2015-2016 Boyd's Commentary

FIRST QUARTER

Lesson material is based on International Sunday School Lessons and International Bible Lessons for Christian Teaching. Copyrighted by the International Council of Religious Education and is used by its permission.

SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER 2015

WRITER: DR. WILLIAM MOSES

SUGGESTED OPENING EXERCISES

1. Usual Signal for Beginning

2. Prayer (Closing with the Lord’s Prayer)

3. Singing (Song to Be Selected)

4. Scripture Reading:

Exodus 15:11–18 (KJV)

Director: Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.

School: Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.

Director: The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.

School: Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.

Director: Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

School: Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O LORD, which thy hands have established.

All: The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.

Recitation in Concert:

Galatians 3:26–29 (KJV)

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

CLOSING WORK

1. Singing

2. Sentences: Galatians 5:16, 22–26 (KJV)

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

3. Dismissal with Prayer

ACTS 4:23–31

MAIN THOUGHT: And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31, KJV)

LESSON SETTING

Time: A.D. 30s

Place: Jerusalem

LESSON OUTLINE

I. Vain Plots

(Acts 4:23–28)

II. A Prayer and an Answer

(Acts 4:29–31)

UNIFYING PRINCIPLE

At critical times in their lives, people search for strength to weather the storm. Where do they find the necessary strength? The followers of Christ raised their voices together to God in prayer, and the Holy Spirit filled them with strength to speak God’s word with boldness.

INTRODUCTION

During the next three months, we will be discussing the book of Acts. We will begin this lesson with a brief introduction to the book. Acts is properly to be read as the continuation of Luke’s Gospel, and many seeds planted in the Gospel come to fruition in Acts (Steve Walton, Acts, Book of in Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2005], 29). The Gospel of Luke tells of the life of Jesus Christ from His birth to His ministry to His death and resurrection. The book of Acts tells of the continuation of Jesus’ ministry through the deeds of the apostles and the early Church.

Acts begins with the ascension of Jesus Christ and His promise of the Holy Spirit to empower the apostles to continue His ministry. After the ascension, the apostles gathered with the rest of the disciples to choose an apostle to replace Judas. In keeping the number of apostles at twelve, they were demonstrating the reformation of God’s people—an Israel that extends beyond the old borders. Acts should not be read as the story of God abandoning the Jewish people, but rather as God redefining the nature of his people (Walton, 28). The apostles were promised by the Lord Jesus that they would be the ones to rule over the tribes of Israel. They would become the leaders of God’s faithful by following the Lord through His Holy Spirit.

After Matthias was chosen to replace Judas, the apostles and disciples of Jesus were gathered together. There was a sound of a rushing wind and the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them. They then were able to speak so that those around them could all understand in their own languages. "In Acts, God is encountered personally most frequently by the Holy Spirit—when people turn to God, they receive the Spirit (Walton, 29; emphasis original). Peter took the lead in proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ to the people at Pentecost. Jesus is the center of the apostolic preaching, especially his resurrection . . . which is stressed rather more than his death. Because of his resurrection and exaltation, Jesus is able to pour out the Spirit (2:32–33). Indeed, his resurrection shows that Jesus is truly Israel’s Messiah and Lord (2:36), the fulfiller of Israel’s hopes and God’s promises (13:32–33), and it is on the basis of his resurrection that people are summoned to repentance and faith (2:38; 17:30–31) (Walton, 29). After Peter proclaimed the message of the hope that is in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41, ESV).

At a later time, Peter and John were brought before the council by the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees (Acts 4:1, ESV). They had been brought before the council because they had healed a lame man (see Acts 3) and were proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead (4:2, ESV). The council did not want them to teach in the name of Jesus, but they were astounded at the boldness of Peter and John, realizing that they had been with Jesus. Indeed, they could say nothing against them because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them. They did not know what to do with the apostles, so they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18, ESV). Peter and John responded to this command, saying, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard’ (4:19–20, ESV). Peter and John and the rest of the apostles knew they would experience resistance for preaching in the name of Jesus, and this was the beginning of their conflict with the power structures of Israel and Rome. The question that will be answered in these early chapters of Acts is: who is the true leader of God’s people, the apostles or the religious hierarchy of Israel? As this question is answered, we will see how the approaches of these two groups of people differed. We will learn what it means to be faithful to the Way of the Lord.

EXPOSITION

I. VAIN PLOTS

(ACTS 4:23–28)

Peter and John went back and told their friends what happened. The response of those who were with them is intriguing. They did not complain about how they were being persecuted. They simply lifted their voices in prayer to the Lord. They began their prayer by acknowledging that the Lord is the One who made the heavens and the earth. They recognized His sovereignty over all things. They knew that the Lord was with them and He could not be defeated by the plans of humans.

Their prayer then turned to Psalm 2. In praying this psalm, the believers recognized that David had been inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak these words. David said in Psalm 2, Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed (vv. 1–2, ESV). In using this psalm, the apostles identified Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles, and the Jewish religious leaders as the nations that conspired to overthrow the plans of God.

These words also emphasized the futility of making plans to try to overcome the will of God. As the story of the early Church unfolds, we will see that no amount of persecution can deter the people of God from faithfully fulfilling His mission in the world. God’s purposes would be carried out through His people. They did not know where this journey would take them, but they knew that it was important for them to remain faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

The believers knew that God’s sovereignty extended even to the plans of their enemies. While Herod and Pilate believed they were the ones who were in charge, the disciples of Jesus Christ knew that everything had been accounted for by God. Thus they could face any test boldly because they believed that even if they lost their lives, the Lord would be victorious and give them a new life with Him because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This prayer also addresses a question that is brought up in the study of Acts: who is to blame for the death of Jesus Christ? While at times it may seem as though Luke is blaming the Jews for the death of Jesus, Luke’s view becomes clear in 4:27, where a combination of Herod, the Gentiles, and the Jewish people of the city are responsible for the death of Jesus. Thus Luke hints not only that God’s salvation reaches to the whole world, but also that the whole world needs God to save them (Walton, 29). Because all people were represented in the trial that condemned Jesus to death, it is reasonable to infer that all are held responsible for the death of Jesus. Thus it is only by the power of God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that all people, including us today, can be restored to a relationship with God.

II. A PRAYER AND AN ANSWER

(ACTS 4:29–31)

As these believers continued their prayer, they did not ask for deliverance from the trials they would soon face. Instead, they asked the Lord for boldness. They knew that the very nature of their work and ministry would bring them into conflict with the power structures of both Israel and Rome. They desired to boldly face that challenge.

They were certain that this boldness would not be present without the work of God among them. This was apparent in Peter and John’s confrontation with the Council. They were able to speak boldly because they had been with Jesus. The members of the council also knew that ability to speak came from outside them.

The Holy Spirit is the driving force of the ministry of Jesus and His Apostles. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus went about His work of ministering to those around Him by the leading and the power of the Spirit. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He promised His apostles that He would send them the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the apostles in Acts 2 as they began to preach and the people understood in their own languages. The gift of the Holy Spirit is the sign that God has blessed His people. He will not leave us without help.

The believers’ prayer for boldness was answered mightily by the Lord. When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31, ESV). When they received this sign, the believers knew that the Lord was with them and they would be able to proclaim His Word boldly. Indeed, we will see that Jesus’ disciples would speak boldly as they faced various trials. In a short time, Stephen would become the first martyr while speaking boldly about the work of God throughout history. The powerful would be confronted with words they did not want to hear, and they would respond to the apostles in the same way their ancestors had responded to the prophets. They would try to silence the Word of the Lord.

THE LESSON APPLIED

As we move through the story of the early Church during the next three months, we will see how those in power tried to stop the growth of this new community. This prayer for boldness shapes this story of the early Church. Acts begins with the disciples looking up into heaven as Jesus ascends. An angel appeared to them reminding them of the work that had to be done. They were still unsure what to do when they gathered after Jesus’ ascension. The Holy Spirit, however, pushed them forward in the work they were called to do. They preached and three thousand were brought into this new community.

When they turned to the Lord to pray for boldness, the disciples were acknowledging their powerlessness in facing this journey alone. They would need the power of the Lord to carry out His mission. It is the Lord who gives us power to carry out His mission in the world. We are not a self-sufficient people. We are a people who are wholly dependent on God. We do not know what we will face as we walk with the Lord, but we know that His plans cannot be defeated.

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT

1. How can we proclaim the Word of God boldly?

As the Church, we are called to continue to participate in God’s mission in the world. How can we do that boldly without unnecessary provocation? While it is certainly necessary for us to speak out against injustice when we see it in the world, there have been times when Christians have gone too far and unnecessarily put themselves in harm’s way. The Gospel and the proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection will bring us enough conflict without any unnecessary additions.

This does not mean, however, that we should be timid when we proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we believe that Jesus Christ’s resurrection has truly changed the world, we should speak that truth boldly. The proclamation of Jesus Christ’s resurrection should be apparent not only in our speech but in our actions. The way we live speaks to what we truly believe about the resurrection of Jesus. If we continue in the ways of the world—violence, greed, debauchery, hatred—we are proclaiming with our lives that we do not truly believe that Jesus has been raised from the dead. However, if we seek to live peaceably with all people, to give rather than take, to bless others, and to honor God with our lives, we will boldly proclaim the Gospel not only with our speech but with our lives as well. Thus when people look at us, they will see us leading lives that run counter to the ways of the world.

HOME DAILY DEVOTIONAL READINGS

SEPTEMBER 7–13, 2015

ACTS 4:34–5:10

MAIN THOUGHT: Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold. (Acts 4:34, KJV)

LESSON SETTING

Time: A.D. 30s

Place: Jerusalem

LESSON OUTLINE

I. Sharing Possessions

(Acts 4:34–37)

II. The Deceit of Ananias and Sapphira

(Acts 5:1–6)

III. The Death of a Conspiracy

(Acts 5:7–10)

UNIFYING PRINCIPLE

Although there are exceptions, most people are glad to share what they have with those in need. What enables people to give up what is theirs for the good of someone else? The early followers of Jesus shared everything with one another, and, although some did not cooperate and were punished as a result, there was not a needy person among them.

INTRODUCTION

The new community of believers faced their first difficulty when Peter and John were brought before the council. They responded to this opposition by praying to the Lord for boldness. The Lord then poured out His Holy Spirit upon them and gave them the boldness to continue speaking His Word. The community was strengthened by this gift of the Holy Spirit and the new-found boldness they were given to proclaim the Word of the Lord. They also continued in their pattern of life together that we saw begin in Acts 2. This newly formed community, however, would soon face a new challenge. Would deception be allowed to infiltrate the community or would this be a community that would be defined by faithfully following the way of the Lord?

The story of Ananias and Sapphira has an important connection with the story of Achan in Joshua 6–7. The city of Jericho had been given over to the Israelites. They simply had to follow the command of the Lord to march around the city and the Lord would make the walls of Jericho fall. The Israelites were also given further instructions about the things in the city: ‘Shout, for the LORD has given you the city. And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. . . . But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it’ (Josh. 6:16–18, ESV). The things that were to be dedicated to the Lord could not be held back by the people of Israel. Indeed, to hold back those things which were to be dedicated to the Lord would make Israel liable to the same destruction. But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel (Josh. 7:1, ESV).

Believing that the city of Ai would also be given to them, Joshua sent out a small army to defeat the city. The Israelites, however, were turned away and defeated. Joshua, confused by this turn of events, tore his clothes and cried out to the Lord, asking why they were defeated. The Lord then told Joshua that one of the Israelites had taken some of the things had been devoted to the Lord. Until they resolved this, Israel would be subject to destruction. Thus the tribes, clans, and houses passed before Joshua until he discerned that it was Achan who had taken the things that had been devoted to the Lord. Then Joshua said to Achan, ‘My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.’ And Achan answered Joshua, ‘Truly I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath’ (Josh. 7:19–21, ESV).

Joshua had been given the prophetic power of discernment by the Lord to know who had committed this evil and caused trouble to come upon the Israelites. Achan, unlike Ananias and Sapphira, admitted his sin in taking the things that had been dedicated to the Lord. This confession, however, would not save him because of his direct disobedience of the Word of the Lord. And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. . . . And Joshua said, ‘Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today.’ And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger (Josh. 7:24–26, ESV). This was a critical point in the history of the Israelites. Would they obey the Lord and give Him His due or would they continue to hold back from Him? In cutting off this troublemaker, the Israelites saw the importance of obeying the Lord. This would not always be the case, but it was an important beginning for the nation.

Likewise, we will see the importance of not defying the Word of the Lord in the story of Ananias and Sapphira. There is a common theme in these stories of holding back that which belongs to the Lord. Ananias and Sapphira were free to give of their possessions, but lied and held something back; Achan stole things that had been dedicated to the Lord. Both of these events occurred at a turning point in the history of these communities. Today’s lesson will bring this out.

EXPOSITION

I. SHARING POSSESSIONS

(ACTS 4:34–37)

One of the defining characteristics of the early Church was that of sharing possessions. Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common (Acts 4:32, ESV). In the midst of this sharing, the apostles continued to proclaim resurrection in Jesus Christ. The common life of this early Christian community fulfilled the type of community that Israel was called to be. Moses described this type of community: ‘There will be no poor among you; for the LORD will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess—if only you will strictly obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today’ (Deut. 15:4–5, ESV). The early Church was a community that held everything in common, ensuring that there were no needy among them, while continuing to faithfully proclaim the message of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Indeed, the early Christian community was one that willingly submitted itself to the rule of God. They provided for those who had the least in their communities. They were led by the apostles who boldly proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The people also laid gifts at the feet of the apostles and the apostles ensured that no one went without. To lay something at the feet of another is therefore the body language of self-disposition spelled out by possessions, specifically a statement acknowledging the power and authority of another over the self and what one has. The apostles are now placed at the center of the community collection (and, by implication) dispersal of goods (Luke Timothy Johnson, The Acts of the Apostles [Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1992], 87). The apostles held a central role in this new community, but they were not defined by grasping for power. They received the gifts of those in the community, but they also served the community by distributing gifts to those in need.

In this section, Barnabas is also introduced. This is a significant introduction because of the role Barnabas will play throughout the book of Acts. [Barnabas’] introduction at precisely this point in the narrative is not accidental. We know that in the biblical idiom, the giving of a name to others signifies having authority over them. . . . Barnabas is therefore shown to be doubly submissive to the apostles: he receives a new name from them and lays his possessions at their feet (Johnson, 87). Barnabas’ willingness to humble himself before the apostles also demonstrated his willingness to humble himself before God. This interaction is important because Barnabas became a trusted member of the early Church. The trust placed in him was so great that he would later be able to vouch for the conversion of that great persecutor of the Church, Saul of Tarsus (see Acts 9:26–27). Barnabas also serves as an example of fidelity to the Way of the Lord as opposed to Ananias and Sapphira who defied the Spirit of the Lord.

II. THE DECEIT OF ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA

(ACTS 5:1–6)

John Calvin wrote of the subtle way through which Satan tried to infiltrate the Church: But now [Luke] showeth that Satan had invented a shift to get into that holy company, and that under colour of such excellent virtue; for he hath wonderful wiles of hypocrisy to insinuate himself. This way doth Satan assault the Church, when as he cannot prevail by open war (John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles, Vol. I, Henry Beveridge, trans. [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2009 repr.], 194). Calvin argues Satan would use any means necessary to disrupt the unity in the early Church. At one level the battle is between the cosmic forces of the Holy Spirit (leading to sharing) and Satan (leading to fraud); people are ‘filled’ with one or the other. At the other level, human freedom is invoked: Ananias could have kept his property, yet he ‘made this plan’ with his wife. Such is the tension in religious narratives, made explicit in Peter’s statement, ‘You have not lied to humans but to God’ (Johnson, 88).

Ananias and Sapphira had seen others lay their gifts at the feet of the apostles. Indeed, they likely saw the gift of Barnabas and his standing in the community of faith. They wanted to participate in the benefits of this Christian community without giving themselves fully to it. Thus they conspired to sell part of their land and give part of the profits while claiming to give the entirety of that which they had sold. It is important to note that there was no requirement for Ananias and Sapphira to give; they had a choice. But when they had declared that they were giving all their profits to the Lord, they were making a binding promise. None of that which they held back belonged to them. They were essentially robbing God by their deceitfulness.

They were also attempting to test God. They underestimated the place of the apostles in this new community. They saw them as mere men, not representatives of God. The sharing of goods, we see, was voluntary. Ananias neither had to sell nor to share. Not ownership of property is the fault, but conspiracy which shatters the unity of the church and threatens the prophetic authority of the Twelve (Johnson, 88). Peter, when he confronted Ananias, showed that he had been given the gift of prophetic discernment. God had given him the ability to see into the hearts of others. He could discern what their true motives were and through the Holy Spirit was able to see the intended deception of Ananias and Sapphira.

It would be a mistake to assume that Peter himself made the decision that Ananias had to die. Peter does not strike him dead. Nor does he pronounce a judgment of death. But on hearing his prophetic declaration, Ananias dies (Johnson, 88). The prophetic word was the word that had been given to Peter by God. Peter himself had no power over the life and death of Ananias. That power truly belongs to the Lord God alone.

III. THE DEATH OF A CONSPIRACY

(ACTS 5:7–10)

Sapphira then came before Peter as the other part of the conspiracy to deceive the apostles. In dramatic terms, the presence of Sapphira enables Luke to suggest a shadow counter-community of avarice, over against the spirit-community that shares its possessions (Johnson, 87). Greed is what drove the willingness of Ananias and Sapphira to deceive the apostles. This was not merely greed for possessions; as stated before, there was no requirement for them to give. This was greed for adulation, for status. Ananias and Sapphira desired an elevated status in this community. They clearly did not understand the nature of this community of faith. They were caught up in old patterns of life that would not survive in the Kingdom of God. Sapphira was given a chance to be truthful, but she insisted on following a false way that led only to death. With her death, the conspiracy that could have thrown this new community into turmoil died as well.

THE LESSON APPLIED

Giving in the early Church was something that was to be done freely and without a sense of obligation. Christians are called to a way of living that responds immediately to needs as they arise. Thus Barnabas, seeing that there were those who had needs in the community, sold land and brought the money and laid it at the Apostles’ feet so that could give to those who were in need. In contrast, Ananias and Sapphira gave the appearance of being in community with the believers while in reality holding back from and deceiving the Church.

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT

1. Why were Ananias and Sapphira punished with death?

The deaths of Ananias and Sapphira seem to be counter the message of grace that runs throughout the New Testament. If Christians are supposed to be the people of the resurrection, how do the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira fit with that story? Ananias and Sapphira had dedicated their earnings from selling the land to the Lord. When they held something back, it was exactly the same as what Achan had done in taking those things that were dedicated to the Lord. The actions of Ananias and Sapphira were extremely harmful to this fledgling community and could have destroyed the Church before it even had a chance to start.

HOME DAILY DEVOTIONAL READINGS

SEPTEMBER 14–20, 2015

ACTS 5:27–29, 33–42

MAIN THOUGHT: Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29, KJV)

LESSON SETTING

Time: A.D. 30s

Place: Jerusalem

LESSON OUTLINE

I. The Apostles Before the Council

(Acts 5:27–29)

II. Gamaliel Intervenes

(Acts 5:33–39)

III. Worthy to Suffer

(Acts 5:40–42)

UNIFYING PRINCIPLE

Sometimes people are so dedicated to a cause that they will go to any lengths, even enduring pain and suffering, to achieve their goals. What is the source of their commitment? As the apostles continued to teach about Jesus as the Messiah and to help many people become believers, they knew, even though the authorities tried to stop them, that they were obeying God’s calling rather than any human authority.

INTRODUCTION

After the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, the apostles did many signs and wonders among the people (Acts 5:12, ESV). More believers were added to their number. The people knew and were in awe of the power of the apostles. Indeed, the people held them in high esteem (Acts 4:13, ESV). There were some who were afraid to join the apostles because of the opposition of the Jewish leadership, but they were nonetheless impressed by the speech and actions of the apostles. Indeed, they may have been afraid to approach because of the apostles’ demonstration of power.

The apostles were gaining power, and this angered the high priest and the Sadducees. They were filled with jealousy [and] they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison (Acts 4:17–18, ESV). The apostles, however, were released by an angel of the Lord and told to proclaim ‘to the people all the words of this Life (Acts 4:20, ESV). Now when the high priest called for the apostles to be brought before him the next morning, they could not be found in the prison even though the prison was ‘securely locked and the guards [were] standing at the doors’ (Acts 4:23, ESV). The high priest and those with him were confused by this turn of events. Then someone came and told them, ‘Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people’ (Acts 4:25, ESV). So the apostles were then brought before the council, but this happened without force because the leaders were afraid of being stoned by the people (Acts 4:26, ESV).

This was yet another confrontation between the religious power structure of Israel and the apostles. In this encounter, we begin to see more clearly who the true leaders of God’s people will be. It is worth noting that the true leaders of God’s people are the ones who submit themselves faithfully to God’s will. The high priest and the council were concerned only with maintaining their power. The orienting concern of the apostles was to do the will of the Almighty God.

EXPOSITION

I. THE APOSTLES BEFORE THE COUNCIL

(ACTS 5:27–29)

The high priest was determined to maintain his political power in Jerusalem at any cost. He did not want others to believe that he was responsible for the death of an innocent man. He wanted the people to believe that he was justified in killing Jesus, but the message of the apostles was contradicting those claims. He said to the apostles, ‘We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us’ (Acts 5:28, ESV). The high priest ultimately was concerned more with his reputation than he was with the truth. He knew of his role in the death of Jesus, but now that the people were looking to the apostles for leadership, he did not want to be associated with that death. This should be contrasted with the response of the crowds who, when confronted with their role in the death of Jesus, took responsibility for their actions. They were convicted by their guilt and asked what they could do to make it right. The high priest would have none of this. To admit that he was wrong would put him in a precarious political position.

Peter, along with the apostles, was willing to speak boldly to the high priest and the council. They were not concerned with grasping for political power. They only knew that they needed to speak truthfully about Jesus Christ. The apostles would not be intimidated into not speaking the truth. They would not be deterred by the threats from the powerful and kept from accomplishing God’s mission in the world to proclaim in Jesus Christ the resurrection of the dead. While Peter did point to the leaders’ participation in the death of Jesus, he and the other apostles were more concerned with proclaiming who the person of Jesus Christ is. They still desired to make the leaders aware of who it was that they killed. Only when Israel’s leaders accepted responsibility for their part in Jesus’ death would they be able to repent and submit themselves fully to God. Thus Peter and the apostles responded to this threat, saying, ‘We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him’ (Acts 5:29-32, ESV).

Again it is important to note the different concerns of the apostles and the high priest and the Sadducees. Where the high priest and the Sadducees were concerned with maintaining their power, Peter and the apostles were not attempting to grasp power for themselves. Indeed, they still continued to point to Jesus as the Leader of the people. He is the Savior who gives ‘repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins’ (Acts 5:31, ESV). Jesus is the only One who has the power to do these things. This is a repentance and forgiveness that was available to the leaders of Israel, even the ones specifically responsible for the death of Jesus. They only had to be willing to confess their participation in His death and repent of their sins. If they were willing to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, they would be forgiven and restored. Most of them, however, were not willing to take that step.

II. GAMALIEL INTERVENES

(ACTS 5:33–39)

Further, the speech of the apostles angered the council to the point that they wanted to kill the apostles. There was one Pharisee, however, who maintained a level head and had the apostles put outside for a while. Gamaliel was a well-respected Pharisee, as we can see by the response of the rest of the council to his request. He knew that there were those who had risen up before claiming to be the Messiah, and he also knew that they had been exposed as frauds through their own actions. He may have sensed something different about Jesus and these apostles or he may have simply been making a savvy political move; regardless, he advised the council to allow things to work out on their own. If the apostles were frauds, they would be exposed; if they were doing the work of God, however, there would be nothing the council could do to stop them.

In speaking of the various would-be prophets who came before Jesus, Gamaliel spoke of them rising up. "Gamaliel’s use is unconsciously ironic, for his entire point is to reduce Jesus to the status of those ‘would-be’ prophets and kings. His argument runs like