peter and the Apostles manifested, when, upon their releasing from prison, they heard the voice of the angel saying, "Go, stand and speak in the Temple to the people all the words of this life."

IX. THE JOYS OF SUFFERING SHAME FOR CHRIST

Let us now close as we briefly note the last two verses of Acts 5:1-42 .

"And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

"And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."

Singing does not necessarily accompany clear skies and balmy breezes. The disciples rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name. Here is a new value placed on suffering shame. To die for Christ is better than to live for Satan, Spittle, and stones, and crucifixions, and the fagots and fire of martyrdom, are to be highly valued.

John heard the great multitude in Heaven saying, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain," Christ's sorrow and anguish enhanced His joy and rejoicing. Christ's humiliation and shame were foundation stones on which were builded His honor and glory.

Let us count our afflictions as our servants, working out for us a more excellent and eternal weight of glory.

Why should we pine because" the world hates us? Paul and Silas, in jail, sang praises unto God. Neither the pains of the Roman scourging, nor the stocks which galled their feet, could not quiet their joy and rejoicings.

Let us count it all joy when we fall into divers testings.