Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. Acts 5:41

Acts 5:12–42 – The Story of the Church: Living Into This Drama in the 21st Century
Sixth Sunday of Easter – May 9, 2021 (am)

There’s nothing that can awaken anger and argument in us quicker than being treated unfairly, falsely accused. Children come with anti-unfairness software preinstalled! From their earliest days they can sniff it out from great distances. Then their pre-set alarm sounds: That’s not fair!

And this response barely changes no matter how old we get! We just can’t abide unfairness! We can’t endure it! It short-circuits something in our brains that sends us straight back to childhood and that pre-set alarm!

And our triggers are so sensitive that we feel unfairly treated even if we actually did something wrong but didn’t intend to! I’m sorry, sir, you were going twelve miles-an-hour over the speed limit. / But, officer, there was no one around! And I surely wasn’t meaning to break the law! And all the while in our minds we’re just screaming: That’s not fair!

Watch an international soccer match and you’ll see grown men doing this: absolutely abusing their opponent then pleading innocence like a five-year-old on a playground!

These are kind of trite examples given my reason for sharing them. I just want our natural inclinations to stand as a backdrop for appreciating the response of the apostles to the grievous injustice they experience in today’s text.

And I also want to draw your attention from the start to the almost inexpressible trial that appears here. We can get used to this story and forget that the apostles were mere humans, just like us—that even though they were living in dramatic and unusual times, they were no different than you and me when we face unfairness in our day.

I think this might show us something of the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of mere mortals, redeemed sinners. Let’s walk through this text in three steps.

Miraculous Affirmations Through the Apostles – 12-16

In answer to the apostles’ prayer (4:30), God is continuing to do many signs and wonders… by the hands of the apostles (12). He’s affirming in dramatic ways that these men are continuing the ministry of Jesus. They’re ministering in His name and proclaiming salvation through His death and resurrection and ascension back to the Father (30-31).

And these were truly miraculous works that were doing more than just amazing people. The deaths of Ananias & Sapphira being fresh in mind (1-11), plus the great fear those generated (5, 11), give us v.13. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. People were aware that true, holy power was at work here—nothing to trifle with!

But they were drawn to the dramatic blessing that was being poured out—the undeniable indications that God was really at work through these apostles. They 15 … carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.

This could sound odd to us, almost like magic or superstition. But Luke chose a word here that he’d used twice already in his gospel. When Mary was told by the angel Gabriel that she would bear a son, she asked: How can this be, since I am a virgin? (Luk.1:34) Luk.1:35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called… the Son of God.

The second time was on the Mt. of Transfiguration. As Peter was talking there, suggesting they erect three [tabernacles] to honor Jesus and Moses and Elijah, 34 … a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

This shadow was the very presence of God with His people. Even so here, I believe. Peter’s shadow was the means of God’s blessing—the presence of God blessing! 16 The people … gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

And even in the face of this holy fear (cf. 13 [5, 11]), the result was that, 14 … more than ever, believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. The church was growing!

Miraculous Affirmations To the Apostles – 17-42

But that just wasn’t okay with the religious leaders in Israel: 17 … the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. If this sounds like déjà vu, there’s good reason for it; the same thing happened back in c.4! They were arrested for [preaching] Jesus (4:2-3). They were charged not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus (4:17-18). And they responded by saying: 4:19 … Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.

This time, though, it wasn’t just a single miracle—the healing of a man more than forty years old (4:22) who’d been [born] lame (3:2). This time was a cascade of miracles! (15-16) It was an outpouring of the blessing of God’s Spirit anticipating the day of resurrection and life in the new heavens and new earth!

But this wasn’t the only difference from last time. Luke also gives us a glimpse into the leaders’ hearts/motives this time. They were filled with jealousy! (17) And when they heard the same [answer] from the apostles as before—we must obey God rather than men (29)—they were enraged and wanted to kill them! (33)

They were really miffed that these guys weren’t listening to them, yes, but even more I believe at charges that were coming back at them from the apostles: 28 … 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. This was just maddening to them!

But that didn’t deter the apostles. Again, they used almost the same words as before (4:10-12). 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader (prince [Strong], pioneer [L-N]) and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. So, God Himself is [witness] to these things by His Spirit, but the high priest and Sadducees are still against them!

And that’s what led to one final difference this time around, namely, how they were released. But first, let’s recall what happened here. They were arrested and put in the public prison (18). 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” And they did, at dawn (21), their earliest opportunity. So, when the council was called together the next morning, they sent to the prison to have [the apostles] brought (21) before them. But they weren’t there! (22) [T]he prison was securely locked and the guards were standing at the doors, but [there was] no one inside! (23) At a different time this could’ve been funny! 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 [A nameless] someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. The roles are kind of reversed here, don’t you think? Who is confident and assertive and who is fearful of death?

So, all this has taken place. Then comes their answer to their leaders which fired up their rage, and their desire to do the same thing to these apostles as they’d done to Jesus (33). But then a highly respected Pharisee, Gamaliel (34)—another introductory appearance of someone we’ll hear about again later (22:3)—reasons with the high priest and Sadducees (35-39) trying to help them see, using a couple examples from history (36-37), that it might not be best to try to suppress this movement. In fact: You might even be found opposing God! So they took his advice (39).

But what did they do next? [T]hey beat them! (40) Probably the thirty-nine stripes allowed by the Mishnah (Mak.3:10; cf. Dei.25:3 [Longenecker 798]). But, this is what they did to these guys who were [healing] people, and who surely seem to be working with God’s poser! How does this make any sense at all?

But then we see a new (pretty impressive!) expression of the same response again from the apostles: 41 … they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And they kept right on preaching (42).

Takeaways from The Apostles’ Experiences

We can be very impressed with, even envious of, the experience of having the place where we’re praying being shaken, like it was for them last time they were released (4:31). But God can shake the earth any time He wants to! He made it! I think it’s an even greater expression of His power that He can so change, so redeem, so deeply satisfy sinful human hearts that He can lift them above, lift them out of, their selfish sensitivity toward unfairness!

He can prepare and enable them to suffer with Him in this life—both that painful death to selfish desires and yearnings in favor of His righteousness and holiness, but also the endurance of unfairness and opposition in His name that comes at us from a world that’s still so rebellious and hostile toward its Creator!

This is an amazing transformation! It’s a miracle well beyond the merely physical [healings] we read about here!

This is a portrait of unjust treatment. It’s a case study in unfairness! The apostles weren’t guilty of anything except making the wrong people mad (33). And there was just no legitimate reason for that response. It was pure jealousy (17). But they were punished anyway—[beaten], brutally.

And what was their response? Joy! Rejoicing! (41) The felt [honored] to be [dishonored] for Jesus’ name’s sake! (Stott 118-119) No whining self-defense. No bitter accusation. No claim of government overreach or retaliation in the courts. On different occasions Jesus’ messengers would call on their legal rights to avoid certain expressions of persecution (16:37; 22:25; 25:11), but they still understood that suffering was their assignment in this life, just as it had been for Jesus (Joh.15:20), and they embraced that calling! Paul wrote to the Philippians that he would gladly endure the loss of every privilege and benefit in this life just in order to know Christ better—to know him and the power of his resurrection, [to] share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible he may attain the resurrection from the dead (Phi.3:7-11). That’s the same zeal the apostles are showing here. Even more than fairness, they want to identify with Christ, no matter the cost!

Conclusion

That is also our inheritance in the gospel! This is what the Spirit of God can do in our lives. He can change us to the point where our most deeply embedded programming is transformed from intransigent selfishness into a follower of Jesus who dies daily to self-gratifying desires and lusts, from unswerving devotion to self-protection and promotion into one who joyfully embraces the sufferings of Christ in the world that so opposes Who He is and all that He represents.

It changes the things we value and treasure and talk about and pursue. It lifts us out of the traps of this world that ensnare us in things that are fleeting, ephemeral, and unimportant and fixes our eyes on the beauty and power and perfection of God our Father and His righteous Son and His Holy Spirit.

Closing Illustration: Case in point, just last Sunday I was accosted by a group of high schoolers, teenagers, as I entered the home where our FLOCKS group was gathering. And before I was off of the indoor Welcome mat, I was being asked question rooted in the theology of last Sunday’s sermon.

To me, that is an uncommon as a room shaking after prayer! And it is one giant step toward the heart to stand firm in the faith and suffer with Christ rather than to run back to the comforts and consolations, compromises, of this world.

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Resources

Beale, G. K. and D. A. Carson, eds. 2007. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Acts, by I. Howard Marshall, 513-606. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.

Bruce, F. F., ed. 1988. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. The book of Acts, revised, by F. F. Bruce. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Carson, D. A., ed. 1991. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. The gospel according to John, by D. A. Carson. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Carson, D. A., R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, eds. 1994. New Bible Commentary 21st Century Edition. Acts, by Conrad Gempf, 1066-1114. Leicester, Eng.: InterVarsity.

Dockery, David S, ed. 1992. New American Commentary. Vol. 26, Acts, by John B. Polhill. Nashville: Broadman & Holman.

Grudem, Wayne, ed. 2008. ESV Study Bible. Study notes on Acts, 2073-2156, by John B. Polhill. Wheaton: Crossway.

Longman III, Tremper and David E. Garland, eds. 2007. Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 10, Acts, by Richard N. Longenecker, 665-1102. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Morris, Leon, ed. 1980. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Vol. 5 Acts, by I. Howard Marshall. Downers Grove: InterVarsity.

 

Next Week: “Ministry” and the Multiplying Word, Acts 6:1–7, Dan Brendsel