Witnessing to the Truth

                             Sunday School Lesson

                                            

Lesson: Acts 5:27-29, 33
                                                                                                 
Golden Text: “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
I.  INTRODUCTION.  The early church in Jerusalem lived in exciting days.  The Holy Spirit’s convicting work had converted three thousand in one day (see Acts 2:41) and within a short time the church had grown to include five thousand men (see Acts 4:4).  But what was the church to do if serious opposition from the authorities began to arise?  Suppose preaching Jesus led to physical harm or even death?  Should they change their message to make it less offensive?  Should they not obey authorities?  As we will see in this week’s lesson, the apostles faced those questions soon enough.  They had ready answers.
II. BACKGROUND FOR THE LESSON.  The spreading influence of Christ’s gospel (see Acts 5:12-16) aroused the high priest and the Sadducees to renewed opposition (see Acts 5:17).  They took the apostles (perhaps all of them) and put them in the public jail, intending to bring them before the Sanhedrin council the next morning as they had done before (see Acts 5:18).  However, during the night an angel released them and ordered them to speak the full message of Christ (see Acts 5:19-20).  Early the next morning, the apostles entered the temple courts and resumed their teaching (see Acts 5:21).  Ironically, the Sanhedrin was at that very hour assembling to put them on trial, thinking they were still in custody.  The officers who had been sent to get the apostles from jail could not find them causing great perplexity and consternation (see Acts 5:22-24).  Eventually, the officers located the apostles in the temple.  Then the officers, fearing that the people might stone them for re-arresting the apostles, quietly took them into custody again and brought them before the Council (see Acts 5:25-26).  This is where our lesson begins.      
III. OBEDIENCE TO GOD REQUIRED (Acts 5:27-29)    
A. The confrontation between the apostles and the Sanhedrin Council (Acts 5:27-28).
1. (vs. 27).  Our first verse says “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them.”  The arresting officers brought the apostles and “set them before the council.”  Most likely, the members of the Sanhedrin Council sat in a semicircle with the apostles in the middle.  There they began to be interrogated by “the high priest” who acted as the presiding officer.
2. (vs. 28).  In this verse, the high priest asked the apostles “Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.”  The high priest leveled two charges against the apostles.  First, they had disobeyed the previous command to stop teaching in Jesus’ name (see Acts 4:16-28).  The high priest said “Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name?  The fact that the apostles disobeyed that first command should not have been a surprise to the religious leaders since Peter had told them frankly that they were compelled to speak what they had seen and heard (see Acts 4:19-20).  Not only had the apostles continued to preach Jesus Christ, the high priest also said “ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine.”  In other words, the apostles had preached the gospel throughout Jerusalem.  With the second charge presented against the apostles, the high priest said that they intended “to bring this man's blood upon us (the Sanhedrin Council).”  In other words, part of the message that the apostles preached declared that the Jewish leaders, by pressuring Pontius Pilot had killed Jesus (see Acts 2:22).  But it’s absurd that these leaders were even bothered by the accusation that they had put Jesus to death.  A short time before, they had incited the mob to cry out “His blood be on us, and on our children” (see Matthew 27:20-25).  The high priest was filled with so much hatred that he couldn’t even bring himself to say Jesus’ name.  He said the apostles were teaching “in this name” and bringing “this man's blood upon us.”  How hard were the hearts of these officials!  It didn’t matter to them whether the apostles’ message was true or not.  All they cared about was that the gospel message the apostles preached made them look bad and challenged their authority.  The Sanhedrin Council was not used to that.
B. The conviction of the apostles (Acts 5:29).  This verse says “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”  Although Luke writes that “Peter and the other apostles answered and said” it’s unlikely that they all spoke at the same time.  Apparently Peter was the spokesman for the apostles, but the fact that they all agreed is seen in the answer “We ought to obey God rather than men.”  God had given the apostles orders to preach Jesus Christ; so they could not obey those who told them not to preach.  They had made their choice to obey the higher authority. 

IV. THE OPPOSITION QUIETED (Acts 5:33-40).  Verses 30-32 are not part of our lesson, but in those verses, Peter explained what compelled them to disobey the Sanhedrin.  God had given them a message to preach, and Peter reiterated it.  He again charged the Jewish religious leaders with the death of Jesus (see Acts 5:30) and affirmed His resurrection to be Prince and Saviour in order to “give repentance for Israel and forgiveness of sins” (see Acts 5:31).  Then Peter said that they were witnesses of everything they preached about Jesus and so was the Holy Spirit who is given to everyone who obeys Him (see Acts 5:33).  This is where the remaining verses of our lesson begin.     

A. The execution of the apostles contemplated (Acts 5:33).  This verse says “When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.”  The phrase, “When they heard that” refers to the message Peter gave to the Council in verses 30-32 (mentioned above), which included God’s forgiveness as well as His condemnation.  But the Council members were so upset by the charges Peter leveled against them that they paid no attention to their guilt or need for forgiveness.  Instead, “they were cut to the heart.”  This literally means “sawn asunder” but can be translated “enraged” or “furious.”These members of this highest authority in Israel refused to be rebuked by these men whom they had earlier referred to as “unlearned and ignorant men” (see Acts 4:5-7, 13).  The members of the Sanhedrin were so angry with the apostles that they wanted to kill them.  Luke said that they “took counsel to slay them.”
B. Gamaliel calls for restraint (Acts 5:34-36). 
1. (vs. 34).  This verse says “Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space.”  In the midst of the Council contemplating killing the apostles, Luke writes “Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel.”  The member of the Sanhedrin that stood up to speak was “a Pharisee” (see the notes under verse 27), and his name was “Gamaliel.”  He was one of the greatest rabbis or teachers in Judaism, and had also taught Paul (see Acts 22:3).  “Gamaliel” was also “a doctor of the law.”  The word “doctor” as used today refers to physicians and other professionals who have doctorates.  However, here “doctor” means teacher.   “Gamaliel” was a teacher of the law.  He studied the Old Testament Scriptures, read lectures by the sacred authors, and trained students in the knowledge of them.  Luke goes on to tell us that “Gamaliel” also “had in reputation among all the people.”  In other words, he was greatly respected by the people and even those on the Sanhedrin Council, which made him the right person to advise the Council on what to do with the apostles.  When “Gamaliel” took the floor, he first “commanded to put the apostles forth a little space.”  This means that he had the apostles taken outside the meeting chamber for a little while so they could discuss what to do in private. 
2. (vs. 35).  This verse continues to say “And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.”  Gamaliel, stood before the council and urged them to be careful of what they were planning to do to these men.  One characteristic of a good leader is to be willing to carefully consider all choices.  Very rarely will we regret any decisions we’ve made after thinking them through.  It’s those quick decisions that we often regret making.
B. Gamaliel gives some examples (Acts 5:36-37).
1. (vs. 36).  In this verse Gamaliel continued to say to the Council “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 nought.”  Having urged his fellow members to be cautious in dealing with the apostles, now Gamaliel gave two examples of civil movements that had failed because they were not of God.  In the first example Gamaliel said “For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves.”  We are not given any information about this “Theudas” but Josephus, the Jewish historian wrote about a person also named “Theudas” who came on the scene about ten years after the events in our lesson.  Therefore, this is not the same person Gamaliel referred to.  The “Theudas” in our text was “boasting himself to be somebody.”  This most likely means that he claimed to be some kind of deliverer, maybe even the Messiah, but there’s no proof of that.  But Jesus did warn His disciples that “false Christs and false prophets shall arise” (see Mark 13:22) as a sign of the times.  Many scholars suggest that “Theudas” was simply a revolutionary leader, one of many zealots who wanted to break Israel away from Roman rule.  The phrase “to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves” means that he had about 400 followers which indicates that he had quite a bit of influence.  Regardless of who “Theudas” was and what he tried to do, Gamaliel continued to say “and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.”  In other words everyone who followed him eventually were scattered and ran away and his movement was “brought to nought” meaning it wasn’t successful.
2. (vs. 37).  In this verse, Gamaliel continued to say, “After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.”   Gamaliel here gave a second example of a movement that was not successful.  The words “After this man” refer to Theudas who Gamaliel mentioned in the first example.  Sometime after Theudas’ revolt failed, there “rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing.”  This “Judas of Galilee” is mentioned by Josephus, the Jewish historian in his writings.  Josephus also describes him as being from Galilee which agrees with Luke’s description here.  We are told that this particular “Judas” started his movement “in the days of the taxing.”  This refers to a second census that was taken to collect taxes for Rome around 6 A.D.  The first one was taken between 6 and 4 B.C. around the birth of Jesus.  Historical records indicate that “Judas of Galilee” and his followers declared that it was unlawful for Jews to pay taxes to Rome, so he led an armed resistance.   As a result, he “drew away much people after him.”  In other words, many people followed him.  But like others before him, “Judas” is said to have “also perished” or died.  In addition, “all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.”  This means that everyone who followed him were scattered.  Therefore, his movement was also “brought to nought” or was unsuccessful. 

C. Gamaliel acknowledges God’s providence (Acts 5:38-39).

1. (vs. 38).  In this verse, Gamaliel continued to say “And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought.”  Gamaliel used the previous two examples of unsuccessful movements hoping to cause the Sanhedrin Council to think more seriously about the present situation.  He advised them to “Refrain from these men, and let them alone.”  In essence he was saying, “in this present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go!”  He went on to say “for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought.”  Gamaliel reasoned that if the apostles’ “counsel” or what they teach, and what they do was purely of human origin, nothing will come of it.  The apostles’ movement would fail.  Therefore, drastic measures were not necessary.
2. (vs. 39).  Then in this verse, Gamaliel said “But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”  Having stated that if the apostles’ teachings and actions were their own they would not be successful, Gamaliel then said, “But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it.”  The word “it” here refers back to “this counsel or work” of the apostles in verse 38 meaning the teachings and actions of the apostles.  Gamaliel warned his fellow councilmen that what the apostles taught about Christ may be only a passing thing.  However, on the other hand, if it comes from God it was both useless and dangerous to resist it.  No doubt Gamaliel had a true reverence for the sovereignty of God.
D. The Council’s decision (Acts 5:40).  This verse says “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.”  The Council members “agreed” with Gamaliel’s argument.  God used his argument to deliver the apostles from death.  Luke tells us that “when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus.”  The Council had the apostles brought back into the meeting chamber (see verse 34) where they were “beaten” and commanded not to say another word “in the name of Jesus.”  They were probably flogged which consisted of being whipped with thirty-nine stripes according to the law (see Deuteronomy 25:3; II; Mark 13:9; Corinthians 11:24).  This was the first case of physical persecution for the church.  The Council hadn’t found the apostles guilty of anything deserving of 39 stripes, but apparently they hoped that the beatings, along with the threat of worse treatment to come, would intimidate the apostles into silence.  After the beatings and being warned not to speak anymore “in the name of Jesus,” the Council “let them go.”  How pitiful were the efforts of the Sanhedrin Council against the apostles!  They wouldn’t succeed because as Gamaliel had warned, they were even at that moment fighting God! 
V. THE APOSTLES’ RESPONSE  (Acts 5:41-42)
A. On their way rejoicing (Acts 5:41).  This verse says “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”  If the religious leaders thought that punishing the apostles for preaching Christ would stop them, they were headed for a rude awakening.  Far from being intimidated, when they were beaten for doing their Master’s work, the apostles knew just how to respond: “they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing.”  The apostles never considered silence as an option.So precious was Christ to the apostles that they considered it a privilege to receive even the harshest punishment for His service.  We know this because the apostles rejoiced “that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”  They were overjoyed that God had considered them worthy to “suffer shame,” or disgrace for preaching in “his name.”
B. The apostles continue to preach Jesus Christ (Acts 5:42).  Our final verse says “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”  The apostles didn’t retreat in fear of the Sanhedrin Council.  Instead they took advantage of every opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Their ministry was not secret or sporadic because “daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”  Nothing stopped the apostles from teaching and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They taught and preached “daily” as they had done before (see Acts 2:46-47).  They preached the gospel of Jesus Christ both in “in the temple,” meaning in public, and also in “in every house” or private homes.                            
VI. Conclusion.  In this week’s lesson we are taught that the early church continued to grow and reach more people with the gospel, but conflicts with the chief priests also intensified.  Once again, the apostles were imprisoned for their faith.  However, they were miraculously released from prison and continued to preach in the temple.  When we grab every opportunity to witness for Christ, we will see the church grow as it did in the days of the early church.  Persecution had only confirmed the faith of the apostles.  May our faith be as firm as theirs.