The Pilgrim Path---Acts 5: 17 – 32 

But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the LORD opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 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. But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 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. And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 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.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

“…Speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

Uh oh---devotion to Jesus Christ got the Apostles put into the public prison. I must say, I have visited quite a few prisons---and I was glad to leave each one! To begin with: the doctrine of the Apostles was starkly offensive, certainly to the Sadducees (they did not believe in the resurrection). Secondly, the Religious Leaders were jealous. As Ole B. R. Lakin used to say, “if you cannot kill the possum---you try to kill the dog that can.” Country talk for: “I cannot tolerate people who are doing better than me!” The Religious Leaders wanted all the praise. All the attention---all the accolades. All the Apostles wanted to do was draw attention to the LORD Jesus (this infuriated the Religious Leaders). Thirdly, the members of the Ruling Council had said to the Apostles, “Do not be stirring everyone up in that name. You will actually have everyone in Jerusalem thinking we have his blood on our hands.” Well, Peter and the Apostles give the famous reply: “We have to obey God rather than man. By the way---the Covenant God raised Him from the dead---even though You killed Him---But God made Him Master and Redeemer---in order to give Israel repentance and complete forgiveness of sins. We know this as accurate ambassadors. The Holy Spirit testifies to this as well---even within All who obey Him!”

Wow---the power of the Spirit of GOD!

---The LORD set His people free by an angel---notice: to speak the Words of Life!

---The LORD gave His people the necessary courage to be His spokesmen---He still does!

---The LORD shows us that jealousy is a dangerous threat to spiritual endeavor---Yet the Gospel will win in the end. Guard against jealousy. Be so pleased that the LORD Jesus Christ is magnified---regardless of the instrument He chooses.

From Thomas Brooks: The humble soul endeavors more how to glorify God in afflictions, than how to get out of them. Daniel, the three children, the apostles, and those worthies of whom this world was not worthy were such. They were not seeking to get out of their afflictions but were concerned for the glory of God. They were willing to be anything and bear anything that God might be glorified. They made it their business to glorify God in the fire, prison, den, rack, and under the sword. The humble soul says: “LORD, keep down my sins, and keep up my heart to honor you in all my troubles. Though my burdens are doubled, and troubles multiplied, help me to honor you by trusting, waiting, and submitting to you, and I will sing my cares away and say, it is enough.”

From Saint John Chrysostom: Let us imitate these, my beloved: let us be undaunted in all our dangers. There is nothing dreadful to him that fears God; but all that is dreadful is for others. For when a man is delivered from his passions, and regards all present things as a shadow, say, from whom shall he suffer anything dreadful? Whom shall he have to fear? Whom shall he need to plead to? Let us flee to this Rock which cannot be shaken…

From John Duncan: Envy is an unhappy feeling with regard to the good of our neighbor, a desire that he should be stripped of it and we put in possession of it, and, if that do not take place, then a grudge.

From Samuel Rutherford: Glorify the LORD in your sufferings, and take his banner of love, and spread it over you. Others will follow you, if they see you strong in the LORD; their courage shall take life from your Christian carriage.

HYMN

Take, my soul, thy full salvation, rise o’er sin and fear and care;

Joy to find in every station something still to do or bear;

Think what Spirit dwells within thee, what a Father’s smile is thine,

What a Savior died to win thee: child of heaven, shouldst thou repine?

Henry F. Lyte, 1824, 1833

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason