Something wonderful happened in Jerusalem. Jesus had already died and was buried, and then He rose from the grave and went back to heaven. That was the most wonderful part of all, but that was not the end of the story. Jesus is real and alive in heaven right now, and He was real in the hearts of many who loved Him in Jerusalem.
God had given Peter and the other apostles power to heal sick people as they went about preaching about the risen Jesus. There were hundreds who believed what Peter and the apostles told them about Him, and they became believers and were added to the Lord Jesus too. Did you notice? They were not added to Peter but to the Lord Jesus. In fact, the new believers were so anxious that their family and friends should know about the Lord Jesus that they brought the sick people into the streets and laid them on beds and couches. They hoped that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might pass over them. Sick people even came from nearby cities, and they were all healed! Don’t you think Peter was a very important person?
No, not really. The Lord Jesus is the important person, and Peter was only the messenger. The high priest and his friends simply hated all this preaching and were jealous, and they grabbed the apostles and threw them into prison. They thought, That will keep them quiet!
But God has obedient angels who do whatever He says, and one of those angels opened the prison doors in the night and told the apostles, Go to the temple and speak to all the people all the words of this life.
Are you wondering why the angel didn’t go himself to tell the people? Because God did not send angels with this message. Angels could not say, “Jesus died for me,” because the holy angels did not sin, and they never needed a Saviour. But I am a sinner, and I need a Saviour. And you are a sinner, and you need a Saviour too.
In the morning the high priest called the council together and ordered the guards to bring the prisoners. And you and I know what the guards found—there was nobody inside the prison! They soon found the same men preaching in the temple.
The captain brought the apostles peacefully to the council where they were angrily told, Don’t preach anymore! You’re trying to blame us for the death of this man Jesus!
Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We are to obey God rather than men. God has raised up Jesus whom you hung on a cross and killed. God has exalted Him by His right hand to be the Prince and Saviour who forgives sins.
Peter’s words cut right to their hearts like a knife, and it made them furious. They wanted to kill Peter and the other apostles, but instead they gave them a beating and let them go.
But here’s a surprise. The apostles left the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Jesus’ name. And they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus Christ as the Saviour of sinners.
Is Jesus just an ordinary man to you? You will meet Him in eternity and find that He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Will you receive Him as your Saviour right now? There will be no precious blood to wash away your sins if you die without Him. He is more than a man; He is the Son of God, and He is my Saviour forever!
You may read this story for yourself in Acts 5:12-4212And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. 13And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 15Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. 17Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 18And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, 23Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. 24Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. 25Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. 26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. 33When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. 34Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; 35And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. 36For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. 37After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. 38And now I 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 nought: 39But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. 40And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:12‑42).
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