As we come to the fifth chapter of the Book of Acts, God had moved by the power of the Holy Spirit in a great way.
But when we get to chapter five, we see where the devil makes his move, through a couple in the church called Ananias and Saphirra.
WHAT KIND OF CHURCH MEMBERS WERE THEY?
They were first class hypocrites. Sad to say, but every church has them
God used Ananias and Saphirra as examples, to show how He was displeased with hypocrisy, and killed them in church because of their hypocrisy.
HOW DID THAT AFFECT THE CHURCH?
The Bible tells us, GREAT FEAR came on the congregation. Look at verse 11, “And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.”
Illus: In boxing this was a knock out punch. The devil raised his ugly head, and the Lord knocked it off at the shoulders.
I want to remind you, that in the book of Acts, Luke is writing to his good friend Theophilus, and telling him of the “Acts of the apostles” of this early church.
He was saying, "Theophilus, after this tremendous spiritual victory, here is what happened:
I. THE ARREST
Look at verses 17-18, we read, “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 laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.”
The early church was being greatly used of God and the devil is furious. Look at-
A. THEIR RAGE
It does not take much to make some people mad. Peter and John had not broken one law of the land. They had not hurt anyone physically. Yet the Bible says the high priest and his gang, were filled with “indignation…”
The word “Indignation” here is the Greek word, “zelos” which means JEALOUSY.
The Christians were everything they were not, and they were clearly jealous!
The Bible tells us that when we march forward, we might as well expect opposition from Satan.
In 2 Tim. 3:12, we read, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
Peter and John had been preaching the gospel, and God had been blessing their efforts. Multitudes were coming to Christ, turning their loyalty and income from the High Priest and his cohorts, to Christ and His ministry.
Look at Acts 5:17-18, we read, “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 laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.”
Illus: Someone said, “When a man is wrong and won't admit it, he always becomes angry. "
To say the high priest was angry would be putting it mildly.
B. THEIR RELEASE
The high priest was about to find out he could not have the final word in this case. People may think they call the shots, and pull all the strings, but there is a God in heaven Who is very much in control of His church.
The man who comes against God's church, as His people work to reach lost souls for Christ, does not know what he is doing! They are not fighting man, they are fighting God.
God wins all His battles, He has never lost a fight. Anyone rising up against God's work, would be a lot smarter to crawl in a pit of poisonous snakes, and play with them.
Notice, they locked the apostles up in a common prison. They thought, with all their power and influence, they had really done something big.
They had pulled the right strings, and pushed the right buttons, and they were successful in stopping God's men, by having them jailed.
Once they accomplish their goal, the Lord turns around and smashes their efforts. How?
Look at verse 19, we read, “But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth…”
We looked at THE ARREST, but now let us look at -
II. THE ARENA
WHAT TOOK PLACE THERE?
A. THEY SPOKE
Look at verses 19-20. We read, “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.”
We cannot help but marvel at what man has been able to achieve in the physical realm, but when it comes to spiritual things, we find man is a moron.
Illus: We have some of the smartest young people ever. All they know in the secular realm, will simply amaze you, but those same students could not tell you what God requires a person to do to be saved, if their lives depended on it.
When the angel of the Lord released the apostles, he did not tell them to go to the temple to talk about politics, current events, social events, programs, etc., but he told them to, “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”
They spoke, but look also-
B. THEY HEARD
Look at verse 21, we read, “And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. 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 sent to the prison to have them brought.”
In the arena that we call a church building, our mandate is clear. We cannot help what the schools, colleges, universities, etc., teach.
We do not have a lot of control about what is said on television and radio, and we will not have to give account for what we do not have any control over.
But let me say this, God is going to hold us responsible for what is said in the church.
The Bible tells us the apostles received their mandate to go to the temple and teach the people, “…all the words of this life…”
After their release we read, “And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught.”
The average Christian would be embarrassed to suffer the things they suffered, but listen, it was the High Priest and his gang that ended up embarrassed. Let’s look at-
III. THE ABASHMENT
The high priest and his gang, felt they could do as they pleased with the apostles. They thought they were no more than puppets in their hands, to control as they wished. But this is not the case, look at-
A. THE SURPRISE
In verses 2lb-22, the Bible tells us, “…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 sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told.”
We can safely assume, that when the high priest, and those who were with him, were told that the apostles were no longer in prison, they did not feel like big shots anymore!
In verse 23, we read, “Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.”
The high priest and his gang thought everything was going their way, that they had the power and influence to do as they pleased. But God said, “That's enough!" And when God says “That’s enough”, that’s enough!
They were surprised to find that everything had fallen through. These were great men of God they were opposing, look at-
B. THEIR STAND
Look at verses 24-25, we read, “Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.”
When they are suppose to be in jail, news came to the chief priests, “Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.”
They were not only standing PHYSICALLY, they were also standing SPIRITUALLY.
They had been commanded to no longer speak the name of Jesus. They had been severely threatened and put in prison, still they stood in the temple, teaching about Christ.
Beloved, can you imagine what God could do today, if He could find men and women like those apostles, who would take that kind of a stand for Christ.
Let’s look at something else about them. It was arranged that they be brought to them. Look at-
IV. THE ARRANGEMENT
Look at verse 26. We read, “Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.”
Notice the word, “brought”. It implies the apostles were brought by force.
The captain and officers did not tell the apostles, "We would like you to join us for a cup of coffee." The apostles were forcefully taken to the council.
They brought them by force, but with a certain amount of respect, because the Bible says, “…they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.”
The high priest and his gang could not stop this group of Believers.
Look at verses 27-28. We read, “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 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.”
Notice, they reminded the apostles, “Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine,”
The officials thought they could look the apostles in the eye, and give them a mean look, and that would stop them from spreading the gospel of Christ. BUT IT DID NOT STOP THEM IN THE LEAST!
There was nothing that could stop them, even death itself.
They were asked why were they continuing to spread this gospel. Look at-
V. THE ANSWER
A. THEIR RESPONSE
Look at verses 29-32. We read, “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”
The apostles were commanded by men not to preach the gospel, that God almighty had commanded them to preach.
While Christians should be law abiding citizens, we have to recognize, that no man has been authorized to make any law to over ride the laws of almighty God. Any time people are foolish enough to try this, we pray God will give us power to break them.
Listen to what Peter and the others apostles said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
These religious leaders were foolish men, and foolish men should be ignored.
Instead people should listen to sensible men. Look at-
B. THEIR REPLY
In verses 34-40, we read, “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; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching 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 nought. 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. 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: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 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.”
Gamaliel was a sensible man. He was a doctor of the law, and he had a reputation of being sensible.
Basically, he told them that if these were apostles of God, the work would flourish, and no man could stop it. But if it was not of God, it would blow away like the works of others who had come and gone.
He was absolutely correct.
Listen, do not fight something you do not understand, you might be fighting God. And if it is of God, you are going to be on the losing side.
Illus: When a man comes up against the work of God, it is like an ant coming up against an elephant.
Gamaliel was a smart man. He was not sure about these apostles, but he was sure of one thing, when God is in something, man had better not be found fighting against it!
Look at-
D. THE REJOICING
God was in this work that they were promoting, and God blessed their stand and the effort they made.
In verses 41-42, we read, “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”
Those evil men were at least smart enough to listen to wise counsel. They then punished the apostles for disobeying their order.
Conclusion:
Jesus had said, in Matthew 16:18, "...I will build My church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The Lord was saying, "I will build my church and not anything will stop it!"
Already, the Christians ran into a FREEDOM OF SPEECH PROBLEM, THREATS, BEATINGS, AND BEING JAILED.
But none of these things stopped them from carrying out the work of God. Why? Because they loved the Lord. Only one thing can stop God's church. That is the lack of love.
When people do not love God enough to obey Him, it hinder the work, and in time, it brings the work of God to a grinding halt.
I. THE ARREST
II. THE ARENA
III. THE ABASHMENT
IV. THE ARRANGEMENT
V. THE ANSWER
