It is important that we take charge of our lives where we can, that we manage areas we can reasonably control. For example, modern medicine enables us to manage our pain.
A patient who came to the radiology office for abdominal X-rays was already heavily sedated, but the technician still had to ask her a list of questions, the last one being, "Ma'am, where is your pain right now?" Through her medicated fog, she answered, "He's at work."
It is important that we manage areas we can reasonably control. As the gospel begins to spread in first century Judaism, both apostles and religious leaders make attempts at "Managing the Message," either to promote it or to prevent it, with mixed success.
When Jesus meets with the eleven remaining apostles before his ascension to heaven, he gives some parting instructions: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Beginning where they are, they must work outward promoting the message of the kingdom, now enhanced by Jesus' resurrection. In this way they will increase the number of disciples for the movement he began three years earlier. What he does not mention is that their efforts will encounter resistance. Some of the same forces that opposed him will continue to oppose them, making their life difficult. Even so, God sees to "Managing the Message" as they get the word out, and their numbers increase.
The first few chapters of Luke's account chronicle this initial effort while the apostles are still together in the capital city. He records the effects of their public meetings as the news spreads: Jesus is alive, and he has accomplished something wonderful. In its nascent beginnings the propagation effort goes through three stages as the apostles' activity reaches into higher echelons of Jewish society. The first stage is the simplest because it only involves the general public. The second stage is more complex because it also involves the religious establishment. The third stage is most complex because it involves the highest court in the land.
The apostles begin where they will have the largest audience, which is in the temple. The crowd is even bigger than normal because many people have come to Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost and have gathered in the sanctuary complex. Peter gives a moving sermon that culminates with an invitation to become a disciple of Jesus and recognize what he has accomplished by his death on a cross. In response...
I. The people accept the gospel.
Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
A. The first recorded increase is of three thousand (Acts 2:41).
Later that same day Peter addresses a group of soldiers who are concerned about the potentially inciting nature of Peter's message on the crowd.
Acts 4:1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
More people accept the message, and...
B. The second recorded increase is to five thousand (Acts 4:4).
Again, the temple soldiers are probably concerned because such a crowd would attract attention by Roman authorities worried about a possible riot.
Application: If your spiritual gift is not apostleship (or evangelism), the public response to your attempts at communicating the gospel will probably not be as numerous as they are here, but you can still impart to others your wonder and appreciation for what God has done by sending Jesus to die on the cross. God expects you to tell others about Him and about what He has done for you. To that end, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" (1 Pet 3:15b). As Elvina Hall wrote (1865) "Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe." Every opportunity you have to tell someone about the gospel brings the possibility of salvation to that person.
That last surge of people interested in the message brought a change for the apostles. Growing popularity catches the attention of local authorities, who are concerned about religious movements that might jeopardize the delicate political balance in Jewish society, and...
II. The authorities arrest the apostles.
Acts 4:1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.... 18 They called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.... 23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
A. After some incarceration, they go free (Acts 4:1-4, 18, 23).
Jail time does not stop the apostles; it barely slows them down. But it does force them to make a decision, which they explain to the religious leaders: "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God" (Acts 4:19). Before long the apostles are back in the temple facing opposition again, although the party of the Pharisees is not involved and may have given up trying to silence them.
Acts 5:17 The high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.
B. After more incarceration, they get loose (Acts 5:17-19).
God has a sense of humor, for there is poetic justice in the apostles' situation. Sadducees deny the two beliefs that figure prominently in this confrontation: physical resurrection and angelic intervention. God uses both beliefs here in advancing His cause, to the apostles' confirmation and the Sadducees' consternation.
Application: The goal of your interaction with others should not be merely to score debate points or to win an argument, but it should be to move people toward considering the claim God has on life and how important it is to treat that claim seriously. "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" (Col 4:6). Do not dismiss the potential of a casual encounter to move a person closer to pondering God's claim.
The temple priests' inability to stop the message of the gospel elevates the problem to the next level, to the supreme court of the land.
III. The council awaits the result.
Acts 5:26 The captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. 27 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men!
The captain of the guard realizes that he cannot compel the apostles to appear before the council, and he does not try. They go with him willingly, perhaps hoping to speak before the Sanhedrin.
A. The Sanhedrin recognizes the optics (Acts 5:26-29).
Acts 5:33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
The fuller representation of the council is present— Gamaliel is a Pharisee—so it is more likely that cooler heads will prevail and that calls for the apostles' death are no longer 'on the table.'
B. The Sanhedrin reviews the options (Acts 5:33-41).
1. The past religious movements have failed, because God did not support them.
Those groups enjoyed popularity for a while, but they eventually faded, and their supporters ceased agitating.
Acts 5:38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." 40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
2. The present movement may succeed because God will support it (Acts 5:38-41).
This group enjoys popularity now, but it too will eventually fade, and its supporters will cease their agitation, unless it has divine sanction.
Gamaliel is the most famous rabbi in first century Judaism (after Hillel and Shammai). and he gives the council a reasoned assessment of the nascent movement's chance to succeed. He recognizes the futility of investing too much energy in opposing it. If this is a solely human endeavor, it will eventually fade away without their help. If this is a divine endeavor, it will grow despite their efforts to the contrary. His advice is that these leaders should let the movement run its course.
Application: Whatever project you undertake, it is easy to become discouraged if you see no progress or if other people oppose you. While you must choose wisely where to invest your energy, remember that if God is behind it you will succeed. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:3 1) The primary determinant of your success is not the effort you expend but the support God provides.
The council receives the answer to its perceived problem as the message continues to spread not only among the general public but also to an area the authorities probably thought was immune. From the laity, the gospel reaches into the clergy.
Acts 6:7 The word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Despite persistent attempts by religious authorities to quell the gospel, the task of "Managing the Message" falls ultimately to God, who increases its spread throughout Jerusalem in fulfillment of Jesus' final instructions to the apostles.
For the Footnotes and Bibliography see the pdf here.
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Jim Skaggs