The Religous Leaders are more than angry: Effective Ministry P/9

 

                                                     Read Part One HERE

                                                     A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                                           PART V - XVI

I, Gamaliel, am one of the Religious Leaders.... The twelve apostles are standing before us... They have just been spending a night in prison.... But they did nor remain there.... Instead, we found them teaching and preaching in the temple courts.... We do not know how they managed to escape the prison.... But we decided not to ask them....  That would be too embarrasing....However, they still need to know that they cannot continue their preaching about Jesus... They must be stopped.... We made that perfectly clear....However, they have now told us that they will refuse to obey us.... Consequently, many of my colleagues have become furious... They have, in fact, become so angry that they want to have these men put to death.... I think I better step in so that we do not take any actions we might regret later."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that one of the religous leaders, a man named Gamaliel, felt the need to speak up...

                   ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                         PART V - XVI

 The response of the apostles caused the religious leaders to become so furious that they were ready to have them put to death. Thankfully, one of them, a man named Gamaliel, was able to calm the situation down as you can read in Acts 5:33-34

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honoured by all the people stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.

Gamaliel had something to say to the other religious leaders, but before he did, he had the apostles removed from the room in order for him to be able to speak freely.

Read Part Ten HERE

Peter is not afraid to speak the truth: Effective Ministry P/8

Read Part One HERE
   

 A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                         PART V -XV

"I, Peter, together with the other apostles, stood before the Religious Leaders..... They  had some difficulty finding us.... For they expected us to be in prison....However, we were not there... Instead, we were at the temple courts teaching.... They did eventually find us there.... And we then had been taken before the Religous Leaders.... The high priest had once again made it very clear we were not to talk about Jesus.... But how could we not talk about Jesus?.... The reason Jesus has left us here on earth is to tell people about Him... And we intend to obey Him.... So we once again explained to the high priest and the other Religious Leaders that me must obey God."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that Peter and the other apostled made it very clear to the high priest and the other Religious Leaders that they must obey God because He is the One whom raised Jesus from the dead....

                  ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                          PART V -XV

The high priest had accused the apostles, of having been disobedient to his instructions not to teach in Jesus' Name. However, he as well as the other Religous Leaders must understand that they have no choice but to obey someon higher than himself. They shared that with him and the other Religious Leaders as you can read in Acts 5:29-32

Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than man! The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead - whom you had killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Saviour that He might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."

Peter, and the other apostles, made it very clear that the Religous Leaders were responsible for the death of Jesus. They, furthermore, explained that Jesus is the One who is able to give repentance and forgiveness.

Read Part Nine HERE

The Religious Leaders are very displeased: Effective Ministry P/7

                                                      Read Part One HERE

                                                       A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                                               PART V -XIV

"I, Peter, and the other apostles, found ourselves before the Religious Leaders.... It is clear they are very frustrated with us.... They realise that we have been very effective in our ministry in Jerusalem... Consequently, the message about Jesus death and resurection has spread throughout the city....They know too that everyone now knows they are responsible for the death of Jesus...This means that they are losing their reputation in this city.....They cannot afford for that to happen.... The only way they can think of putting a stop to it is by once again telling us not to speak about Jesus..... But that will never happen.... We are all determined to preach about Jesus no matter the consequences.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn what the Religious Leaders think about the apostles....

                 ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                        PART V - XIV

So the Religious Leaders waited until the officers came back with the apostles. They had already decided among themselves not to mention the incident of the jail breakout for that would not look good for them. Instead, they would just pretend the incident had not happened, and only tell them once again to stop speaking abiout this Man Jesus, for these apostles were determined to make it look as if they were guilty of that Man's blood as you can read in Acts 5:27-28

Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. "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."

The high priest is very angry with the apostles that they have dared to disobey his clear instructions.

Read Part Eight HERE

 

The prisoners were at the temple courts: Effective Ministy P/6

                                                      Read Part One HERE

                                                      A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                                                                               PART V -XII 

"I, Peter, together with the other apostles, had been put in jail once again.... However, very early in the morning a angel had appeared in our cell and had taken us out of the prison.... He then told us as well that we were to go back to the temple courts to teach the people... That's what we did.... We were then interrupted by a group of officers.... They were not impressed by what we were doing.... Quite the opposite.... They told us to stop teaching.... And they told us they needed us to come with them.... Apparently the Religious Leaders are waiting for us.... They were expecting us to be in prison....But that was not the case.... Instead, they found us at the temple courts.... They must be wondering how that could be."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the officers did find the apostles at the temple courts and took them away....

                  ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                              PART  - XII

The solution to the predicament of the religious leaders came when they were told that the men they had put in jail the night before were now preaching at the Temple courts as you can read in Acts 5:25-26

Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people. At 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.

 How the apostoles got there no-one could explain. And it certainly was a very embarrassing situation for the religious leaders. Nevertheless, they decided that they could not let them carry on with their teaching and preaching but had to have these men appear before them.

Read Part Seven HERE

There are no prisoners:Effective Ministry P/5

                                                     Read Part One HERE

                          A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                       PART V - XI

"We, the officers, returned to the religious leaders.... We came without the prisoners... That was not according to plan... We were supposed to bring the prisoners to them... But we could not... For there were no prisoners in the prison cell.... They should have been there...  We don't understand what has happened to them... The guards were still at the doors.... They did not know how the prisoners could have escaped... But they have.... We do not know where they have gone to....No one knows.... Neither does anyone know what to do about it....Not even the religious leaders know what to do about this situation."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn what the officers had to tell the religious leaders....

 

                 ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                         PART V - XI

The officers had no choice but to return to the religious leaders only to have to tell them there was no sign of their prisoners as you can read in Acts 5: 22b-24

So they went back and reported, "We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside." On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of this.

What had happened to these men? Where could they be? They knew these apostles had been locked up the night before. It may well have reminded them of a time not too long ago when the Body of this Man Jesus should have safely been in a cave behind a large stone but was not there.  And then they heard that He had risen and had appeared to His followers. How could that be? The truth was there really was no longer a Body behind the stone. They knew that much even though they could not explain what had happened to Him so they decided to let the rumour that His Body had been stolen circulate. What other explanation could they allow? They could certainly not allow people believe that He really had risen from the dead.Surely not... or was there some truth to it? Well if it was, they were not going to acknowledge it for it they did, what would that mean for their position as religious leaders?... And now these apostles, these men who claimed that this Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, and were proclaiming that message everywhere they went, should have been safely locked up. But they were not there.... What were they to do?...

 Read Part Six HERE

 

It is time for a session with the Sanhedrin: Effective Ministry P/4

   Read Part One HERE

                                     A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                          PART V -X

"We, the officers, had been sent on a mission to the jail.... The religious leaders had told us to bring the prisonsers to them.... The men they had jailed the night before for preaching....So we went to the jail... We opened all the prison doors... We then arrived at the cell where the prisoners had been locked up the night before... It was strange because we did not hear anything... Perhaps they were all still fast asleep.... We opened the door of the cell.... But we could not see anyone... That was impossible!!... We knew they were put there the night before!!... However, we knew too that they were no longer there.... Wherever they might be now, they were not in the prison cell where they were supposed to be....What should we do now?".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of the visit of the officers to the prison....

   

                   ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                       PART V -X

The angel, having opened the prison doors, had "forgotten" to tell the religious leaders of the jail breakout so they gathered together in the early morning and sent for the apostles to appear before them as you can read in Acts 5:21b-22a

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. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there.

The officers looked at each other. They knew they had a problem on their hands. There were no prisoners.  They knew too that they had to report this loss to the religious leaders.  

Read Part Five HERE

It is time to preach: Effective Ministry P/3

Read Part One HERE

                                 A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                       PART V -IX

"I, Peter, together with the others, was once again in prison.... But it was only for a very short time.... For we had a visitor..... It was not just any visitor... It was a heavenly visitor.... And he told us to follow him....So we did....He opened all the prison doors so we could walk out with him...  He then told us the reason for his coming to get us out of prison.... It was not just so that we could go back home... No, we were to go to the temple courts as soon as it was light... And we were to go there for one purpose only...  We were to go there to preach the gospel to the people.... And that is what we did!".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn about an heavenly visitor....

 

 

                ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                   PART V -IX

The religious leaders went to bed that night believing that at least for this night the apostles could not do any harm since they were safely locked up. But had they did not count on God's plan for His apostles as you can read in Acts 5:19

But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.

The religious leaders may have gone to sleep that evening believing everything was quiet. However, that was not the case in heaven for in heaven there was much activity. It was time for one of God's angels to be send to earth to visit the jail in Jerusalem where His apostles had been locked up. And the angel had a message for them as you can read in Acts 5:20

"Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, and tell the people the full message of this new life."

The angel had not come to just reasure them of God's love. No he had come to take them out of jail so they could continue their ministry among the people as you can read in Acts 5:21a

At day break they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

The apostles knew the angel had come to set them free for a purpose. So as soon as it was light they went over to the temple courts to minister to the people who were there. 

Read Part Four HERE

The Religious Leaders show their displeasure: Effective Ministry P/2

 

 Read Part One HERE

 

                               A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS

                                                       PART V -VIII

"I, Peter, together with the others,  am once again in prison ....And this time too it is not because we have committed a crime... We are once again in prison because lives are being changed...And people are being healed and delivered....The religious leaders ought to know that a night in jail will  not silence us.... However, they do not seem to grasp that fact.... They must be quite desperate to put us in jail... Because it shows they do not know what else to do with us....And it shows they are very worried that all the people are turning to us.... This means they are no longer having influence over them....  They cannot allow that to happen.... But is is happening whether they like it or not.... They are hoping, of course, that a night in jail is going to change that."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn how the religious leaders reacted to the fruitful ministry of the apostles...

 

               ATTACHMENT A WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF ACTS 

                                                     PART V - VIII

The religious leaders learned what was happing among the believers through the ministry of the apostles. And they became very jealous for they realised they were losing control over the people. All they could think of to do was to have these troublesome apostles put in prison once again as you can know from    Acts 5:17-18

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.

Perhaps this time they would be more successful in silencing these apostles.

Read Part Three HERE