BULLETIN ARTICLE – 1 April 2018
Peter and the apostles were imprisoned by the High Priest for preaching the good news of Jesus. But miraculously they were released by an angel of the Lord during the night. They were told to go to the temple courts and to teach the people about this new life in Jesus. This courage and fearlessness could only come from a higher power. There was no need to run away and hide from the religious authorities. There should be no fear or dread. No fear of physical abuse, torture, restrain or even death. The apostles had seen the hand of God in action. They were miraculously delivered out of a physical jail. They boldly declared to the High Priest and the Sanhedrin: “we must obey God rather than human beings!”
Some Christians continually seek and desire to see miracles for themselves. Is it not enough to read of miracles in the past? These miracles are true works of the Almighty. They were demonstrated to show forth his sovereignty over all circumstances, all people and all earthly powers and authorities. The apostles’ faith was emboldened towards acts of obedience and sacrifice. These past miracles should also embolden us in the present to the same acts of obedience and sacrifice. Indeed, many missionaries and servants of the Lord walked the same path of persecution as the apostles. They simply believed the miracles they read about and the conviction and faith of the apostles. The teachings in the Bible are sufficient to propel us to greater heights of faith.
Gamaliel, is featured here as a wise Pharisee when he appealed to the High Priest and elders in the Sanhedrin, for caution and level-headedness. He is probably the same Gamaliel who taught Apostle Paul and led Paul to be zealous for God (Acts 22:3). He was highly esteemed and his word and counsel carried weight. He recommended a hands-off, “wait and see” response to the re-arrested apostles based on two recent cases of Jewish zealots. Theudas and Judas the Galilean, had followers who believed their causes but when they were killed, their followers dispersed and scattered. Gamaliel was convinced that man-inspired causes will not survive and inevitably will fizzle out. With conviction, he declared “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” (Acts 5:38a, 39).
Gamaliel’s stance for unbelievers not to summarily dismiss the claims of Jesus but “wait and see” if this new “activity” will stand the test of time. It has. It stood the test of time for over 2000 years. Christians have believed in a miracle working God and have obeyed him through thick and thin. They have always chosen to obey God. Unbelievers cannot “wait and see” anymore. The facts and evidence are there right before them. They must make a personal choice now – to follow or not follow Jesus.
