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Acts 5:17–21a
“[The Sadducees] arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ‘Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life’” (vv. 18–20).
When the Jewish authorities released Peter and John after their arrest, the priests and the other leaders commanded the Apostles not to preach the gospel anymore, especially in the temple courts (Acts 4:1–22). The Apostles, of course, did not obey that order (5:12–16). Thus, we are not surprised that the Jewish leaders took action against the church again.
Today’s passage opens by telling us that the high priest and the Sadducees (who made up the majority of the Jewish ruling council known as the Sanhedrin) rose up out of jealousy and arrested the Apostles, putting them in public prison (vv. 17–18). The growing popularity of the Christian movement threatened their own position and power in the city, for believers would submit to the Jewish priesthood no longer but to the leadership of the Apostles instead. So the authorities wanted to suppress the movement by force. This strategy has continued throughout history. When the true church is growing in a region hostile to the gospel, the local authorities frequently try to stop God’s work by putting ministers and other Christian leaders in prison.
Arresting the Apostles did nothing to slow the progress of the gospel in Jerusalem. As Luke tells us in Acts 5:19–20, God sent an angel to the prison during the night to free the Apostles, charging them to continue preaching “all the words of this Life.” The Lord had granted the Apostles—and by extension the entire church—a divine commission to preach the gospel and make disciples (Matt. 28:18–20), and no other authority could overrule His decree. If there were any doubt that the Apostles had to obey God rather than man (Acts 4:19–20), this angelic visitation certainly proved that on those rare occasions when we must disobey earthly authorities to obey God, we have no real choice. We must obey the Lord.
Matthew Henry draws a particular application for Christian pastors: “The gospel is concerning matters of life and death, and ministers must preach it and people hear it accordingly. They must speak all the words of this life, and not conceal any for fear of offending, or in hope of ingratiating themselves with their rulers. Christ’s witnesses are sworn to speak the whole truth.” The church’s elders, in particular, dare not shrink from preaching the whole counsel of God when the gospel is under attack. Their brave perseverance in proclaiming the truth sets an example for us.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
It is important for us to encourage our pastors to continue proclaiming the gospel even when they face hostility. One of the ways that we can do this is by making sure that our churches are committed to supporting the pastor and his family. A pastor who knows that his congregation will support him financially even when he must preach truths that many find offensive will be greatly encouraged to continue teaching God’s Word boldly.
For further study
- Daniel 6
- Acts 16:11–40
The bible in a year
- Numbers 11–13
- Mark 6:1–29
- Numbers 14–18
- Mark 6:30–56