Word of God online daily Bible study From The Living Bible

May 14, 2009

Scripture verse of the day acts 5: 17 — 18

The high priest and his relatives and friends among the Sadducees reacted with violent jealousy and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail

Scripture reading of the day acts five: 12 — 42

As soon as Anaïsis heard these words, he fell to the floor, dead. Everyone was terrified, and the younger men covered him with a sheet and took him out and buried him.

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what happened. Peter asked her, “did you people sell your land for such and such a price?”

“Yes,” she replied, “we did.”

And Peter said, “how could you and your husband even think of doing a thing like this — conspiring together to test spirit of God’s ability to know what is going on? Just outside that door are the young men who bury your husband, and they will carry you out too.

Instantly she fell to the floor, get, and the young man came in and, seeing that she was dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Tara Grant the entire church and all others who heard what had happened.

Meanwhile, the apostles were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomons Hall, and they did many remarkable miracles among the people. The other believers didn’t dare join them, though, but all had the highest regard for them. And more and more believers were added to the Lord, crowds both of men and women. Six people were brought out into the streets on bed on mats  so that at least Peter’s shadow would fall across some of them as he went by. And crowds came in from the Jerusalem suburbs, bringing their sick folk  and those possessed by demons; and every one of them was healed.

The high priest and his relatives and friends among the Sadducee’s  reacted with violent jealousy and arrested the apostles, and put them in the public jail.

But an angel of the lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail and brought them out. Then he told them, “go over to the Temple and preach about this life!”

They arrived at the Temple about daybreak, and immediately began preaching. Later that morning the high priest and his retinue you arrived at the Temple, and, convening the Jewish Council and the entire Senate, they set for the apostles to be brought for trial. But when the police arrived at the jail, the man weren’t there!”

When the police Captain and the chief priests heard this, they were frantic, wondering what would happen next and where all this wouldn’t end. Then someone arrived with the news that the man they had jail were out in the Temple preaching to the people.

The police Captain went with his officers and arrested them (without violence, for they were afraid that people would kill them if they use force on the disciples) and brought them in before the council.

“Didn’t we tell you never again to preach about this Jesus?” The high Priest demanded. “And instead you have filled all of Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring the blame for this man’s death on us!”

But Peter and the apostles replied, “we must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors brought Jesus back to life again after you had killed him by hanging him on the cross. Then, with mighty power, God exalted him to be a prince and Savior, so that the people of Israel would have an opportunity for repentance, and for their sins to be forgiven. And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to all who obey him.”

At best, the council was furious, and decided to kill them. But one of their members, a Pharisee named,Gamaliel (an ex for our religious law and very popular with the people), stood up and requested that the apostles be sent outside the council chambers while he talked.

Then he addressed his colleagues as follows:

“Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do with these men!

Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and his followers were harmlessly dispersed.

“After him, at the time of the taxation, there was Judas of Galilee. He drew away some people as disciples, but he also died, and his followers scattered.

“And so my advice is, leave these men alone. If what they teach in do is merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is of God, he will not be able to stop them, and you may find yourselves fighting even against God.”

The council accepted his advice, called in the apostles, had been beaten, and then told them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and finally let them go. They left the council chamber rejoicing that God had come of them were the to suffer dishonor for his name. And every day, in the Temple and in the city, they continue to teach and preach that Jesus is the Messiah.

Sam’s response

In the above Scripture we see the apostles once again preaching the  good news to the people of Jerusalem. These amazing men of God went about healing many people. They went about preaching the good news and  carrying the message that Jesus had brought to earth.

We also see in the Scripture above massive persecution coming down upon the apostles. For preaching the good news they were thrown into jail, but, we see a miraculous release of them from jail at the same time. We can surely see God’s hand upon the apostles in their time of great persecution.

These men were about to be killed by the Pharisees, but a wise man stepped up and realize that God’s judgment would come against the Pharisees if they killed these men. So the apostles were released.

So how does this story in the Scripture apply to us today?

Today all over the world there is great persecution against Christians. Here in the U. S. there is also persecution, but nothing like other regions of the world suffer at this time for standing out the name of Jesus. But nonetheless persecution is here and it is growing. Godlessness is growing at a rapid rate all around us.

At the end times approach and the return of Jesus which has been promised to us nears, we know because it has been foretold in the Scriptures that increased persecution is going to come. We cannot look at this as doom and gloom, but is it time to stand. In the book of Ephesians from the living Bible, chapter 6, verse 13 it says “so use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will still standing up.

Let’s read that again… so use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will still be standing up.

This is a promise from God that if we are willing to put on the full armor that God has given us and told us what it is than we can walk forward in the midst of persecution and know that everything is going to be okay.

So when your enemy or persecution comes your way, remember to put on the full armor of God. Remember where we are heading, remember what our future looks like beyond our time here, and rejoice in the persecution as did the apostles when they were beaten and released all under the name of Jesus.

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