Ministry and Hostility

Here this group is filled with jealous anger because their beliefs are being challenged and they are losing power. They hated the relentless testimony of the apostles, who kept telling them they were doubly guilty of crucifying Jesus. But we shouldn’t miss another obvious reason why these men are so frustrated in this scene. Without even realizing it, they are fighting against the very purpose for which the universe was created, the exaltation of Jesus (Sandy Wilson, “Counted Worthy”). How foolish it is to oppose the King!

Let’s beware of jealousy. It leads to all sorts of other sins. And let’s not be surprised when others are filled with it and attack us as believers.

If you’re wondering what the apostles did to create such outrage among the religious leaders, here’s the answer: they healed people! They loved people! They shared the gospel with people. The religious leaders want all of this to stop. Does that mean they wanted more people to be sick or demon possessed? No. But they certainly didn’t want their own lack of power to grow more evident.

Even in our modern world, this type of reaction happens all the time. Many hostile unbelievers attack mercy-minded Christian organizations like orphan-care ministries and crisis pregnancy centers. Why? For many of the same reasons. Many hate the message and motives of these organizations. And many have political agendas that clash with our kingdom agenda. Some rail against these institutions because they are fighting internally against the purpose of the universe, and that inevitably leads people to say and do outrageous things. So be prepared. Opposition often follows those who do good (1 Pet 4:12-19).

In verses 19-20 we see what happens to the apostles. An angel opens the door and tells the apostles to resume preaching in the temple (v. 20). This instruction is kind of funny because it was precisely that act that caused them to get put into prison in the first place. Yet, in obedience, the apostles offer people the words of life. God frees them physically in order to free others spiritually.

These rulers are using bully tactics, and we will encounter bullies too. But take comfort here. God may or may not send an angel to free you from prison should you find yourself incarcerated wrongly, but he is always with you. He does know the full truth. We don’t enter the Christian mission alone. We have the power of God in us. The King of glory is for us.

So, what happened after the miraculous deliverance? In verses 21-23 the officers say something like this: “I’ve got good news and bad news. The doors were locked, the guards were in place, but the prisoners . . . weren’t there!” The response of the council sounded like this: “We’re totally baffled by what you’re telling us” (v. 24, paraphrased). When someone reports the shocking news that the former prisoners are now teaching in public, the council changes tactics and brings them in “without force” so as not to upset the people.

They accuse the apostles of violating their command not to teach in the name of Jesus. They also say the apostles are making the council look bad (v. 28). You have to love the apostles’ answer in verses 29-32. It involves civil disobedience and gospel opportunity.

God has set up authorities, and obeying authorities is part of the Christian walk. God’s institutions include family, church, and state. In the case of the last, Peter himself would write, “Honor the emperor” (1 Pet 2:17; cf. Mark 12:13-17; Rom 13:1-2; Titus 3:1). The biblical writers consistently teach that we must recognize authorities as being established by God. We must respect them. (In Acts, the court manners of Peter and Paul are above reproach.) And we must submit to the authorities, providing they do not contradict God’s Word. Ultimately, we submit to the state out of submission to Jesus (1 Pet 2:13). This act includes obeying things like speed limits and stop signs, wearing seat belts, paying income taxes, adhering to building codes, and renewing our fishing licenses out of reverence for Jesus, for we don’t have two masters (Thomas, Acts, 134–35). But there are times when a Christian cannot obey the state, and should not.

I’m not suggesting we should rebel when we simply dislike a law that makes us uncomfortable or because we don’t like the leaders. I’m talking about acting wisely on occasions in which the state forbids what God requires or sanctions what God forbids. Going against the state, of course, may lead to consequences. But many biblical examples of holy disobedience, as evidenced by the Hebrew midwives, Daniel, and Esther, remind us that the cost is worth the sacrifice (Thomas, Acts, 134–35 ).

Here in Acts 5 the apostles choose civil disobedience for an obvious reason: they can’t stop preaching the gospel. Nevertheless, the apostles don’t respond to the authorities with hate speech or violent demonstrations. They simply keep declaring the good news as people of the cross should.

Notice that Peter and the apostles also take advantage of every gospel opportunity. They see confrontation before the council as an occasion to proclaim a summary of the gospel (cf. Luke 21:12-19). They use it to remind the audience of Jesus’s death, resurrection, exaltation, and trail-blazing work (vv. 30-31a). They remind them that Jesus came, and people need to repent to receive forgiveness. They point out that they saw Jesus and that now his Spirit testifies with them (vv. 31b-32).

The apostles are consumed with Jesus. They take every opportunity to make Christ known. So don’t waste your own Sanhedrin moment! When you have someone’s ear—even in the face of persecution—give the truth. That’s all the apostles are doing. They didn’t set out to create conflict; they set out to do ministry. When the Lord gives you opportunities to bear witness, take them (cf. Col 4:4-5). Remember that he is with you and that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation (cf. Matt 28:18-20; Rom 1:16).

In Acts 5:33-34 the enraged group finally receives some common sense wisdom from a leading Pharisee, Gamaliel (cf. 22:3). Gamaliel uses a pragmatic argument (vv. 35-39). While the men found Gamaliel’s wisdom compelling, it didn’t stop the religious leaders from assaulting the apostles (v. 40).

Christians have faced this type of hostility throughout church history. Evil leaders have beaten and tortured Christians. Illustrations of this sad fact abound from the days of Nero to the reign of ISIS. But no one can ultimately stop the mission of the King.

Acts 5:41-42

How do the apostles respond to the threats and the flogging? Two things happen: (1) They rejoice because they’re counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus; (2) they don’t stop preaching the gospel. Remarkably, the persecution energizes the apostles!

Ministry done by the power of the Spirit and focused on the gospel brings a crazy sense of joy and energy to the person ministering. Why do Christians report feeling blessed by going to impoverished countries to love people? Why is it that after a gospel-centered conversation, a Christian’s downcast spirit gets rejuvenated? It’s because gospel ministry actually lifts us up. Passionate gospel-centered ministry energizes us on a personal level, and reports of it will often energize others in the church too.

This text is important in understanding a New Testament theology of suffering for the gospel. D. A. Carson reminds us of six related aspects of such suffering:

Revelation 12:11-12 reminds me of Acts 5. It says,

They conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; for they did not love their lives to the point of death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows his time is short.

How did those in the passage overcome the rage of the evil one? By the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. The former involves throwing back to the accuser the fact that Christ, the Lamb, has taken our place. Christ’s blood has cleansed us. The latter involves bearing witness—that is, talking about the gospel all the time. And John adds one more thing in this verse that I don’t want us to miss: They didn’t love their lives so much to shrink from death! All of this is found here in Acts 5, where we observe these relentless witnesses who follow the Calvary Road, loving Christ more than comfort, more than life.

Peter was present when Jesus taught about persecution in the Sermon on the Mount. He was there in Caesarea Philippi when Jesus taught about the calling to take up the cross. Peter listened to Jesus teach about the reality of people persecuting the servants of the Master (John 15:20). But now in Acts 5, Peter and his friends experience Jesus’s teaching. Carson says,

It is almost as if the apostles were, dare I say it, relieved. They had been given astonishing authority but instead of strutting around talking about their power, they were a little worried that they had not suffered yet. . . . Now they’ve been good and flogged, and they smile because they’ve been counted worthy to suffer for the name. (“Rejoice to Suffer for the Name”)

What comfort Acts 5 must be to the suffering church in North Korea, in Somalia, in Iraq, in Syria, in Sudan, in China, and in so many other places that remain hostile to the gospel. And it should also be of great encouragement to those who continue to be mocked, shunned, intimidated, and shamed here in the West. If you find yourself suffering as a Christian, rejoice! You’re in good company.

Do you want real Christian joy? Then follow the Acts model. Be compassionate toward the needy. Be bold in your Christian witness. Be filled with integrity, respect, and humility before people. You will face opposition, and you will be filled with joy—not just now but even billions of years from now. You will never regret having suffered for the Name.

Christians can take a beating with joy because Jesus took the ultimate beating for us, even rising from the dead for us. One day the mighty will cower at his terrifying justice. So align yourself with this King, and you too can rejoice.