GREEN LIGHT
Opening Prayer
I praise you Almighty God, the One who cannot be defeated, whose purposes will always be completed.
Read ACTS 5:17–26
The Apostles Persecuted
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.
When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.
25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
‘God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year until the time when the earth will be filled with the glory of God.’*Shakespeare described envy as ‘the green sickness.’** But green also means ’go.’ Both ideas appear in this story. The Sadducees, a wealthy and powerful group, assumed leadership positions in the temple, many playing the role of Chief Priest or High Priest. The success of the Jesus movement was independent of them and consequently felt something of a threat, provoking them to jealousy (v. 17). Few of us enjoy being out of control in something for which we feel responsible. Their response was to shut it down, having the apostles arrested and imprisoned.
It was another moment of peril for the emerging church. Would it survive this hostility from such a powerful opponent? As on countless other occasions in the history of the church, Jesus continued to build his church, ramming through the gates of hell (Matthew 16:18) that would seek to thwart it. An angel freed the apostles and gave them the green light to stand in the very place where opposition was fiercest and speak about new life in Christ (v. 20). It was inexplicable to the Sanhedrin. They, like many world leaders since, were dumbfounded that the good news of Jesus could not be chained. The good news would be taken to the ends of the earth.
Apply
Where in the world do things seem hopeless to you? How can this passage give you reason to be encouraged?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, I lift up to you those who are in prison because of their commitment to Christ. Give them courage and all else needed for them to continue to stand for you.
*From the hymn, ‘God is working his purpose out’ by Arthur Campbell Ainger, 1894
**Antony and Cleopatra, Act 3, Scene 2
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