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Speak All the Words of This Life Jerusalem was in an upheaval. Peter and John had healed a lame man in the name of Jesus. They were threatened by the council and commanded to no longer preach in this name. That really didn’t have any effect, rather than to fan the flames of revival. Miracles and healings were being performed and many confessed faith in Christ. Folks were bringing their sick, afflicted and demon possessed from outlying regions and they were all healed. The high priest and his company, who were Sadducees (who did not believe in the resurrection) were quite upset. Not only were healings and miracles beings performed in the name that they hated, but this rabble was preaching the resurrection of the dead by Jesus. If they let this continue, they might just lose their hold on the control of the temple and be out of a job. So they cast the apostles into prison (Acts 5:17). However, the prison couldn’t hold them. An angel led them out of the prison and instructed them to go back to the temple and teach the people all the words of this life. The next morning they sent for the apostles so that they could appear before the council and the senate. The officers found the prison intact with the guards doing their duty, but where were the prisoners? They were back at the temple teaching the people as instructed. The officers quietly and nonviolently took the apostles back to the council. They were afraid a riot would break out and that they themselves might be stoned. The High Priest asked, ”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” (Acts 5:28).How prophetic? This name that they hated represented the blood of the lamb of God which was shed for healing and deliverance from sin, with the promise of everlasting life (Isaiah 53:5-7; Matthew 1:21: John 1:29; I Peter 2:24). The apostles simply answered (Acts 5:30-32),” We ought to obey God rather than men.” They then blistered the ears of these haughty men by stating that the One whom they had crucified and hung on a tree had been exalted by God to be a Prince and Savior (Isaiah 9:6, 45;21; Luke 2:11) who would give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. They were witnesses of these things by the power of the Holy Ghost whom God had given to all who had obeyed Him (Acts 1:8, 2:38-39). The High Priest and those of his ilk determined to stop this craziness once and for all. They would put the apostles to death. A Pharisee named Gamaliel cautioned them that if this were not of God it would come to nought. If it were of God they wouldn’t be able to stop it, and they might end up fighting against God. They heeded Gamaliel’s advice, but not before beating the apostles and commanding them once more to no longer speak in the name of Jesus. The apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus. Everyday they could be found in the temple and every house, teaching and preaching Jesus Christ. The angel had commanded, “Teach all the words of this life.” So what did they teach and preach? I’m sure that they all had eyewitness accounts and remembrances of Christ’s teachings to share ( I Peter 1:16-18). I Peter 1: 16 ¶ For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. No doubt Peter and John recounted their agonies as they watched from afar as Jesus suffered on the cross and also their joy when they raced to the tomb and found it empty. There they heard the angel proclaim, “He is not here, He is risen (Matthew 28:6-7).” I’m sure they recalled the words of Jesus that those who believed on Him would never die (John 14:6), and the promise of the living Christ living in us and causing springs and rivers of living water to proceed from our innermost being (John 4:10, 7:38, 14:17; Acts 1:8). The apostles were commissioned by Christ to preach the gospel to the whole world after they were endued with power from on high (Acts 1:8). This they did fearlessly even at the cost of their lives. Tradition tells us that all except John were martyred. John was boiled in oil, but would not die, because God had something else for Him to do before he passed on. He was exiled to the Isle of Patmos where he saw One he recognized as the son of man who proclaimed, “I am the first and the last, I was dead but now I am alive eternally, and I have the keys to hell and death (paraphrase Rev. 1:18-20). We find that the resurrection a recurring theme in Revelation (2:11, 20;6,14, 21:8) and the book is signed by Jesus, the root and offspring of David and the bright and morning star (Revelation 22:16). Men through the ages have tried to discount the resurrection as hoax or myth and there is a resurgence of such teachings today. But if the resurrection had to be proven in a court of law, how could one discount the testimony of the apostles who willingly sacrificed their lives for the cause of the gospel? We may not be articulate or scholarly enough to prove it to those who refuse to believe, but as the old hymn states, “You ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart.” Keep Looking Up! Don and Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@about-him.com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe@about-him.com
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