THE PERILS OF PREACHING
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Opening Prayer
Lord God, thank you that I not only read of your love and power in your Word; they are available for me each day, ready to give me all that I need to follow you.
Read ACTS 5:17–32
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
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.
27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
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
Where have you seen Jesus’ power displayed in ways that encourage you to share who he is with others?The excitement of yesterday’s passage quickly drew some unwelcome attention. The Sadducees (religious leaders) were jealous of the popularity of this new sect. Rather than recognizing the hand of God in what was going on, they were worried that their position was being undermined.
It was not the first time that Peter and John had been arrested (Acts 4:3). At that time, the religious leaders had not dared to punish them because of their popularity but had nevertheless com- manded them to stop preaching about Jesus (Acts 4:18). So where did they get their boldness to continue? First, they knew that their message was true (v. 32). Second, an angel had just told them to keep preaching (v. 20), reiterating the command of Jesus (Matthew 28:19).
I wonder if our own reticence to evangelize is because we some- times lose sight of these two things. Maybe we don’t really see Jesus’ commands to share his message (Matthew 28:19) as aimed at ourselves. Or our fear of opposition or rejection may cloud our vision of the truth and urgency of the glorious gospel.
Apply
‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus, / Look full in his wonderful face, / And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, / In the light of his glory and grace.’* Turn your eyes upon Jesus as you reflect on these lyrics.
Closing prayer
Jesus, I lift up to you my brothers and sisters around the world who are imprisoned for sharing the gospel, that you would comfort them and fill them with boldness and wisdom.
*‘Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus’, Helen Howard Lemmel, 1992
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