| “And now I [Gamaliel] say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught [nothing]: but if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply [possibly] ye be found even to fight against God” (Acts 5:38-39). |
| It is a very serious thing to fight against God, yet men have tried to do this many times. Back in the beginning of man’s history in this world, Cain thought that he could argue with God, and even lie to Him. Later on, when Noah preached about coming judgment, people made fun of him and did not believe him. Then, when the flood came, they all perished. Many other times in the Bible men thought they could resist God, but it did not work. |
| In our verses today, the chief priests and leaders of the Jews were determined not to allow the apostles to preach in the name of the Lord Jesus. God did many miracles to show them that all this was His work. Many people were healed of diseases, and when Peter and John were arrested and put in a prison, the angel of the Lord came at night and opened the prison doors, to let them out. Yet still the leaders of the people wanted to kill them. |
| Finally a well-known leader named Gamaliel told them that they had better let Peter and John alone. He had seen the power of God, and although there is no evidence that he got saved, yet he could recognize divine power. He realized that God was working, and that man could not resist God. For the moment the other leaders agreed to this, as they did not know what to do. Yet they still beat the apostles and commanded them not to speak in the name of the Lord Jesus. |
| We do not see miracles of healing today in the same way, but the power of God is clearly shown out in the preaching of the gospel, in the way people’s lives are changed. Yet many still think they can fight against God by forbidding people to read the Bible, by persecuting Christians, and by trying to prevent the preaching of the gospel. But God will always win, and even though some Christians are still put in prison, and some are killed, yet the gospel is spreading more than ever before. Remember, if you are a true Christian, you are always on the winning side! |
| After the Lord comes and takes every true Christian home to be with Him, armies of various nations will actually come out and think that they can fight against the Lord Jesus. We will not give details here, but this shows how man will become so proud and overconfident that he will think he can defeat God in battle. It will be an awful judgment when God destroys them. |
