Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
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The Questions
1) Who was the author and what was the setting of this passage?
2) What do we learn about the religious leaders in this portion of Acts?
3) Why were the apostles obedient to continue preaching?
Acts 5:17-42
17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
Original Intent
1) Who was the author and what was the setting of this passage?
Luke, the author of the Gospel of the same name, also penned the book of Acts. The setting of this passage – in broad terms – was Jerusalem. The very city where Jesus had been tried and crucified finds us watching another scene of imprisonment and questioning. Most of the activity preceding this particular scene happens at the temple where Jews have regularly been worshipping the Lord for centuries. Now, with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the fullness of the gospel revealed through Jesus’ death and resurrection, the apostles leverage the religious center of the temple an opportunity to share truth and freedom found in Christ, the long-awaited Messiah.
2) What do we learn about the religious leaders in this portion of Acts?
The religious leaders (Pharisees and Sadducees) hadn’t learned anything from Jesus during His time on earth or from the empty tomb. The feelings they’d had toward Jesus were now pointedly placed on the twelve apostles: jealousy, bitterness, hatred, and fear of losing their position of political, social, and religious power. The Sanhedrin had tried to stop Jesus’ teachings, even going so far as to crucify Him. Now this council was poised to assert their will against the apostles, even if it meant death. The disciples, of course, knew this would be the case, which is why they stayed huddle together in an upper room even after Jesus’ ascension and they had seen the risen Lord. They had no power to go about teaching, even if everything Jesus had taught them was true. Everything changed when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the apostles and they were given Christ’s resurrection power to teach, preach, and boldly share, regardless of the cost to themselves. (Acts 2:1-4)
3) Why were the apostles obedient to continue preaching?
Peter and John stated in Acts 4:20, “for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” The apostles were Jesus’ circle of companions and students for three years. They heard every teaching, saw every interaction, and witnessed every miracle. After spending time with the Resurrected Lord (John 20:19–21:23; Acts 1:1-5), their lives were so changed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4) they were compelled to share Jesus with everyone. Because they had personally experienced the transforming power of Jesus and were empowered by His own Spirit, obeying Him was an act of love.
Everyday Application
1) Who was the author and what was the setting of this passage?
The broad scene was Jerusalem, but in this passage we see the apostles in jail, in the temple courts, and in front of the religious leaders. Is it ironic that Jesus Himself walked a similar road? Not at all! Followers of Christ will experience a small portion of what He experienced…and we should rejoice! (1 Peter 4:13) Consider the regular, everyday “platforms” the Lord gives you where you regularly meet people. The grocery, the bank, the coffee shop, the PTA, or your neighborhood. How might God be calling you to step up and leverage these for His kingdom work? The risk to Peter and the other apostles was imprisonment and even death, but sharing the truth and freedom found in Jesus was worth it because their reward was eternal. When eternity is at stake, persecution for the Name of Jesus is always worth it!
2) What do we learn about the religious leaders in this portion of Acts?
Until Jesus returns to reign and judge sin, evil will always try to prevail against Jesus Christ and His people, but it will never win. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5) We should not be surprised when persecution affects us today. Our choices to follow Christ will lead to being shunned, excluded, and mocked in varying forms and degrees. To share even a small part in suffering for the Name of Jesus is an honor and, as Paul records in his letter to the Philippians, his sufferings served as a conduit for the gospel to be preached even more boldly! (Philippians 1:12-14) Where is God calling you to speak the truth boldly with grace?!
3) Why were the apostles obedient to continue preaching?
Obedience is a choice…and every choice has consequences, whether positive or negative. In this case, what we see as a negative consequence (flogging – brutal!), the apostles considered a blessing. The hearts of the apostles had been made new and their minds had been renewed in how they thought about persecution. Whereas before the Holy Spirit’s power and before they had encountered the risen Lord, they would have denied Jesus or run in fear, now these same men rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ. Is this a popular thought? No. Not then, and certainly not now in our world of self-serving entertainment and comfort. So, ladies, let us pray. Boldly. For hearts that are willing to suffer the world’s torment for the joy of serving and loving Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us obey out of a heart of love because we have been so radically loved and rescued!
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
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Making this my prayer this morning: ” Let us obey out of a heart of love because we have been so radically loved and rescued!” It is good to be reminded of His great love.
The reason that motivates our obedience makes all the difference — a reminder I need often!