04/27/2022
(Original Post: April 21, 2022 - 3:56pm)
-- After Peter's and John's first arrest for preaching about Jesus, they were released with threats of violent, physical punishment if they EVER spoke or taught anyone again in Jesus' name. So they bowed and put their tails between their legs, went back quietly to the rest of their group, and pleaded with everyone to PLEASE keep quiet, and always cooperate with, and avoid irritating the religious authorities..... NOT!!! Don't think so!
-- Yes: they went back to their friends and reported EVERYTHING the "chief priests and elders" told them NOT to do, and they ALL praised and thanked God, and prayed for BOLDNESS to speak Jesus' name more, and for the Holy Spirit to work mighty works, "signs and wonders" and healing through them in Jesus' name! The whole place trembled with power, joy, and anticipation. They went out and preached, taught, and healed boldly, and shared all their money and possessions with any believers in need all in Jesus' name! "With great POWER the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all." (Acts 4:33; see all of chapter 4...).... SOUNDS like TROUBLE....
-- THEN (Acts 5...), after healing hundreds (thousands?) of people lining and waiting in Jerusalem's streets for days, and with MORE people believing in Jesus than since the day of Pentecost, all or at least more apostles (along with Peter and John) were arrested and thrown into the city jail. BUT - before the whole Jewish Council and Elders could interrogate them, a holy messenger of God let the apostles out of jail that night, and told them to "Go stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about THIS LIFE!" So they did. More trouble......
-- The apostles were all arrested again, questioned before the Council, told they had been warned about speaking in Jesus' name, and -- after some in-house debate -- the Council had the apostles FLOGGED and "...ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go." (Their mistake....) "As they left the council" -- bleeding with stinging, burning, open wounds from 39 lashes (the standard minimum for flogging....) -- the apostles "...REJOICED that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of The Name;" and "every day in the temple and at home (...or: "from house to house") they did NOT cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as The Messiah!" (Acts 5:40-42; see 5:12-42) -- And trouble for this world's ways was just getting started...... CHRIST IS RISEN!
Blessings to you and yours! -- (~ Paul McClure)
