Acts Bible Study: Day 9
Today’s passage: Acts 5:12–42
Focus verse: The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. (Acts 5:41)
In Acts 3:1–4:4 we learn how, when Peter miraculously heals the lame man, the opportunity opens for him to tell others about Jesus.
We often see this connection in the book of Acts, that miracle healings provide a path for people to hear what missionaries say about Jesus.
There’s also another common connection. Persecution. When God’s power is most visibly present, opposition often occurs. As a result, God’s people face persecution.
When Peter and John heal the lame man, they end up in jail. Though they only spend the night there before their release—without charges—it is a form of persecution.
Though this persecution sometimes comes from nonreligious people, too often the attacks come from their Jewish brothers. This is sad.
People who believe in the same God and pursue him with diligence have harassed and even killed those who have a different perspective about him.
When Peter heals the lame man in the name of Jesus, the Church grows. After their release from jail, Peter and John pray for more boldness in what they say and for more supernatural power to heal people and perform miracles.
God answers their prayer, and they perform many more miracles. Their numbers increase as more men and women believe. Guess what else happens?
Yep. More persecution.
The Jewish religious leaders grow jealous of all the attention garnered by Team Jesus. Unable to see the hand of God—the God they worship—at work, they go on the offensive against the apostles.
They arrest some of them and toss them in jail.
This time the religious leaders don’t release their prisoners. Instead, God does. He sends an angel to the jail who opens the door and lets them out. “Go to the temple,” the angel says, “and tell everyone there about Jesus.”
The next day, when the religious council sends for the prisoners, the guards find their cell empty. Instead, the apostles are in the temple teaching about Jesus.
Out of fear of reprisal from the people, the guards don’t use force and instead ask the apostles to come with them to appear before the religious council.
Peter and company agree, and they’re chewed out again for talking about Jesus—and blaming the religious leaders for his death.
Peter again reminds the Council that he and the other followers of Jesus must obey God instead of religious authority. And Peter once more reminds them that they did indeed execute Jesus.
This infuriates them, and they want to kill the apostles, but Gamaliel, a wise teacher of the Law, speaks common sense to them.
“Don’t do anything to these people,” he warns. “If they’re acting on their own accord, it will soon fail. But if God is behind it, you’ll never stop it, and we’ll end up fighting him.”
He persuades them to not kill the apostles and let them go. But they get a sound beating first.
The apostles leave, celebrating that they were worthy of facing persecution in Jesus’s name.
Questions:
- Are the things we do for Jesus worthy of us facing persecution?
- If we truly live for him, is persecution inevitable?
[Discover more about persecution in Romans 8:35, 2 Corinthians 12:10, Hebrews 10:33, and Revelation 2:10.]
Read the next lesson or start at the beginning of the study.
Tips: Check out our tips to use this online Bible study for your church, small group, Sunday school class, or family discussion. It’s also ideal for personal study. Come back each Monday for a new lesson.
Read more about the book of Acts in Acts Bible Study: Discover How the Early Church Can Inform What We Do Today, available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover.
Revitalize your faith with Acts Bible Study by Peter DeHaan. This 40-day journey through the early church reveals timeless lessons on community, perseverance, and Holy Spirit power.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.