Acts 5:17-42
The Apostles Persecuted
17Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19But 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."
21At 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 together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22But 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 no one inside." 24On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of this.
25Then 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.
27Having 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."
29Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! 30The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
33When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34But 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. 35Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36Some 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. 37After 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. 38Therefore, 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. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."
40His 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.
41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42Day 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.
Jesus told His Disciples that they would be persecuted...When He sent out the Twelve and gave them authority to heal evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness, He told them that men would hate them because of Me (Matthew 10:1 and Matthew 10:22)...He told them they would be blessed when people insult them, persecute them and falsely say all kinds of evil against you, because of Me (Matthew 5:11)...Jesus even told Peter what kind of death he would have to glorify God (John 21:19)...So when the apostles are arrested, they probably are not surprised too much... Jesus had told them several times this would happen...
During this time of persecution and arrest, an angel comes and sets them free...When the jailer went to get them, their cell doors were securely locked, but the apostles were not in the jail...They could not find them in the jail...Someone then told the captain and his guards that they were teaching in the temple court about Jesus...So the guards and captain went and got them and brought them before the Sanhedrin...The Sanhedrin told them that they were given strict orders not to teach in name of Jesus...The Sanhedrin, even says that the disciples will make them guilty of Jesus' blood, because they are filling the town of Jerusalem with His teachings and His ideas...
Peter tells them they they must obey God rather than men...The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead -whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree...God has exalted Him our Prince and Savior that He might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel...We are eyewitnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him...
The Sanhedrin was furious and wanted the disciples put to death...But Gamaliel one the the teachers (also a teacher of Paul) told the Sanhedrin that if this work is theirs then it will fail, but if it is from God they cannot fight them teaching about Jesus, because God will make it happen regardless...God is in control, and you will only be fighting God...His speech persuaded them...The Sanhedrin had the disciples flogged and released...They were told not to teach in the name of Jesus anymore...The Sanhedrin thinks that it is alright for them to teach about God, but not in the name of Jesus...
They had watched Jesus healing and other miracles now know that no sickness or trouble is too much for God....These things are done for His glory...They are learning that God is to be honored for the things He gives us daily...Jesus told them that the Holy Spirit would help them speak when they were in trouble...The disciples now know that no jail, no entrapment, or problem can keep one in it, if God wants you out...
The Holy Spirit are with the disciples when they are in front of the Sanhedrin...Jesus sometimes makes the hands of the persecutor softer and restrained...The disciples rejoiced about God's power...They know now no matter what the problem they have is or will be, God is there...There is a God...He is with them...The disciples trust in Him...They were flogged...They suffered, and in pain rejoiced...They had suffered for Him and in His name and are blessed...To suffer in His name and do right is a good thing...Jesus and the Holy Spirit are there when they were flogged and were bleeding and in pain...They continued teaching everyday in the temple courts...