Rejoicing at Being Beaten
[ READ ] Acts 5:17-42
The Apostles Arrested and Freed
17 But 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. 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.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 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 And 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.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “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.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 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 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.”
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
17 But 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. 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.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 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 And 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.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “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.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 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 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.”
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
The apostles are arrested by the Jewish religious authority for preaching the Gospel. They are miraculously released from prison to continue preaching the full message of this new life. They are arrested again and called to account. The Sanhedrin is convinced not to kill them, but cannot just let them go since they had disobeyed their order. So the apostles are beaten. These beatings were likely the 39 lashes, in which the guilty person was stripped and beaten publicly.
The intended result was to stop this Jesus movement and reassert the Sanhedrin’s authority. Instead the apostles are not only not broken, but are REJOICING that they are counted worthy to suffer. Where would they get the idea to REJOICE at being beaten? The Sermon on the Mount is a teaching the apostles likely heard many times in different venues. At the end of the Beatitudes (Matt 5:2-12) Jesus teaches that when persecuted, reviled and when evil is said against us we are to “REJOICE and be glad for great is your reward in heaven” (Matt 5:12). Undoubtedly the apostles were looking at a treasure and an authority the Sanhedrin could not see, but confirmed with a beating.
- Gary Gunther
The intended result was to stop this Jesus movement and reassert the Sanhedrin’s authority. Instead the apostles are not only not broken, but are REJOICING that they are counted worthy to suffer. Where would they get the idea to REJOICE at being beaten? The Sermon on the Mount is a teaching the apostles likely heard many times in different venues. At the end of the Beatitudes (Matt 5:2-12) Jesus teaches that when persecuted, reviled and when evil is said against us we are to “REJOICE and be glad for great is your reward in heaven” (Matt 5:12). Undoubtedly the apostles were looking at a treasure and an authority the Sanhedrin could not see, but confirmed with a beating.
- Gary Gunther
[ EXAMINE ] the passage. At this point, answer some questions about the meaning of the text. Take time to reflect.
+ What would stop you from sharing the Gospel with someone?
+ Does the prospect of suffering loss bring fear?
+ What would stop you from sharing the Gospel with someone?
+ Does the prospect of suffering loss bring fear?
[ APPLY ] the passage to your own life.
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Is there an authority competing with Jesus in my life?
+ Am I prepared to share the Gospel clearly and with conviction?
+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?
+ Is there an authority competing with Jesus in my life?
+ Am I prepared to share the Gospel clearly and with conviction?
[ PRAY ] through the passage and your application, and ask God to change your heart and your life.
+ Pray with me:
Father, open my eyes to others around me who need to hear about you. Help me to be courageous and rejoice when I face opposition. May I live in a way that causes others to ask about the hope that dwells in me.
+ Pray with me:
Father, open my eyes to others around me who need to hear about you. Help me to be courageous and rejoice when I face opposition. May I live in a way that causes others to ask about the hope that dwells in me.
[ SHARE ] what God is teaching you with at least one person: your roommate,
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ Ask God to lay someone on your heart who needs to hear the good news.
your spouse, your kids, or your coworkers. Don’t keep what God taught you to
yourself.
(e.g., your family around the dinner table, a friend, co-worker or neighbor- for help join a community group at downtownhope.org/community-groups)
+ Ask God to lay someone on your heart who needs to hear the good news.
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