Church in Obedience
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
On the heals of preaching and healing in the previous verses and “multitudes” coming to know the Lord.
The Arrest
The Arrest
Sadducees were filled with jealousy.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Acts of the Apostles 1. The Apostles Are Re-arrested (5:17–33)
Although they were concerned about issues of theology and social order (cf. 4:1–2), the high priest and his associates are said to have been filled with jealousy (eplēsthēsan zēlou).38 They were gripped by the ordinary human reaction of envy at the success of others. Since
Public Prison, meaning they were put in prison publicly. To be seen.
The Escape
The Escape
While the leaders acted publicly, an angel of the lord acted secretly (under cover of darkness. Note the irony here.
The angel opened the door and brought them out.
This is the first of three divine jailbreaks in the book of Acts.
Miraculous deliverance is not the normal expectation of Luke or the characters in his narrative. Stephen is stoned to death and both James and Paul spend lengthy periods of time in prison.
We are not guaranteed delivery from persecution. Boldness should not produce hubris, but humility.
The command of the angel is to teach the people “the words of this Life.” The gospel.
To be done in the temple. (again with the irony)
The Arraignment
The Arraignment
Again with the irony. The fact that the apostles were no longer in jail, would have been an embarrassment to the authorities.
The apostles were brought peacefully.
Two charges:
contempt of court vs 28
slander vs 28
The Defense
The Defense
Peter answers the charges
Obey God rather than man vs 29
How is this different than the government telling us not to meet during covid 19?
The mandate is not ideological or theological
Christians should generally submit themselves to governing authorities, showing proper respect and cooperation, recognizing that political leaders and institutions have been established by God for the good order of society (cf. Ro. 13:1–7; 1 Pet. 2:13–17).
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
13 Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Our fundamental calling, as a chosen people, is to declare the praises of the one who called us out.
Examples of civil disobedience
Daniel (several examples0
Midwives in Egypt ordered to kill the Hebrew babies
Esther
Can’t have a simple thumb rule:
In other words, if the law commands what God forbids or forbids what God commands then you must break the law.
At the same time, they cannot deny their fundamental calling as ‘a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession’, to declare the praises of the one who called them ‘out of darkness into his wonderful light’ (1 Pet. 2:9). When that opportunity is denied or thwarted by governments, a terrible clash of loyalties arises. Imprisonment and death are sometimes the lot of those who, in imitation of the apostles, cannot keep silent about God and the gospel.
Persecution in the early church occurred because the Gospel was spreading, the christian community was growing, and this was a threat to the status quo.
Slander (vs 30-32)
Peter boldly presented the gospel.
Note: The God of out ancestors.
Some scholars debate whether there is any atonement theology in Acts, but look at this.
Peter’s word choice: The cross is primarily an instrument of Roman torture.
Cross: (niv, nasb)
predominantly in NT
σταυρός stauros stow-rros
Here in Acts 5:30 Acts 10:39; 13:29; Gal. 3:13; 1 Pet. 2:24.
ξύλον xylon see-ew lon (tree)
23 his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.
Jesus bore the curse.
He was then vindicated (vs 30) and
Savior (prophesied deliverer)
to give repentance and forgiveness (only God can do this)
The Release
The Release
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