“The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Persecution…it had started, just as Jesus had said it would! As long as the believers were quiet, enjoying the new life they shared…the religious hierarchy let them be.  They were no problem to their position and power…but now…!

This was new! This was more than a religious sect surfacing among the people. This was trouble! It smelled like smoke. There was a fire beginning to burn somewhere. “It must be snuffed out before it takes hold.” They grabbed the ringleaders…Peter and John…the guys who were at the helm of this mess.   

“They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Too late! The cat was out the bag! They could not arrest and imprison five thousand! “Let’s cut off the head and hope the body will die.” So they thought!

They attacked Peter and John  first with questions, demanding to know the source of their authority. No one dare do anything without their authorisation. The same as with Jesus! It was all about authority. 

“The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This was their age-old issue…the one they had with Jesus…and lost because Jesus acted on an authority far higher than theirs. Now, the same issue had surfaced again! Hopefully, Jesus had been eliminated but…here were His followers, doing the same thing, in His name! This had to stop! Now! Before it grew too big to contain! Before it got out of hand!

Oh, horrors! 

Peter, the deserter, had become Peter, the bold…Peter, the preacher…Peter, the apologist!

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Without missing a beat, Peter spoke the truth…held them to account…opened the Word…and fired the salvos that should have demolished their attack. 

A quick conference…”What can we do about this?” They had no defence against something that was beyond the natural. Instead of fighting it, they should have thrown in the towel. They should have acknowledged that this was a “God-thing” and joined in. 

Stubborn pride and unbelief put them on a collision course with God Himself…and they were warned! When they clashed again, the Sanhedrin wanted to kill them. Warning and threatening them hadn’t worked. Jailing them hadn’t worked…but Gamaliel, a respected rabbi, at the next clash with the authorities, wisely warned against such action.  

“But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To go back to Peter and John…

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The evidence was indisputable. Somehow, Jesus was still doing His thing through these men so…the religious authority, so they claimed, issued orders. “Stop this or else…!”

“Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus…”

Did they really believe that Peter snd John would meekly give in…go back to fishing? These men were on a roll and nothing would stop them now. 

“But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This was rebellion! The rabbis’ authority was at risk! The followers of Jesus had thrown down the gauntlet. “Stop us if you can!” They knew they were on the winning side. No one takes God on and wins!

To be continued