Session 7
Acts 5:29-42
Memory Verse: Acts 5:32
The Christian life is filled with paradoxes. The way to be free from sin is to become a slave of Christ. The way to find true and eternal life is to die to yourself. Leaders are called to serve. Jesus is King, but He was crucified like a common criminal. The wisdom of God is seen as foolishness by the world. And the love of God is revealed when He disciplines His children.
In today’s session, we’ll examine another paradox: Being persecuted by the world leads to joy in Christ. Honestly, most of us don’t suffer the way the early disciples did, but we still face opposition in other forms. Jesus said to expect it. If the world persecuted Him, it will persecute us. As you prepare to lead this session, think about the persecution you have faced-and possibly are facing right now. Thank God for His help and strength in those times. Look for ways to encourage the adults in your group to see opposition as a blessing and as a chance to dive deeper into God’s love and purpose for us.
In a closed country on business, John was invited to a secret church by a long-time Christian friend. Although nervous, he went and was worshiping with the local believers when the police burst in and began viciously beating the pastor. John’s friend stopped him from moving forward, saying: “You can’t help him. They’ll arrest you and you’ll deny our pastor the blessing of suffering for our Savior.” Afterward, the believers ministered to the pastor as they praised God for counting him worthy of the Lord. (PSG, p. 64)
After the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, the young church continued to grow, both in terms of numbers (Acts 5:14) and its impact on the larger community (5:16). The reason for this growth was the power of God through the Holy Spirit-just as Jesus had promised in Acts 1:8.
It is curious that verse 13 notes the trepidation some people had in associating with the young church, while verse 14 declares that multitudes of new people were being added. The distinction seems to be that people were no longer simply dropping in and casually observing what was happening. The incident with Ananias and Sapphira was enough to keep the gawkers and window shoppers away.
Instead, those who were coming into the church were committed believers. This was important because, as Luke noted, opposition was getting ready to intensify. Commitment to Christ is never something to be entered lightly. Jesus made it clear that people need to count the cost of discipleship before making the decision to follow Him (Luke 14:28).
As the influence of the church began to increase, the most powerful religious leaders “were filled with jealousy” (5:17). As a result, they started arresting church leaders. Instead of just targeting Peter and John, all of the apostles were targeted for prison, indicating that persecution against the church was becoming more common and acceptable.
Despite the best efforts of the high priest and the other leaders, the apostles didn’t stay in jail very long. God sent an angel to lead them out of their prison cells. This same angel told them to go back to the temple and continue to preach about Jesus (5:20), a command the apostles enthusiastically obeyed.
The temple leaders realized what had happened when they sent for the apostles and no one could find them in the jail. Someone finally found them “in the temple and teaching the people” (5:25). While the temple police and the priests were ready to take the church leaders back to prison, they had to move cautiously. The church’s growing popularity with the crowds actually had the Jewish officials fearing for their own lives (5:26).
When the apostles were challenged about their refusal to obey the leaders’ command, Peter reminded them of what he had already said: They would obey God first and foremost (4:19-20; 5:29). Jesus was the Messiah, and they would remain faithful to their calling to tell others about Him-even if it upset powerful people (5:30-32).
As you read Acts 5:17-42, highlight the ways the actions of Peter and the other disciples honored Jesus. What do you learn from this passage about ways you can honor the Lord? (PSG, p. 65)
EXPLORE THE TEXT
29 Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.
(v. 29) We must obey God: On trial again, Peter repeated their obligation to obey God. Peter was not saying that Christians should ignore authority. Instead, he acknowledged that God’s commands take priority over human laws.
(v. 30) God of our ancestors: Peter reminded the religious leaders that Jesus represented the fulfillment of God’s promises to their ancestors: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The prophets also had foretold the coming of the Messiah. Jesus’s identity as Messiah was validated when He was raised up by God. The Jewish leaders had played an role in Jesus’s death by hanging him on a tree. But His resurrection revealed His true identity.
(v. 30) Murdered: The death of Jesus played out according to the Father’s plans and purposes. He voluntarily surrendered His life for our sins and determined when He would take His final breath (John 10:18; 19:30). He was sovereign and in control of the entire event.
At the same time, Peter emphasized that people are held accountable for their actions. The Greek wording emphasizes violence, including killing someone with your bare hands. Luke later used it to describe the mob that wanted to kill Paul (Acts 26:21).
(v. 31) Exalted: In an ironic juxtaposition, Peter declared that a murder of an innocent man resulted in his exaltation. Later, Paul would elaborate on how the suffering of Jesus led to His exaltation, as He took His seat by the Father (Phil. 2:6-11). One day, His glory will be complete when every human bows down to Him.
While this focus on exaltation emphasized Jesus’s deity, Peter also highlighted His humanity. Jesus came to earth as a man and never relinquished His humanity. He was and still is fully human, just as He is fully God. His humanity was important because only a human could die for humanity’s sins.
(v. 31) Right hand: In Greek, the term refers to strength and honor. Since the right hand tends to be the dominant hand for people, it became a Jewish idiom to designate power and authority.
(v. 31) Repentance . . . Forgiveness: Repentance implies changing direction. It is a necessary response to the gospel and a key aspect of saving faith. In a sense, repentance and the forgiveness are two sides of the same coin (Luke 24:47). When we come to Jesus in repentance and faith, He forgives us (1 John 1:9).
(v. 32) Witnesses: The Greek word for witnesses is martures. In the first century, it generally referred to a legal eyewitness, but it also carries an ethical meaning that emphasizes proof of faith. For early believers, that proof of faith was often death, which is why the root word has been transliterated as “martyr.”
(v. 33) Enraged: The religious leaders were so angry that they wanted to kill the apostles. While they had let Peter and John off with a warning in chapter 4, Luke was demonstrating that things were changing rapidly. One of the lessons that we can learn from Luke’s account here is that we should expect some to reject Jesus and turn their opposition toward those who bear His name.
34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered the men to be taken outside for a little while. 35 He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re about to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. He also perished, and all his followers were scattered. 38 So in the present case, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of human origin, it will fail;
39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.
(v. 34) Pharisee: The Pharisees were religious teachers. Whenever we come across them in the biblical storyline, we often think of Pharisees as the “bad guys.” It’s true that the Pharisees often did oppose Jesus and His ministry (see Luke 11:37-53), though some, like Nicodemus (John 19:39), apparently came to believe that Jesus was the Messiah.
This passage highlights the Pharisees who did not oppose Jesus and were open to His claims. Later, Paul, who was a Pharisee, became the greatest missionary in church history.
Gamaliel
Gamaliel was a respected leader in the Sanhedrin, a collection of Jewish religious scholars and leaders. In Acts 22, we find out that he was Paul’s teacher. In fact, Paul appealed to this very incident when he was on trial for preaching about Jesus, so it seems that Gamaliel remained a respected and authoritative voice through the narrative of Acts.
According to the Jewish Talmud, Gamaliel was the grandson of Hillel, who played a significant role in the development of rabbinic Judaism and the oral law. The high esteem in which Jews held Gamaliel was expressed in the writings of the Mishnah: “When Rabban Gamaliel the Elder died, the glory of the Law ceased and purity and abstinence died.”
(v. 38) Human origin: After all that had happened, Gamaliel ordered the apostles to be sent out of the room. He then offered the rest of the Sanhedrin some advice about dealing with their current predicament. Gamaliel’s advice was based on biblical principles, echoing Deuteronomy 18:21-22.
He addressed the other leaders using historical examples of movements that had collapsed because they were of human origin (vv. 36-37). Men would rise up, gather some people around them, and die, leaving their followers to scatter. Gamaliel reasoned that if the apostles’ preaching was grounded in their own power, the Christian movement would ultimately fall apart on its own.
(v. 39) Fighting against God: Of course, there was another option that the religious leaders needed to consider. Gamaliel warned his peers that if the apostles’ preaching and teaching was accurate, if Jesus really was who they claimed He was, they had to be extremely careful with their next steps. Opposing Jesus’s followers would be equivalent to fighting against God. This would be both sinful and irrational.
No true believer wants to stand in the way of what God is doing in the world. What’s more, because He is omnipotent (all-powerful), any attempts to thwart His plans are useless. Gamaliel had looked at both sides of the coin, and the best response was the same-leave the Christians alone and let God handle them one way or another.
40 After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. 41 Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name. 42 Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
(v. 40) Flogged: The religious leaders heeded Gamaliel’s wise advice and released all of the apostles, but not before physically abusing them. In this case, flogging meant striking them with a whip or a rod. The Old Testament limited the number of lashes to forty to avoid humiliating the person being punished (Deut. 25:3).
The apostles’ flogging is reminiscent of Jesus’s flogging (John 19:1). However, He was also scourged-which tore flesh and drew blood. Jesus was mocked and ridiculed before being executed. Jesus had predicted this abuse (Luke 18:31-33) and told his disciples that they should expect persecution for His sake (John 15:20-22).
(v. 40) Ordered them not to speak: Along with the physical punishment, the religious leaders threatened the apostles by demanding that they stop talking about Jesus. They paid special attention to the name of Jesus, which related to His authority over His followers. Later, the early believers would focus on Jesus’s name as they addressed the reality of suffering (v. 41).
Of course, Peter and John had already heard-and ignored-this warning from the religious leaders (4:18). While the members of the Sanhedrin may have been trying to reassert their authority, the apostles would continue to obey Christ rather than human powers.
(v. 41) Rejoicing: The apostles found joy in being treated shamefully for the sake of Jesus. Rejoicing in the midst of persecution is counterintuitive and paradoxical, but it is also a normal pattern in the New Testament (see Matt. 5:12; 1 Pet. 4:13).
In a letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote that God’s grace was sufficient and allowed him to take similar pleasure in the various ways he suffered for the Savior. (2 Cor. 12:10). Jesus’s half-brother James also encouraged believers to “consider it a great joy” when they faced trials (Jas. 1:2). Suffering for Christ leads to rejoicing in Christ because suffering leads to sharing in Christ’s glory.
Worthy
The Greek word used here (kataxioó) involves weighing something to determine its true value. Jesus used it when talking about the end times to describe those who were worthy of heaven (Luke 20:35). Paul used it in a similar context in another passage that connects worthiness with suffering (2 Thess. 1:5). The early Christians were thrilled that Jesus had weighed their faithfulness and given them the privilege of suffering for His name.
(v. 42) Every day: The Christian faith is not something that we do once per week on Sunday mornings or sporadically throughout the week. Instead, believers are called to live and proclaim the gospel each and every day.
(v. 42) Continued: Despite the leaders’ warnings, the believers continued to preach and teach about Jesus in the temple and in their homes. True to their word, they placed God’s priorities above the rules-and threats-of human authorities.
This teaching and preaching of the early church were not something new that the Christians thought up. As Luke noted in his introduction to Acts, the gospel message proclaimed by the church and recounted in this book was a continuation of the ministry of Jesus (Acts 1:1)
Salvation
Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Savior. (See Acts 17:30-31; Ephesians 1:7.)
Read multiple Bible passages to develop a deeper understanding of evangelism.
Read the following passages in your Bible: Romans 10:9-15; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; and Colossians 1:24-29. What insights do you learn from these passages about the motives and methods of evangelism?