Acts 5:33-42

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 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. Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 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. 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. 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. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

 

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.

 

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

 

These religious leaders who had been so offended that the apostles were blaming them for Jesus’ death (as though they would never have killed a man) are now ready to kill the apostles for their “insubordinate” accusations!

 

But God used a man named Gamaliel to protect His disciples. Gamaliel spoke simply, reminding the other religious leaders that the movements of men eventually end, but that God’s purposes will be accomplished. What is astonishing is that he was able to convince the other religious leaders to let the apostles go on the basis of the possibility that their words and deeds really came from God! The other religious leaders are ready to kill the apostles, but they admit to Gamaliel that these men could be heaven sent!

 

So the religious leaders flogged the apostles and again commanded them to stop speaking in Jesus’ name, then let them go.

 

Hear again the simple, forceful testimony of the Scriptures about the apostles: The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

 

Rejoicing. Rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for Jesus’ name. We might find that odd. But remember that this took place probably within a year of Jesus’ death. And the disciples had not been worthy of suffering for Jesus on that day. One had betrayed Him. One had denied Him. None had stood up for Him. All of them had disassociated themselves enough from Jesus that no one felt a need to punish them.

 

But now, after Jesus’ resurrection, after Jesus has given them the Holy Spirit, the apostles are faithful. They are so faithful that even in the face of pain and punishment they continue to exalt Jesus. And finally… FINALLY… they suffer for it. The religious leaders count them worthy of suffering for Jesus’ name because the apostles have persisted in proclaiming that the risen and exalted Jesus is the Christ, both the Lord and the Savior of all men. Men have heard the message clearly: Jesus is Lord. And those who oppose Jesus now oppose the apostles – the same apostles who had fled when Jesus was suffering. So the apostles rejoice! They rejoice because they are learning to be faithful to the Jesus they love, and their suffering proves it!

 

And rather than turn back now, rather than flee again from Jesus and being associated with Him, they never stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

 

That’s what love and faithfulness toward Jesus looks like.

 

Father, help me to love Jesus the way the apostles did. Help me to be so faithful to Him that all men I encounter know who my King is and know the source of my hope. Help me to tell everyone that Jesus is the Christ, the one who deserves their obedience and the one who saves them from their disobedience. Help me to be so faithful that I hold on to Jesus even in the face of suffering. Help me to be encouraged by suffering for Jesus, knowing that any suffering means I am learning to be faithful to Him. Help me always to teach and proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Christ – even when men receive it as bad news and hate me for it.