Passage
12 Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. By common consent they would all meet in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 None of the rest dared to join them, but the people praised them highly. 14 Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers–crowds of both men and women. 15 As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 In addition, a large group came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
17 Then the high priest took action. He and all his colleagues, those who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 So they arrested the apostles and put them in the city jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple complex, and tell the people all about this life.” 21 In obedience to this, they entered the temple complex at daybreak and began to teach.
When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin—the full Senate of the sons of Israel–and sent orders to the jail to have them brought. 22 But when the temple police got there, they did not find them in the jail, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” 24 As the commander of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, as to what could come of this.
25 Someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple complex and teaching the people.” 26 Then the commander went with the temple police and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them. 27 After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, 28 “Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man’s blood on us!”
29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging Him on a tree. 31 God exalted this man to His right hand as ruler and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of 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 enraged and wanted to kill them.
Study Questions
Acts 5:12-33
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List out all signs and evidence the members of the council needed to ignore in order to maintain their position.
Signs the members of Sanhedrin needed to ignore:
- People who were sick and tormented by unclean spirits were healed
- Jail securely locked with guards in front of the doors
- Jesus rising from the dead
- Power and authority of their preaching
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Are there ways I reject truth and dig in like this because of something I don’t want to let go?
Nope. Not that I am aware of. I hope that there isn’t anything that I am not aware of. If there is, I will ask the Father to help me to realize what truths I am ignoring.
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Consider God’s continued patience and kindness to these rulers as he appealed to them through the apostles’ words, deeds and changed lives. Recall God’s patience and kindness towards me.
Thank you God for your patience and for me to continuously run this race for you. If I were you, I would be so frustrated by the way I act and I think but thank you for being not like me. Thank you for being the merciful God who loved me and showed me the grace that I need to continually remind myself of you and how you sent your Jesus to be my Lord and Savior.
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What is Peter’s message as summarized in vv.30-32, and why did this cause the ruler’s to be “enraged” (v.33)?
God’s name was never to be used and Peter spoke with authority. They were angry that they who considered themselves to be holy were being talked to like any other sinner. They also did not consider Jesus to be the son of God like He had claimed and were infuriated when Peter continued to relate Jesus to God.
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What lessons can I draw from this?
I want to be more like Peter and the disciples in that they were fearless and obedient. They were unwilling to compromise when preaching and speaking the truth. It is easy to compromise and speak in a way that is offensive to the proud but they spoke regardless of how they were perceived. They had the offensive truth and I need to be more like them.
Free Thought
Father, thank you for helping me think about Peter and watch his actions as someone to take after. Help me to become more like Peter: bold and obedient to your Word. Help me not to compromise and continually seek your face each day. Help me to think about your son Jesus daily and fill me with your wisdom as even your foolishness is wisdom among men. Amen.
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