Obey

Obey God Rather Than Men (Acts 5:27-42) The charge against them What? Contempt of court, failure to obey a (human) court order (Acts 5:28) When? Acts 4:18 Why? Acts 4:19-20, Acts 5:29 God sends help God sometimes provides help in strange and unexpected places The Holy Spirit Obedience to God brings the help of the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-21, Acts 5:32) Angels We read about the ministry of angels several times in the book of Acts. Here in Acts 5 the angel delivered the apostles from jail, and in Acts 12 we see an angel delivering Peter. In Acts 8 we read about an angel directing Philip and in Acts 10 an angel directed Cornelius. In Acts 27 we see an angel encouraging the apostle Paul, and again in Acts 12 we see an angel coming down and killing Herod Agrippa I because of his defiance of God. Gamaliel He was the grandson of the great Hillel, President of the school of Hillel in Jerusalem, a Pharisee and a celebrated doctor of law. His learning was so eminent and his character so respected that he is one of seven honored with the title Rabban “our teacher”. Paul studied under him (Acts 22:3) If it is not from God, it will not stand (Ps. 127.1, Matt. 15:13) But if it is …. "if God is for us who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31) Was Gamaliel truly wise?

Beware of neutrality/inaction/lack of commitment in regard to Christ

Jesus said, "Whoever is not for me is against me." (Matt. 12:30). As to the lukewarm Laodicean church, Christ said, "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth." (Rev. 3:15,16) “The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in a period of moral crisis maintain their neutrality.” (Dante) “Jesus is mad, bad or God.” (C.S. Lewis) Contrast: No Compromise (Dan. 3:18) Flogging What is it? What did it mean to be flogged? “Floggings were administered with a whip made of calfskin on the bare upper body of the offender--one-third of the lashes being given on the breast and the other two-thirds on the back. The offender stood in a bowed position with the one administering the beating on a stone above him and the blows were accompanied by the recital of admonitory and consolatory verses from Scripture” (H. Cohn, “Flogging,” Encyclopedia Judaica, vol. 6, p. 1350, cited by Simon J. Kistemaker, New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Acts of the Apostles [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1995] 214). In Deut. 25 we read that the number of lashes should not exceed forty. Usually 39 were given. In 2 Cor. 11:24 the apostle Paul tells us that he received from the Jews beatings like this five times, for a total of one hundred and ninety-five lashes. Note: Prior to his conversion Paul/Saul had had Christians flogged (Acts 22:19) It was foretold by Christ “Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues.” (Matt. 10:17, see also Mark 13:9) How did the apostles react to it? “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” (Acts 5:41) Even though the apostles had received thirty-nine lashes, they were rejoicing. Why? See also Matt 5:11-12, Rom 5:3-5, 2 Cor. 12:10, 1 Pe. 4:12-14)