When it came to preaching the gospel, they refused to comply to orders to stop. Even if it meant their death. Which it almost did.
The apostles were preaching, teaching, healing and delivering. That’s what apostles do. But when the power of God comes to a people and they see the true gospel at work, the religious leaders get jealous. It happens the world over.
So the high priest and his cohort arrested the apostles and threw them in the public jail. An angel came in the night and sprung them from their trap.
Instead of telling them to make a run for it. The angel told them to keep preaching right there in the temple courts.
Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.
It was certain death. They were supposed to be in jail and now they were doing the very thing they were not supposed to do.
When the Jews gathered together in an emergency court. They sent for the apostles. But a surprise was waiting.
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. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.
Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 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.
The fun continued. Instead of cowering in fear, the apostles rose up in boldness. If you are going to go out of this life, might as well do so with boldness in your actions and Christ on your lips.
The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “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.”
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah (Acts 5:17-42).
The apostles could have done so many other things. They could have laid low for awhile. Maybe run away. Or just kept quiet.
But nothing would stop them. They had direct orders to continue preaching. Straight from the mouth of an angel.
Sometimes we are told to stop preaching the gospel. Just be quiet about it. Practice your own faith and don’t push it on others. That’s wrong.
Although those who say such things are literally pushing their agenda on the believers.
But the gospel cannot be stopped. It is carried along by the brave and the bold.
May we gain that type of backbone again. Respectfully, but boldly, preaching the gospel wherever he leads.