Acts 5:12-42: We will not stop!

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1)     Question: What is the main point of this text? Answer: vv. 12-13 – There are two kinds of Christians.

A)   v. 12 – The apostles were NOT hiding.

1)     4:17-18 – Past threat

2)     “many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people”

3)     “And they were all together”

4)     Solomon’s Portico – 3:11 – This was a public and known meeting place.

5)     The apostles were not hiding or working in secret.

B)    v. 13 – “None of the rest dared join them.”

1)     Question: Who are “the rest”?

2)     Possibly outsiders. i.e. The apostles were doing miracles and teaching and a lot of people were coming to see, but “the rest were not.”

3)     Probably believers who were hesitant to join the apostles.

(a)   Maybe because of past official threats.

(b)   Maybe 5:11 has something to do with it.

(c)   “dared” (16x in the NT)

(i)    BDAG – to show boldness or resolution in the face of danger, oppression or a problem.

(ii)  L/N – to be so bold as to challenge or defy possible danger or opposition.

(d)   Bock – “In all likelihood, the rest are believers who recognize the tense environment in which the apostles are working.”

C)    Question for this lesson: Which one are you, and which do you want to be?

1)     Would you rather be boldly out there working for Jesus?

2)     Or would you rather stay at home because you’d rather not get in trouble?

2)     vv. 17-18 – The Apostles were put into “public prison.”

A)   “public” (4x in the NT, all in Acts)

1)     16:37

2)     18:28

3)     20:20

B)    The point is that the apostle’s arrest is meant to be a public spectacle and to make a public point about what happens when you defy the Jewish powers.

1)     Bock – “The hope is that by placing the apostles behind bars, they will silence the message and dissuade others from preaching.”

3)     But they would not stop.

A)   vv. 19-21a

1)     The angel did not say, “Escape and hide so you can be safe.”

2)     He said, “Go right back to where you were and do exactly what you were doing before.”

B)    vv. 21b-24

C)    vv. 25-26

D)   Compare

1)     v. 20 – “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

2)     v. 25 – “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”

4)     The trial

A)   vv. 27-32

1)     I love that the apostles were accused of filling Jerusalem with their teaching. Wouldn’t that be an awesome accusation for someone to make about us!

2)     v. 28b – “and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us” (cf. Matt. 27:24-25)

3)     I love that they don’t just say, “No,” but they take the opportunity to preach the Gospel to the very people who are telling them to stop preaching the Gospel.

(a)   They tell them about their sin.

(b)   They tell them about Jesus.

(c)   They tell them about repentance and forgiveness (note: even for them).

(d)   They tell them about obedience (“obey” inclusio: vv. 29, 32).

B)    v. 33 – Rage (2x in the NT, 7:54)

C)    (vv. 34-39) – Gamaliel’s speech

D)   v. 40

1)     “they beat them”

(a)   Deut. 25:1-3 (cf. 2 Cor. 11:24 – “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one.”)

(b)   Bock – “The whipping would have been on the back and chest with ah three-stranded strap of calf hide. This could leave one close to death, if not dead, from loss of blood.”

2)     Can’t you imagine that “the rest” who dared not join them said, “See! This is exactly why we stayed at home!”

E)    v. 41 – “They left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”

1)     Lk. 6:22-23 – Jesus prepared them for this.

2)     1 Pet. 1:6-7; 4:13

5)     v. 42 – MAIN POINT: They would not stop!

Conclusion

1)     Which one are you?

A)   Are you “the rest” who dare not join them because of the consequences? Are you ashamed to speak opening and freely about Jesus for fear of whatever consequences there may be?

B)    Or are you the apostles who say, “No! We will not stop teaching, and there is nothing you can do to make us.”

C)    Bock – “The undercurrent of the passage is that nothing will be able to stop the advancement of the gospel message.”

1)     …unless we’re too afraid to share it for whatever reason

D)   The key to being able to teach like the apostles is to truly believe the message.

1)     v. 20 – Angel: “God and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

2)     v. 30 – The gospel message is one of resurrection and exaltation.

3)     1:22 – Be witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection

4)     cf.

(a)   11:18 – Repentance that leads to life.

(b)   13:46, 48 – Unworthy of eternal life.

5)     POINT - When the primary focus of your message is LIFE through Jesus, then all of a sudden, the prospect of death is not such a major factor anymore.

2)     Perspective shift

A)   Have you ever seen the Jocko video about when he says, “Good!” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdTMDpizis8)

B)    The apostles' response was "Good!"

1)     This situation gave them the chance to PROVE their faith (not just declare it).

2)     It also gave them the opportunity to be more like Jesus.

3)     Good!

Sources for this lesson: Bock, Ben Witherington, Schreiner (CSBC)