Acts 5:12-42

Obeying God Rather Than Men

I believe we can all agree that obedience to God is the highest priority we have. Most of us would rather go to jail or even die rather than reject Jesus Christ as our Savior. We would refuse to allow sin in our home willingly. We believe we would never compromise righteousness for what the world has to offer. Yet, in the everyday little minute things, we do. How many of us have gone to a party, or a movie, or read a book that wasn’t exactly pleasing to God? What about our conversations at work? How many of us have participated in a conversation that wasn’t exactly encouraging or uplifting? I know I am very guilty of these “small” everyday things. Obeying God is not just in the big stuff – it’s also in the everyday mundane as well. As we explore this passage, let’s keep in mind that obedience is submission to another’s authority – in this case, submitting to the authority of God.

Vs 12-16 Many signs and wonders were being done among the people through the hands of the apostles. By common consent they would all meet in Solomon’s Colonnade. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people praised them highly. Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers—crowds of both men and women. As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. In addition, a large group came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

In John 14:12-14 Jesus said, “I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father: Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” We can see these words of Jesus coming to life in these verses. Signs and wonders were being performed each day among the people. God was a work in their lives and the apostles were looking for opportunities to see people come to know Christ. The word was spreading and people were coming. Not only that, they were putting their faith in Christ.

Vs 17-21a Then the high priest took action. He and all his colleagues, those who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. So they arrested the apostles and put them in the city jail. But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple complex, and tell the people all about this life.” In obedience to this, they entered the temple complex at daybreak and began to teach.

The numbers of people who were being added to church began to get to the Sadducees and the their colleagues. It says they were “filled with jealousy”. The Greek word for filled is eplēsthēsan, which means to be filled to capacity. The Greek word for jealousy is zelos, which means to be zealous, in this case against, something. This shows us that the Sadducees were totally filled up with zealous jealousy leaving no room in their lives for anything else. So, just what were they jealous of? They saw the signs and wonders being done among the people. They saw the sick being healed and lives being changed. There is a saying, “misery loves company”. They couldn’t do signs and wonders. They couldn’t heal the sick. They couldn’t draw a crowd. Their jealously stemmed from the lack of the Holy Spirit working in their lives. They were miserable and wanted the apostles to experience that same misery, so, they put the apostles in jail. This would teach them! But, even this plan was thwarted by the angel of the Lord who just opened up the doors of the jail and told the apostles to, “go and stand in the temple complex, and tell the people all about this life.” Instead of running away, the apostles did exactly what the angel of the Lord told them to do. They were obedient. They could have run, but they stood firm.

Vs 21b-24 When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full Senate of the sons of Israel—and sent orders to the jail to have them brought. But when the temple police got there, they did not find them in the jail, so they returned and reported, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” As the commander of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, as to what could come of this.

Can you just imagine with me for a moment this scene? The high priest, having slept well for the first time since he “knew” those trouble makers were taken care of, comes in ready to take care of the problem once and for all. He sends orders for the apostles to be brought out of jail to stand trial. But his morning was just about to get more complicated. His best laid plan was about to be upset. Not only were the apostles gone, the guards at the front door didn’t even know they were gone. They were still guarding an empty jail. What is their response? I actually love this – they were baffled. The Greek word here for baffled is diaporeó, which means to be totally perplexed. A more thorough definition is “one who goes through the whole list of possible ways, and finds no way out.” They went through all the possible ways for the apostles to have left jail without the guards even knowing it and came up with nothing. Here are the religious leaders of the day perplexed. The option of God doing this doesn’t even enter their minds.

I want to explore this just a bit more. These men knew the Scriptures backward and forward. They knew the stories of the wonders of God: Daniel in the lion’s den, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, Moses and the crossing of the Red Sea, Jonah in the whale, the Jericho wall falling down, Gideon and his 300 men against thousands… Yet, they could not conceive that just maybe God had a hand in this miracle. They may of had the same attitude as many of us today. God did it then, but He just doesn’t work that way anymore. Have you ever heard anyone say that? I have. I have heard religious leaders with the same attitude of those in the Sanhedrin: God doesn’t speak in visions and dreams anymore. God doesn’t work in the same way anymore. God doesn’t… This perplexes me! I am going to state very clearly and plainly that God does. In fact, there isn’t anything God can’t do. I believe the reason we don’t see mighty works these days is because we have taken on this same attitude. Let’s open our eyes and hearts to see God at work around us.

Vs 25-32 Someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple complex and teaching the people.” Then the commander went with the temple police and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them. After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, “Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man’s blood on us!” But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted this man to His right hand as ruler and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

After the apostles left the jail, they entered the temple complex at daybreak and began to teach. The commander and temple police once again arrested them, but this time without force because they were afraid of the people. They could see that the people were following every word. When the apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin they were asked a simple question: “Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name?” Amazingly, the Sanhedrin couldn’t even say the name – they referred to Jesus as “this” name. They go on to say, “you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man’s blood on us!” Again, they couldn’t speak the name of Jesus, instead calling Him “this man”. They thought that by avoiding the name of Jesus it might all go away, but their own testimony, “you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching” shows the power of the name of Jesus and the message of salvation. It has filled Jerusalem. It is permeating and expanding. People are flocking to the message. We have come to what they are really afraid of. This message might overshadow their authority. If we don’t speak the name, maybe it will lessen the message. But Peter puts that notion to rest.

Peter speaks boldly the name of Jesus in the assembly and lays the message down in a six point sermon. 1. We must obey God rather than men. Even though we should be obedient to those in authority, when they contradict God, we cannot obey. Daniel and friends are examples of this. 2. God of our fathers raised up Jesus, who, by they way, you murdered by hanging Him on a tree. Here, Peter begins to lay out the gospel: man is guilty, Jesus died. 3. God exalted “this man” to His right hand as ruler and Savior. The gospel is continued: Jesus was resurrected from the dead and now sits at the right hand of God. 4. He will grant repentance and forgiveness of sins. Finally the last point of the gospel presentation: He grants us repentance and forgiveness and we must respond. This point must have really made them angry. They would have recalled a previous clash with Jesus. “Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.” At this, some of the scribes said among themselves, “He’s blaspheming!” But perceiving their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts? For which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He told the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.” And he got up and went home. When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck and gave glory to God who had given such authority to men.” Matthew 9:2-8. 5. We are witnesses to these things. The apostles boldly state they have witnessed this. They stand with Jesus. 6. The Holy Spirit is given to those who obey God. This is the last straw for the Sanhedrin. These men state unequivocally that the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey God more than hinting that those in the Sanhedrin have not been obedient. These six points go right to the heart of the problem. This isn’t about us teaching in the temple complex. This is about your zealous jealousy. This is about your desire for something you see we have – that is the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Vs 33-42 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 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. He said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful about what you’re going to do to these men. Not long ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about 400 men rallied to him. He was killed, and all his partisans were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and attracted a following. That man also perished, and all his partisans were scattered. And now, I tell you, stay away from these men and leave them alone. For if this plan or this work is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.” So they were persuaded by him. After they called in the apostles and had them flogged, they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the Name. Every day in the temple complex, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

One thing you will always find. Those who refuse to see, will never believe. Those blinded by zealous jealousy, will never come to understand truth. The gospel was presented. Truth was spoken. Instead of heeding truth, they became enraged. The Greek word for enraged is diaprió which means to be cut to the heart with indignation and envy. They were ready to stone them right there. In all reality, the fate of most of the apostles were sealed that day. Death was stayed for a season though through an unlikely source – a Pharisee by the name of Gamaliel. He is spoken of just twice in Scripture. One time here, and another in Acts 22 when Paul speaks of him as his teacher. Gamaliel is described in the Mishnah, the foundational document of rabbinic Judaism, as one who had reverence for the law; along with purity and abstinence. He had been given the title of Rabban, which means our teacher – a step above a Rabbi, which means my teacher. He was also, significantly, a Pharisee, not at Sadducee. Even though the Sadducee had more political power, they did not have the inroads with the Romans for execution. They needed the Pharisee support. So what did Gamaliel say that stopped their hand that day? In a nutshell: let’s wait and see. He decided to sit on the fence instead of take a stand.

My question is, what more did they need to see? They had miraculous events taking place with healings and wonders, an unexplained jail break with an even more unexplained continuance of preaching in the temple complex and a bold sermon with a clear gospel presentation. What more was needed? I do believe Gamaliel was used by God at that time to stay the apostles execution for a time. Even those who do not believe, can be used by God to do His will. This has been shown over and over again in Scripture. But, we should not put our focus on Gamaliel’s rescue, but on the apostles response. The Sanhedrin agreed to let them go after having them flogged and ordering not to speak the name of Jesus again. Think what your response would be at this point? What is mine?

Hopefully, our response is exactly like the apostles: rejoicing! The apostles took to heart Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, “Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:1-12. They did not stop their preaching. They did not stop proclaiming the truth of the gospel. They continued obeying God rather than men.

Today, we desperately need this message. There is, in fact, two ways that we might follow men rather than God. The first is obvious. There is far to much adherence to what men are saying rather than God, even in the church. We see this played out with splits and with sides chosen. We want to fit in and look like the world. This is not our calling. We do not take on the stuff of the world. We are not suppose to fade away into the wood work. The apostles didn’t get out of jail just to hide away amongst the believers. No, they got right back out in the open to preach and teach. We cannot water down the gospel of Jesus Christ. We cannot make the gospel palatable to people. We can’t be like Gamaliel and sit on the fence. Paul refers in Galatians 5:11 to the offense of the cross. When Peter rebuked Jesus after Jesus taught in Mark 8:31, the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be killed, and rise after three days.” Jesus rebuked Peter in verse 33 saying, “Get behind Me, Satan, because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns, but man’s!” Jesus said he would be rejected. He said he would die. These weren’t the words the disciples wanted to hear. And this isn’t the message the world wants to hear. They want to be validated. They want to feel like they are okay, not matter what they are doing. This is not the truth of the gospel. The truth is we are all sinners in need of a Savior! It’s not a pretty picture. In fact it’s downright ugly!! We must obey God rather than men.

But this is not the only way we have concerned ourselves with men over God. Some in the church have become far too concerned and distracted by trying to put the right men into power. We think perhaps if the right political party gets in and puts the right laws in place we can make men follow God’s way. Don’t get me wrong, I believe that good laws should be in place to govern people, but, make no mistake, we can never legislate morality. Morality is not an issue that can be governed, it is an issue of the heart. If the heart does not change, morality will never happen in a person’s life. As believers we should understand that better than anyone. God’s Law is perfect, but it did not change anyone’s heart. All it did was glaringly show us how much we needed a Savior. Instead of working so hard to put men and laws into place, we need to work hard speaking truth into people’s lives. That truth is not don’t do this, and don’t do that by the way. The ten commandments does that better than we can! The truth is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the only way to salvation. Jesus is the way the truth and the life. Hearts can only be changed through Jesus Christ. Ezekiel 36:26-28 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will place My Spirit within you and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances. Then you will live in the land that I gave your fathers; you will be My people, and I will be your God.” We cannot change people’s hearts, only God can. We cannot remove the heart of stone to make it flesh, only God can. We cannot place the Spirit inside of someone – only God can. We cannot make anyone follow God’s statues and ordinances, only God can. We are called to be obedient to God rather than men. That means we speak the words God wants us to speak, and walk in the way God wants us to walk. We cannot waste valuable time and energy on things that will not change the hearts of people. These things only serve to take our attention off of what God has asked us to do. So, let us follow God instead of men. In this way, we will see the Holy Spirit at work in miraculous and wondrous ways.