In the wake of the incident involving Ananias and Sapphira, BRUCE C WEARNE looks at how an angel delivered the apostles from prison to continue spreading “words of life”...
Now from the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were performed among the people. They were of one overall perspective convening their meetings together in Solomon’s Portico. Even though none there dared to join with them, the people yet held them in high regard. And so there more believers in the Lord were added to the throng of both men and women. It had the result that they even carried their sick out into the streets, laying them on beds and pallets, hoping that Peter would come by so that his shadow, at least that, might fall on some of them. From the towns around Jerusalem, people came in their numbers bringing sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. But the high priest, filled with jealousy, was provoked to stand in their way and with him, the entire Sadducean party. They arrested the apostles, throwing them into the prison for criminals. But at night a messenger of the Lord opened the prison doors bringing them out with this instruction, “Go stand in the temple and speak the words of life to all the people.” And so, upon hearing this command they indeed entered the temple at daybreak and there they taught. That was what was going on when the high priest and his group called the council together for a sitting of Israel’s full senate, sending to the prison to have them brought. (Acts 5:12-21/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne)
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VISITATION: An angel visited the apostles in prison and opened the doors, instructing them to “speak the word of life to all the people”. PICTURE: Militaru Alin Cristian/www.freeimages.com
IN A NUTSHELL
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You will remember that Peter and John returned from their initial confrontation with the Sanhedrin to rediscover how God’s Spirit had been working His wonders among the entire company of believers.
God’s Spirit had been there with them in their arrest and in the prison and then in the council they had the right words at the right time. God’s Spirit was working in their midst, deepening their friendships and giving them boldness. With the peculiar death of Ananias and Sapphira they were all confronted with God’s awful power. It might not be easy to face but God has revealed Himself as a Holy God and sometimes, as in this case, He acts to remind us of Himself dwelling in the midst of His people.
The work went on with a deepened sense of awe and respect for God and His ways among those who believe. This spills over into the wider society, as it is realised that those believing in Jesus have the blessing of God upon them. Luke writes that “the rest” dared not to join them; this indicates that those who believed in Jesus constituted a distinct and active group. One did not just drift into membership. Then Luke adds, “and the number of believers was growing constantly.” “The rest” – it seems Luke is referring to those worshipping regularly at the temple who were not numbered with them – but they grew in respect for the Christian synagogue.
Luke tells us that Jesus’ healing work (which He had performed since His Galilee days) was being continued in Jerusalem. Jesus had said to the apostles that they would perform greater works than He had done, and now in Jerusalem their reputation for healing was growing. This growth in public respect fired the High Priest, along with his gang of Sadducees, with intense jealousy. It was not only Peter and John were thrown into prison. But the signs and wonders continued. An angel released the apostles during the night and the next day there they were continuing the work in the temple. The confrontation continued.
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