Peter’s Message and Testimony (Acts 5:12-42)
By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce
Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel Music
12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the
people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.
13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the
people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord
and were added to their number. 15 as a result, people brought the sick
into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow
might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crows gathered also from the
towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil
spirits, and all of them were healed.
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the
party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 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. 20 “Go,
stand in the temple courts,” he said, and tell the people the full message of
this new life.” 21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as
they had been told, and began to teach
the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called to
gather the Sanhedrin –the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the
jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not
find them there. So they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail
securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened
them, we found on one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the
temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of
this.
25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men
you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people. 26At
that, 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! 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed
by haning him on a tree. 31 God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and
Savior that He might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We
are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to
those who obey Him.”
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, 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. 42 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.
Verse 17 again the Sadducees, who did not believe in resurrection (23:8), were particularly riled at the disciples’ preaching the resurrection of Christ (4:33).
Verse 20 The
divine life preached, ministered, and lived by Peter that overcame the Jewish
leaders’ persecution, threatening, and imprisonment. This word indicates that
Peter’s life and work made the divine life so real and present in his situation
that even the angel saw it and pointed it out.
Verse 31 Jesus’ incarnation made
Him a man, His human living on earth qualified Him to be man’s Savior, His
crucifixion accomplished full redemption for man, His resurrection vindicated
His redemptive work, and His exaltation inaugurated Him to be the ruling Leader
that He might be the Savior. This exalting of Him was the ultimate step in His
being perfected to be the Savior of man (Heb.2:10; 5:9). Prince; the same Greek
word as for Author in 3:15 or leader (Acts3:15). God exalted the man Jesus, who
had been rejected and killed by the Jewish leaders, as the highest Leader, the
Prince, the Ruler of the kings to rule over the world (Rev.15; 19:16), and the
Savior to save God’s chosen people. Leader is related to His authority, and
Savior to His salvation. He rules sovereignly that the environment might be fit
for God’s chosen people to receive His salvation (17:26-27; John 17:2). To give repentance and forgiveness
of sins to God’s chosen people requires Christ to be exalted as ruling Leader
and Savior. His sovereign ruling causes and leads God’s chosen people to
repent, and His salvation, which is based on His redemption, affords them
forgiveness of sins. Repentance is for forgiveness of sins (Mark1:4) On God’s
side, forgiveness of sins is based on Christ’s redemption (Eph.1:7); On man’s
side, forgiveness of sins is through man’s repentance.
Verve 32 The
Holy Spirit was one with the apostles. Obedience is the way and the condition
for one to receive and enjoy the Spirit of God.
Verse 34 Gamaliel. A respected rabbi who followed
the liberal interpretations of Hillel, another rabbi who lived shortly before
the time of Christ. His popularity demanded that the Sanhedrin listen to him.
Paul was a student of Gamaliel. (22:3).
Verse 36 Theudas. This is the only historical
reference to him.
Verse 37
Judas the Galilean appeared. This revolt (in A.D.6) is described by the
historian Josephus. The followers of this Judas became the Zealots.
Verse 41
i.e., To suffer shame. It is a real honor to be dishonored on behalf of the
Name, the very name of the man-dishonored but God-honored Jesus. Hence, the
dishonored ones rejoiced that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on
behalf of the Name.
Bibliography,
Lee,
Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry,
1985.
Ryrie, Charles C. The
Ryrie Study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.
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