Study #25: The council of the Jews beat the Apostles and commanded them not to preach the Gospel again (Acts 5:17

Study #25: The council of the Jews beat the Apostles and commanded them not to preach the Gospel again (Acts 5:17 - 42)

Acts, Chapter 1.2: The Sanhedrin violently rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ from the Apostles (3:1 - 42)

§Unique Introduction: God used a miracle to open a door for Peter and John to preach the Gospel to a large crowd of Jews (3:1 - 11)

¶Opposite A disabled man asked Peter and John for a gift as they were going into the Temple (3:1 - 5)

¶Opposite God healed the disabled man, providing an opportunity for Peter and John to preach the Gospel to the Jews in the area (3:6 - 11)

§Complement Body: The Sanhedrin Council of Jews vainly attempted to stop the preaching of the Gospel in Jerusalem (3:12 - 5:16)

¶Opposite Peter indicted the Jews for their participation in the execution of their own Christ (3:12 - 16)

¶Opposite Peter called the Jews to repentance and faith in the resurrected Christ (3:17 - 26)

¶Complement The Sanhedrin Council of Jews commanded Peter and John not to speak anymore in the Name of Jesus (4:1 - 22)

¶Complement The Apostles prayed for the power and protection of the Holy Spirit (4:23 - 31)

¶Unique The Holy Spirit slew Ananias and Sapphira at the word of Peter for attempting to corrupt the Assembly in Jerusalem (4:32 - 5:16)

§Complement Conclusion: The Sanhedrin Council of Jews arrested and beat the Apostles; and then released them (5:17 - 42)

¶Complement Peter rebuked the Sanhedrin Council for their attempts to stop the preaching of the Gospel of Christ (5:17 - 33)

¶Complement The Sanhedrin Council released the Apostles after beating them and commanding them not to speak in the Name of Jesus (5:34 - 42)

This study will look at the first two paragraphs of the Conclusion Section of Chapter 1.2 of Acts.

§Complement Conclusion: The Sanhedrin Council of Jews arrested and beat the Apostles; and then released them (5:17 - 42)

¶Complement The Sanhedrin were suprised to find that the Apostles were not in prison, but were preaching the Gospel of Christ in the Temple (5:17 - 27a)

Opposite 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 they laid their hands on the Apostles; and they put them in the common prison.

Opposite But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, “Go; stand and speak in the Temple to the people all the words of this Life.” And when they heard that, they entered into the Temple early in the morning, and taught.

Complement But the high priest came, and they that were with him; and called the Council together, and all the Senate of the children of Israel; and they sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, and did not find them in the prison, they returned, and reported, saying, “Truly we found the prison shut with all safety; and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we had opened it, we found no man within.” Now when the high priest and the captain of the Temple and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered of them where this would grow.

Complement Then one came and told them, saying, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the Temple, and teaching the people.”

Unique Then the captain went with the officers; and brought them without violence: for they were afraid of the people, lest they should be stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council.

Paragraph outline: The OO-CCU (two opposites, two complements, and one unique) Golden Ratio design of the sub-paragraphs for paragraph 2:

Opposite The council of the Sanhedrin put the Apostles in prison for preaching the Gospel

Opposite The angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, and commanded them to preach the Gospel

Complement The officers reported to the council that the Apostles were not in the prison

Complement One person reported to the council that the Apostles were preaching in the Temple

Unique The officers went and arrested the Apostles, and brought them before the council.

Comments: Earlier in this Chapter, the Sanhedrin Council had already warned the Apostles once before to stop preaching about Jesus Christ, but they let them go without beating them.

It is helpful to understand the differences between the ancient world and our modern era with regard to the punishment of criminals (or at least someone that the authorities determined needed to be punished for whatever reason).

The Jewish council had the legal authority to order anyone to be beaten or whipped as a deterrent to further bad behavior (in their eyes) or as part of a more severe punishment such as crucifixion (capital punishment). This was common during the Roman Empire, and continued to be common in many parts of the world until recent centuries. It is still common in many Islamic and other foreign countries outside of the United States.

But, as we read in the previous study of Acts 4:32 - 5:16, the “sect” of Christianity was getting completely out of control, in the eyes of the council.

“And by the hands of the Apostles were many signs and wonders performed among the people, and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. And of the rest no man dared join himself to them; but the people magnified them. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. Also a multitude came out of the cities round about to Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them who were vexed with unclean spirits; and they were healed every one.” Acts 5:12 - 16

So now the council was compelled to try to do something more to stop the spread of Christianity in Jerusalem. Therefore, they put the Apostles in prison; but an angel of God let them out!

Then the council found out that the Apostles were not in prison, but were standing in the Temple, preaching the Gospel of Christ:

“Now when the high priest and the captain of the Temple and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered of them where this would grow.” (5:24)

Then the officers went and brought the Apostles to the council, but very carefully, because they were afraid of the peoples.

¶Complement The Sanhedrin Council released the Apostles after beating them and commanding them not to speak in the Name of Jesus (5:27b - 42)

Opposite And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did not we strictly command you that you should not teach in this Name? And, behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” Then Peter and the other Apostles answered and said, “We should obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew and hung on a tree. Him has God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to them that obey him.”

Opposite When they heard that, they were convicted in their hearts; and they took counsel to slay them. Then one stood up in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the Law, had in reputation among all the people; and he commanded to put the Apostles forth a little space. And he said to them, “You men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do as regarding these men: for before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody: to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves; who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nothing. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away many people after him; he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it: lest perhaps you are found even to fight against God.”

Complement And to him they agreed; and when they had called the Apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the Name of Jesus, and let them go.

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

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

Paragraph outline: The OO-CCU (two opposites, two complements, and one unique) Golden Ratio design of the sub-paragraphs for paragraph 2:

Opposite The high priest was angry with the Apostles for ignoring their commands, but Peter declared that they should obey God rather than men.

Opposite The council made plans to kill the Apostles, but Gamaliel warned the council against killing the Apostles

Complement The council beat the Apostles and commanded them not to speak in the Name of Jesus and released them

Complement The Apostles departed from the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the Name of Jesus

Unique They continued to preach and teach Jesus Christ every day

Comments: When Peter alleged that God had given the Apostles the Holy Spirit, but not to the council of these very religious men, they were convicted in their hearts and started making plans to kill the Apostles.

Then Gamaliel, a famous Rabbi among the Jews and one of them, stood up and counseled them leave the Apostles alone, lest they were found to be fighting against God Himself (which was, in fact, the case).

Was Gamaliel saved? The Bible provides no clear evidence that he was saved; and Christian history has no record that I know of that he was a Christian then or later.

Gamaliel taught Saul as a young rabbi in training, and evidently he had great knowledge of the Law of Moses.

Unfortunately, knowledge of the Scriptures is not the same as the knowledge of God. We must have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ before we can really understand the Scriptures.

I have known some “Christians” who had detailed knowledge of the words of the Bible, even memorized them; but they showed no evidence that they truly knew Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

In fact, a knowledge of the Bible without a personal relationship with the Author of the Bible is actually very dangerous. Many of the worst persecutors of Christians (including Saul before he became a born-again Christian) were very religious and read the Bible (especially the Law of Moses) regularly and knew it well.

The entire Sanhedrin council of Jews were authorities on the Law of Moses and extremely religious, but only one of them (Nicodemus) became a born-again Christian. The rest of them went to Hell (as far as we know from written human history and the Bible).

The situation today is the same: there are many very religious people in our world who do not know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior: Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, native Americans, Roman Catholics, Jews, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons and a host of other religions and cults, including many liberal “Christians” in name only, who have rejected the Bible.

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man comes to the Father, except through me” John 14:6.

All of these other religions deny these words of Jesus, and claim that there are many paths to God, or that their way to God is the only true way (e.g. Islam), and they will kill you if you disagree with them.

Some religions, like Islam, are so perverse that killing a person of another religion is considered a “good work” and they believe that they will be rewarded by God for murder.

But the Bible says that murder is a sin against God:

“You shall not murder” Deuteronomy 5:17

Bible Christianity is different than all other religions, because it proclaims that the only Way to Heaven is Jesus Christ Himself; and only when a person acknowledges that they have sinned against Almighty God (the only true God of the Bible), and they confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for their sins and rose again from the dead on the third day: only then, is a person justified before God (made holy in the eyes of God), and all of his sins are forgiven, and he is ready to go to Heaven when he dies.

All other religions require some kind of good works to be justified with God: help your neighbor, be a good person, give to the poor, don’t rob banks, etc.

But the problem with this approach is that how many good works are enough to make you just before God? 5 times helping an old lady across the street? 25 times? 1000 times? Who knows?

The absence of crime is not evidence that you are righteous. It may mean that you want to commit a crime, but are reluctant to actually do it. But God sees your evil heart, my friend! He reads your thoughts and your soul like it was an open book:

God said, “for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.” Ezekiel 11:5b

None of these religions can tell you how many good works will be enough to qualify you to go to Heaven when you die.

Bible Christianity is different, because those other religions talk about works as the way to Heaven, but the Bible says that our works are evil, and cannot qualify us to go to Heaven when we die.

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteous works are like filthy rags; and we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6

“because all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23

“as it is written, “There are none righteous; no, not even one.” Romans 3:10

We are dirty, because of our sins; and God is holy and clean, and will not allow us into his Heaven unless we are holy and clean also.

So, how can we be made holy and clean, so that we will be allowed into God’s Heaven when we die? By faith alone in Jesus Christ!

... “Christ Jesus, whom God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the passing over of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness, so that God might be just, and the justifier of him who believes in Jesus.” Romans 3:25-26

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life.” John 3:16

“But as many as received him, to them gave he authority to become the children of God: even to them that believe on his Name;” John 1:12

Let me ask you a question, my friend: would you like to truly know God, your Creator, as your Savior, Lord, and Friend? You can do that, right now!

Do you understand that you have sinned against Almighty God? You have lied, you have stolen, you have committed sexual sins in your heart and in your life, you have cursed the holy Name of Jesus, and used the Name of God in vain. God has said that anyone who does these things is a sinner, and cannot enter into Heaven until they receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life.” John 3:16

If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He died on the cross 2,000 years ago for your sins; and that He rose again from the dead on the third day, then you can be saved, today, right now!

Jesus is waiting for you to call on Him:

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock. If any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

Here is a prayer that you can use to repent and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior right now, because you may not live to get saved tomorrow:

“Lord Jesus, I know that I have sinned against YOU. I am no good, and you are righteous! I am wrong, and you are Right! I believe that you died on the cross for my sins, were buried, and rose again from the dead on the third day. I want you to come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. Please come into my heart right now. Forgive me for all my sins, and save my soul. In the mighty Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen!”

If you have turned from your sins and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and only Savior from sin, please message me through Facebook and let me know that you have done that, so that I can pray for you and rejoice with you in what God has done in your life. Amen.