Facing Opposition
Text: Acts 5:17-42
Introduction
1. In episode 5 of the A.D. series, we see how even in the midst of persecution, the apostles of the early church continued to be obedient in declaring the Gospel. They faced opposition from the religious and political leaders of the time, many were thrown in jail on multiple occasions, and some were martyred for their faith.
A. Yet, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians experienced boldness, declared truth, and received empowerment through God's grace. They weren't focusing on the present circumstances full of discouragement, questions, and impossibility.
B. Their focus was on God. As a result, men and women were saved, healed, and witnessed many miracles.
C. The mission of spreading the Gospel to all the earth was unstoppable because it was part of God's salvation story that has been written and continues to be written.
2. Corrie Ten Boom in The Hiding Place relates an incident which taught her this principle. She and her sister, Betsy, had just been transferred to the worst German prison camp they had seen yet, Ravensbruck.
A. Upon entering the barracks, they found them extremely overcrowded and flea-infested. Their Scripture reading that morning in 1 Thessalonians had reminded them to rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances.
B. Betsy told Corrie to stop and thank the Lord for every detail of their new living quarters. Corrie at first flatly refused to give thanks for the fleas, but Betsy persisted.
C. She finally succumbed. During the months spent at that camp, they were surprised to find how openly they could hold Bible study and prayer meetings without guard interference.
D. It was several months later when they learned that the guards would not enter the barracks because of the fleas.
3. When facing opposition you will find that...
A. God Will Come To Help You
B. God Will Open Up New Doors
C. God Will Do The Unexpected
D. God Will Give You Reason To Rejoice
4. Let's stand together as we read Acts 5:17-42
Proposition: You will find that doing God's work, in God's way, will bring God's provision.
Transition: When faced with opposition you will find that...
I. God Will Come To Help You (17-25).
A. But An Angel Of The Lord
1. The scene is this, the Apostles had been in the Temple at a place called Solomon's Colonnade, where they had preached the word. As a result, people were saved, healed, and delivered from evil spirits. How dare they, right?
2. Well believe it or not, this did not set well with everyone. Luke tells us, "The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail."
A. Once again the Sadducees, including the high priest and his close friends, were upset.
B. This time they were "filled with jealousy" ("indignation," KJV). The Greek word (zēloō) can mean zeal or enthusiasm in a good sense, or it can mean the worst kind of jealousy.
C. It is not hard to see how the word is used here. It also implies a divisive spirit and a zeal for their teachings against the resurrection of the dead.
D. We can be sure they hated to see the crowds gathering around the apostles.
E. They were probably jealous also because the name of Jesus "rather than theirs... was being proclaimed."
F. Their jealousy caused these Sadducees to go into action: arresting the twelve apostles and throwing them into the "public jail."
G. "Public" here is actually an adverb meaning publicly. That is, this was done with a crowd looking on.
H. Apparently the priests and Sadducees had become desperate. This time they dared to risk the disapproval of the crowds (Horton, Acts: A Logion Press Commentary, 123).
3. But you cannot stop an unstopable God. In vv. 19-20 we read, "But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, 20 “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”
A. The Sadducees, who did not believe in angels and "who believed all history was the result of human decisions[,]... were in for a surprise."
B. During the night "an angel" of the Lord opened the jail doors, took the apostles past the guards without their knowing it, and told the apostles to go and take their stand.
C. They were to continue speaking in the temple to the people "the full message" (Gk. panta ta rhēmata, "all the words") of this "new life," that is, the words that are life-giving to those who believe.
D. The gospel is more than a philosophy or a set of precepts. It, through the work of the Holy Spirit, gives life (Horton, 123).
4. You will find that when you are doing God's work and the Holy Spirit if moving that the devil will fight you tooth and nail. In v. 21 it says, "So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching. When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council—the full assembly of the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought from the jail for trial."
A. Because of this angel's command, the apostles went to the temple "at daybreak" and proceeded "to teach the people" publicly. They were full of the boldness they had prayed for (4:29).
B. Acts 4:29 (NLT)
And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.
C. This must have astonished the people who had seen them arrested and thrown in jail the night before.
D. It must also have helped them to see that God was still with the apostles and behind their message.
E. Some time later that morning "the high priest and his associates" called the Sanhedrin together.
F. The Sanhedrin is further identified as "the full assembly of the elders of Israel." This seems to mean that all seventy members were present.
G. It also implies that on the previous occasion when Peter and John were arrested only those who were Sadducees under the domination of the high priest were called.
H. This included the major portion of the Sanhedrin and constituted a quorum.
I. But this time, because they knew they were going against most of the people in Jerusalem, they brought in the full body, expecting them to concur in their decision and uphold punishment of the apostles by the full weight of their authority (Horton, 124).
5. Now what happens next is something orchestrated by the Holy Spirit that even Hollywood can;t match. "But when the Temple guards went to the jail, the men were gone. So they returned to the council and reported, 23 “The jail was securely locked, with the guards standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!”
A. When they sent the "officers" (not high officers, but servants, attendants of the temple) to the jail to bring in the apostles, they were not there.
B. Returning, the officers reported that they found the prison doors still locked with full security, "with the guards standing at the doors."
C. However, when they opened the doors, they "found no one." "This report" caused the high priest and his associates to be "perplexed" concerning them, wondering "when would it all end."
D. Further, this implies they were worried and wondered about what would happen next (Horton, 124-125).
6. If you think that there's no comedy in the Bible, then check out v. 25, "Then someone arrived with startling news: “The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!”
A. In the words of Gomer Pyle, "Surprise, surprise, surprise!"
B. About this time someone arrived and reported that the men who were supposed to be in the jail were in the temple, standing in its courts openly "teaching the people."
C. Then the commander of the temple guard went with the attendants of the temple and brought the Twelve "without violence," because they were afraid the people would turn on them and stone them.
D. They had dealt with mobs before and knew what a mob spirit and mob violence could do.
E. Actually, the temple guard did not need to use force. The apostles went willingly even though they also knew they had but to say the word and the mob would have stoned the officers as enemies of God and as blasphemers of God's servants.
F. The apostles, however, undoubtedly hoped this arrest would become another opportunity to witness for their Messiah and Savior (Horton, 125).
G. They did God's work, and God came to their rescue!
B. God Will Provide
1. Illustration: Faith is unutterable trust in God, trust which never dreams that He will not stand by us." — Oswald Chambers
2. When we stand for God He will stand by us.
A. John 14:15-16 (NLT)
“If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.
B. The word Advocate comes from the Greek word parakletos, which means one, who comes and stands beside you.
C. It is a legal term much like that of a lawyer who stands at your side and defends you in court.
D. When we obey God and His Word, the Holy Spirit stands beside us and defends us against anyone who comes against us.
E. He will not leave us or forsake us.
F. He will do what we cannot do.
G. He will do the miraculous.
H. He will do the impossible.
Transition: When faced with opposition you will find that...
II. God Will Open Up New Doors (26-32).
A. We Must Obey God
1. Well the high priest and his buddies had to deal with two surprises: 1) the Apostle's were no longer in prison, and 2) they were back in the Temple preaching about Jesus.
2. So they sent their guards to re-arrest them. Luke then tells us, "Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. 28 “Didn’t we tell you never again to teach in this man’s name?” he demanded. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!”
A. The high priest avoided asking the disciples how they got out of the prison.
B. It was obviously something supernatural, and it may be he did not want to hear about angels he did not believe in.
C. So he began by reminding the apostles that they had been given "strict orders" not to teach in "this man's name" (a derogatory reference to the name of Jesus).
D. Then he accused them of not only filling Jerusalem with their teaching, but also desiring to bring on the Jewish leaders the guilt of "this man's blood."
E. Probably they remembered the words of Pilate, "'I am innocent of this man's blood.... It is your responsibility!'" (Matt. 27:24).
F. The statement that they had "filled Jerusalem with [their] teaching" was a great admission of the effectiveness of the apostles' witness.
G. Yet the high priest totally misunderstood the apostles' purpose, probably because, in spite of himself, he felt guilty for what had been done to Jesus.
H. His statement that the apostles wanted to bring vengeance on the Sanhedrin for the death of Jesus was nothing but pure slander, being completely false (Horton,126).
3. However, Peter and the other Apostles, filled with holy boldness from the Holy Spirit said, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. 31 Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven."
A. Peter and the apostles (with Peter as spokesman) did not apologize.
B. Without hesitation they answered, "We must obey God rather than human authority!"
C. "Obey" (Gk. peitharchein) is a word used of obedience to one in authority. With a consciousness of Christ's authority, they said, "We must obey."
D. Before, in Acts 4:19, they had said, "You judge." But the Sanhedrin did not judge that the apostles were under divinely appointed necessity to spread the gospel.
E. They attributed to human effort what the apostles were doing. Therefore, the apostles had to declare themselves very strongly here (Horton, 126).
4. Then Peter proclaimed, "We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”
A. As before, the apostles emphasized that they were Christ's witnesses to "these things."
B. Then Peter adds that the Holy Spirit himself also witnesses.
C. In fact, He is the One whom God has given (and still gives just as on the Day of Pentecost) to those who obey Him, thus enabling them to witnesses.
D. God is the Giver. It is quite clear that the giving of the Spirit was not to be limited to the apostles or to their era (Horton, 127).
E. They could have whinned and complained because they had been so unfairly treated, but instead they used the opportunity that God had given them to be his witnesses and preach the Gospel.
F. God opened the door and they walked through it!
B. New Ministry
1. Illustration: "When a train goes through the tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer." Corrie ten Boom
2. God may be using your opposition as an opportunity to open a new door.
A. James 1:2 (NLT)
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
B. All too often when opposition comes our way we sit and wallow in despair and discouragement.
C. We say, "God why are you letting this happen to me?"
D. But all the time God is just getting ready to kick in a new door of ministry.
E. He is getting ready to open the flood gates of heaven for you.
F. He is getting ready give you the opportunity of a life time.
G. He is getting ready to pour out more of the anointing of the Holy Spirit in your life.
H. Don't sit there in despair, let God make a way where there is no way!
Transition: When faced with opposition you will find that...
III. God Will Do The Unexpected (33-39).
A. A Pharisee Named Gamaliel
1. In this next section we see two things happen to the Apostles. One of them is expected and the other is unexpected.
2. First it the expected thing. "When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them."
A. Apparently the majority of the Sanhedrin took Peter's words to mean that the apostles considered them not only guilty of Christ's death, but also guilty of a refusal to accept God's authority and obey Him.
B. But instead of accepting the offer of repentance, they were furious (Gk. dieprionto, "sawn through," and so, cut to the heart, cut to the quick with anger, indignation, and jealousy).
C. Immediately they started proceedings to kill the apostles (Horton, 128).
3. Then the unexpected thing happened. A Pharisee came to their defense! In v. 34 it says, "But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while."
A. As before, the Sadducees took the lead against the apostles.
B. But this time they had the entire Sanhedrin together; and it included some prominent Pharisees.
C. Among them was Gamaliel, an authoritative teacher of the Law, valued highly by all the people.
D. In the Jewish Talmud he is said to be the grandson of Hillel, the most influential teacher of the liberal wing of the Pharisees.
E. Hillel was held in high esteem by all later orthodox Jews.
F. Paul was trained by Gamaliel and became one of his most prominent students.
G. Standing up, Gamaliel took charge of the situation and ordered that the apostles be taken outside for a little while (Horton, 128-129).
4. After the Apostles were removed Gamaliel said, "Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! 36 Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing."
A. Then Gamaliel proceeded to warn the Sanhedrin to "take care" ("be cautious in," NEB; give careful attention to) what they were intending to do (or, were about to do) to the apostles.
B. By two examples he reminded them that individuals in the past had gathered a following but came to nothing.
C. The first example was Theudas who said of himself that he was "somebody."
D. Theudas was a common name, and he was probably one of the rebels who arose after Herod the Great died in 4 B.C.
E. About four hundred men attached themselves to this Theudas. He was murdered, and all who had "rallied to him" were dispersed and "came to nothing."
F. Gamaliel implies that with Jesus crucified, His followers will also come to nothing. He also implies that Jesus was no different from those previous false leaders, who failed (Horton, 129).
5. He then proceedes with another example. He says, "After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered."
A. After Theudas, Judas the Galilean rose up "in the days of the census."
B. He drew away a considerable number of people after him. But the Romans smashed his revolt, and all who obeyed him were scattered.
C. However, some of them became Zealots. In this way, Gamaliel may have been implying that since the Sanhedrin did not fight the Zealots, they should not fight the Christians (Horton, 130).
6. He then concludes with, “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”
A. Gamaliel's conclusion was that they should withdraw from these men and let them go, for if this counsel or this work was from a mere human source it would be "overthrown," destroyed.
B. But if it was "from God" they would not be able to suppress or overthrow it or them; "you will only find yourselves fighting against God."
C. We must keep in mind that this was a Pharisee saying this. That is, the inspired record makes it clear that Gamaliel said this; his recorded words were the conclusions of his own thinking, human reasoning, not God's truth.
D. In a sense, Gamaliel was a hypocrite, for he did not accept Jesus as Lord, nor did he admit that the signs and wonders done by the apostles showed Jesus was different from the former leaders who died.
E. It is true, of course, that what is from God cannot be overthrown. It is true also that it is foolish to try to use physical means to overthrow spiritual forces.
F. But it is not true that everything of human origin is soon overthrown and its followers scattered.
G. There are many pagan religions, false doctrines, evil movements, and modern cults that maintain a following after many years.
H. The judgments at the end of this age will bring them all to an end and the things of God will continue (Horton, 130).
I. But sometimes God sends unexpected people and unexpected circumstances to help us.
B. Unexpected People In Unexpected Places
1. Video Clip
2. God can send you help from unexpected people in unexpected places because he is the God of the impossible.
A. Luke 1:37 (NLT)
"For nothing is impossible with God.”
B. Just like Gamaliel, God can send even your enemies to stand up for you.
C. He can send unbelievers to stand up for you.
D. He can send athiest to stand up for you.
E. It doesn't matter who it is or what they do, God is in control.
F. He is in control of the past, the present, but especially your present.
Transition: When faced with opposition you will find that...
IV. God Will Give You Reason To Rejoice (40-42).
A. Rejoicing That God Counted Them Worthy
1. The impossible had happened; a Pharisee came to the defense of the Apostles and the rest of the religious leaders listened!
2. Luke tells us in v. 40, "The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go."
A. Though we must be careful not to press the words of Gamaliel too far, they did have their effect on the Sanhedrin. The rulers were "persuaded" (convinced) by him.
B. Then they called in the apostles and "had them flogged" (with whips that took skin off their backs).
C. The Greek word (deirantes) basically meant "skinned," though it came to mean this type of beating.
D. Therefore, the council still took out their spite and indignation on the apostles, probably by the usual thirty-nine stripes.
E. Then the Sanhedrin "ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus" and set them free.
F. They recognized that "the name of Jesus," His character and authority, was central to the apostles' message, that without this focus on who Jesus is, the new movement would die out (Horton, 131).
3. Now you would think that the Apostle's would be unhappy for just getting the snot beat out of them. But look at what happened, "The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”
A. They went away from the presence of the Sanhedrin "rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the name of Jesus."
B. That is, they suffered for the sake of all that "the Name," and therefore Christ's character and nature, includes, especially His messiahship, deity, saviorhood, and lordship.
C. In spite of their strict warnings, the Jewish leaders did not pursue the apostles further at this time. So the apostles freely continued their ministry.
D. Every day "in the temple courts and from house to house" they never ceased teaching and preaching the good news (the gospel) that the Messiah is Jesus.
E. They boldly defied the orders of the Sanhedrin and paid no attention to their threats.
F. This, however, is the last time Acts mentions ministry in the temple.
G. It was time for the believers to expand their horizons in order to carry out the Great Commission (Horton, 132).
H. But the point is that even though the devil did his best to stop it, the Gospel continued to spread.
B. Again I Said...
1. Illustration: Dwight L. Moody also says it well, "Happiness is caused by things that happen around me, and circumstances will mar it; but joy flows right on through trouble; joy flows on through the dark; joy flows in the night as well as in the day; joy flows all through persecution and opposition. It is an unceasing fountain bubbling up in the heart; a secret spring the world can’t see and doesn’t know anything about. The Lord gives His people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to Him."
2. God can bring us joy even in the midst of opposition.
A. Philippians 4:4, 6-7 (NLT)
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!... 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
B. Like the Apostle's we can rejoice in the face of opposition.
C. Not because we like persecution, and we certainly don't want to pray for it, but because when we obey God he will take care of us.
D. He is able to give us faith in the face of opposition.
E. He is able to give us peace in the face of opposition.
F. He is able to give us joy in the face of opposition.
G. BECAUSE OUR GOD IS ABLE!!!
Conclusion
1. We live in a world of unprecedented hopelessness across every sphere-- economically, socially, politically, emotionally, morally, spiritually, and environmentally. Wherever you turn, there is a sense of hopelessness, and the circumstances that people face daily are overwhelming.
2. I believe this is the greatest hour for the Church of Jesus Christ on the earth. We were born for this moment to bring light and life and hope and liberty to a lost and broken world.
3. This generation has immense potential. Why? Because we serve a restoring and redeeming God: a God of hope, a God of second chances, a God of new beginnings.
4. While the world is wondering if there is hope, we are the ones with the answer: Jesus Christ.
5. Through a relationship with Him, we have hope living on the inside of us. Through the Holy Spirit, all things are possible, and all things work together for good because we are called by God to play our part in His salvation story.
