“Know How To Act Not React”
Acts 5:26-42
What will you do IF or WHEN you are commanded not to speak about Jesus?
This would seem to be a question that we would never have to answer; but with these days there may come a time when we, like the Apostles, will stand accused of preaching truth.
We have a rather long text this morning but it is all one subject.
I have discovered that if all we do is react then we are on a defense and not the offence with the Gospel message.
I. Allured and Accused
26-28 “Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 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.”
Vs. 26-27
Without violence - Not by force; not by “binding” them.
Notice that “the captain with the officers” feared the people?
The obvious observation is that the guards realized that the Apostles were popular before the people, and why not, they have seen many miracles, perhaps some of them were the recipients of such miracles.
They did not drag them away but seems to allure them, perhaps inviting them to speak at the counsel
Vs. 28
Saying, did not we straitly command you,.... Or give you strict orders, with severe threatening, we warned you to stop preaching in the name of this man.
behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine; - Now look at the amount of people you have influenced.
and intend to bring this man's blood upon us; - It looks like you want to blame us for His death. (Ya think?) Acts 4:10 “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.”
To bring “one’s blood” upon another is a phrase signifying to hold or to prove him guilty of murdering the innocent.
The expression here charges them with desiring to prove that they had put Jesus to death when he was innocent
II. Answer And No Anxiety
29-32 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”
How does one respond to such statements?
“We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Not so long ago the government ordered that gathering together would be a health risk and therefore would be illegal.
You can go to the bar
You can go to Wal Mart
You go to the major stores
But you cannot go to Church
A small family business
To another families house
Or even the park to walk alone.
I have no doubt that this was a rehearsal to see if the people are willing to obey ANY orders from our elected officials.
Just a side note: In America we have a Republic Government.
That is to say we send others to represent us not dictate to us!
We are about to lose this Government if we just roll over and give up.
A journal kept by James McHenry (1753-1816) while he was a Maryland delegate to the Constitutional Convention. On the page where McHenry records the events of the last day of the convention, September 18, 1787, he wrote: “A lady asked Dr. Franklin Well Doctor what have we got a republic or a monarchy – A republic replied the Doctor if you can keep it.” Then McHenry added: “The Lady here alluded to was Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia.”
Vs. 31-32 “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. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”
We sing it often and should; “Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves.
III. Annoyed And Angered
33 “When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.”
Giving the right answer will not always bring a favorable response.
IV. Awareness And Announcement
34-37 “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;
35And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 36 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. 37 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 - This name was very common among the Jews. Some say that this man was the teacher of Paul.
This man is said to have died 18 years after the destruction of Jerusalem, and he died as he had lived, a Pharisee.
There is no evidence that he was a friend of the Christian religion; but he was evidently a man of understanding of the scriptures.
35 “And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.”
History records many who have attacked God’s people and have paid the price with their lives.
This promise is still true:
Genesis 12:3 “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
V. Abstain And Aware
38-39 “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: 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”
Story:
In 1990 we returned to Sicily for duty in the Navy. We were told that we would not be allowed to attend the church that we had helped start years before.
We then Started Calvary Baptist. A couple weeks passed and I received a phone call from our former pastor asking, “what are you doing starting a new church?”
I explained to Brother Woodfield what had taken place and then said this, “Please pray for us; if we are wrong that the Lord would show us and shut us down, but if we are doing what the Lord has directed that we would find His blessings.”
History has settled that question. Calvary Baptist is still serving and many preachers are serving after attending this church and listing to the Lord.
I am not here to brag, just saying, Beware of laying hands of what God is blessing!
VI. Authority And Agreement
40 “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.”
It was agreed upon that God would be the judge.
And beaten them - The usual amount of “lashes” which were inflicted on offenders was 39.
“Beating,” or “whipping,” was a common mode of punishing minor offenses among the Jews.
The common beating would be 40 stripes but ended at 39 just in case they miscounted and went over the allowed amount causing disrespect to the command of 40 stripes.
The reason why they did not adopt the advice of Gamaliel seems to be, that if they did, they feared that their “authority” would be despised by the people.
They had commanded them not to preach;
They had threatened them
They had imprisoned them
and now, IF they let them go without even the “appearance” of punishment; their authority, they feared, would be in question.
VII. Awesome And Adoration
41-42 “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Rejoicing - be glad, to rejoice exceedingly
Our God is an Awesome God and worthy of all praise.
They were counted worthy - “the act of adoring : the state of being adored” They did not brag about the beating they received, they rejoiced in the LORD!
Conclusion:
1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Are you a child of God?”
Do you know Jesus personally?
Are you ready to stand publicly?
Do you know how to Act and Not React?
If we “ACT” it is because we have a plan to give God the Glory no matter what is set before us; but if we REACT we have no longer planned to simply give God all the praise no matter what has taken place.
