Tag Archives: chief priests

ACTS THE SEQUEL…STOP US IF YOU CAN! – 6

March 23, 2026Bible Studychief priests, Put them in jail, SadduceesLuella Campbell

“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

LIKE’S GOSPEL…THE HOUR OF DARKNESS – 59

March 6, 2026Bible Studychief priests, elders, teachers of the lawLuella Campbell

“Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭52‬-‭53‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There is an hour, or perhaps more than one “hour”, when darkness reigns in every life. The light goes out. Everything goes dark. The whole world falls apart. It seems that evil has finally triumphed. Something has happened to shatter life. Peace has evaporated, leaving only chaos, confusion, and terrifying fear of the next hour.

Sometimes we create our own darkness and, sometimes, others pull down the curtain on us. Whatever the source, we must navigate our hour of darkness.

Even in the earthly life of Jesus, He had to face His “hour” of “darkness”. His world was rudely interrupted by a mob, armed with deadly weapons, shouting, accusing, to arrest Him…Jesus…the man of compassion, mercy, and peace. Why? What had He done to deserve this treatment?

Darkness had indeed engulfed the land of God’s people. Their leaders had lost their minds. Hatred, envy, delusion had driven out reason and sense. At all costs, they must rid the land of the one man who held them up to scrutiny… and found them wanting. They were so filled with darkness that it spilled out into the hearts of the people they ruled.

The same people who, days before, had sung praises and hailed Jesus as “the Son of David”, would, in the next “hour”, bay for His blood. What had gone wrong? Darkness had thrown down the gauntlet, demanding permanent and sovereign rule over the human race. If they killed Jesus, the God-man, they could finally cement their master’s bid for the title and office he craved and fought so hard to win…”Lord!”

How did Jesus deal with His “hour of darkness”? Did He resist, fight back, retaliate, use His divine power to obliterate His enemies? Did He just walk away unscathed, as He had done on many previous occasions?

He stretched out His hands to receive the ropes that would bind Him! He surrendered Himself to His captors. He gave Himself up to the darkness that would engulf Him for the next agonising hours because He knew the truth.

“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As in the natural world, so in the realm of spiritual truth, darkness can never outwit or triumph over light. As light enters, so darkness flees. Jesus knew that the darkness of evil would only last for its “hour” until its work was done. Let the darkness do its worst…He held the trump card. He is the light…and the life. Darkness could snuff out His life but only for its ”hour”. Then the life would return. The light would shine, and all darkness and all those who are of the darkness would fade into oblivion.

Jesus made a promise…

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The light that was extinguished for three days, could never go out forever. Jesus walked from the tomb, alive again, to be our light when we follow Him. He sets us alight with new life, and with His Spirit who lives in us to drive out darkness and transform us into His likeness to be the light for Him.

What do we do when darkness falls on our world? How can we be sure that, however dark it may be now, the light will shine again? We have the Word, the infallible promise of God…let me say it again…

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

With this promise, we need never succumb to the darkness, be it circumstances, people, or the devil himself who intrude on our path. We can surrender ourselves to the darkness for a season, as Jesus did, but our faith in Jesus, anchored to the rock of truth, will hold us steady until the light breaks through again. The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee.

As Jesus did, so we overcome the darkness by refusing to fight back. As we absorb into ourselves the evil intended to destroy us, it loses its power. Through God’s grace, we drive out the darkness by being the light.

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…THE PLOT THICKENS – 55

March 6, 2026Bible Studychief priests, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Satan entered JudasLuella Campbell

“Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Judas loved money! Let’s follow the money!

Both Luke and John, in their records of the events leading up to Jesus’ arrest, commented on something chilling…

“Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.” Luke 22:3 NIV

“Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”

‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How did Judas reach this point when he lost control of his choices and actions?

Of the twelve men whom Jesus had chosen from all who had initially followed Him, Judas Iscariot revealed his doubled-mindedness in subtle ways, through comments he made…

“But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”

…and the observations of his fellow disciples…

“He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

He had followed Jesus, sat under Jesus’ teaching, received Jesus’ authority to do miracles and cast out demons, done everything the other disciples did…but he loved money…and Jesus had warned…. ”No one can serve two masters!”

So, slowly but surely, Judas began to reveal the identity of his real master…money.

Why did Jesus entrust the group’s finances to Judas? He knew the man from the inside out. Was He giving Judas the opportunity to redeem himself or was He purposely exposing him to temptation to test his character?

However, there was a cancer in Judas that was fed by this golden opportunity to betray his Master for money. What was the tipping point?

Picture the scene…a woman kneeling on the floor…pouring expensive and precious oil of spikenard from a broken alabaster jar all over Jesus’ feet, spilling it on the floor, careless of the waste. The disciples are incensed.

…“Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”…

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ NIV‬‬

Judas’ voice was the loudest, protesting against the “waste” of the perfume.

“But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”…

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.””

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬-‭5‬, ‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus’ public rebuke was, for Judas, the last straw. He snapped! This was the devil’s cue.

“Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The lure of money, the glitter of gold, the devil’s bait to lure Judas to his doom.

Now let’s examine Satan’s modus operandi. This ruse is so successful that he uses it repeatedly to snare unsuspecting victims into his trap.

Step one…the flesh! This is the seat of evil human desires that lure us into danger and, if we follow it blindly, it will take us down.

Step two…gratify the evil desires without thought of consequences. Satan helps by painting a rosy picture of pleasure, enjoyment, and gratification. He never reveals the ”small print”. He eggs the victim on by tugging hard at the heart, igniting the imagination, promising all good, no consequences.

Step three…control! The devil gives the final push. The deed is done!

Step four…condemnation! The conscience on steroids kicks in. As hard as the devil eggs the unsuspecting sinner on, so hard he piles on the guilt when the deed is done. “Now look what you’ve done. You are wicked, good for nothing, condemned, doomed!”

Gone the empty promises, gone the fleeting pleasure, gone the glitter and satisfaction of “more”!Only guilt, misery, and gnawing regret! Now it’s impossible to turn the clock back.

Judas didn’t even wait to see the consequences of his wicked deed. For him, there was no way back.

“Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Had Judas only taken the time and used the opportunity to get to know the real Jesus, he might have followed the path that Peter took. He might have be forgiven, restored, and transformed by grace into a new creation. He might have taken his rightful place among the Twelve as anointed and appointed to take the Good News to the world. He might have heard the words of Jesus, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” at the end of his term of office…but he lost it all for money!

What a poor choice, what a horrible exchange!

Take note, dear reader. What started with an innocent-enough desire, ended in doom because Judas failed to recognise the process or contemplate the outcome. Let us not be fooled by the same delusion.

To be continued…

A BID FOR THE THRONE

September 10, 2021Bible Studychief priests, kill Lazarus, large crowd of JewsLuella Campbell

A BID FOR THE THRONE

“Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of Him but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. So, the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in Him.” John 12:9-11 NIV.

How far will people go to secure their own position and protect their beliefs? These religious leaders were stooping to the very lowest, scheming to get rid of Lazarus as well; to silence both him and Jesus because they were a threat to their power and influence over the people and, of course, to their income from them.

Once again, John pointed out that this latest and greatest sign brought another wave of people to faith in Jesus. For the Jewish leaders, this was bad news. Things were getting out of hand as far as they were concerned and they had to take action to put a stop to it before they were completely swamped by Jesus and His followers….and it could only get worse.

“The next day, the crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet Him shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!’

“Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written, “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” John 12:12-15 NIV

Although this was a spontaneous outbreak of praise from the people, no doubt set off by one exuberant person and taken up by the crowd, it had been prophesied by the post-exilic prophet, Zechariah, centuries before. Surely the religious leaders would have recognised what they were shouting as a fulfilment of prophecy! It should have stopped them in their tracks and alerted them to the amazing truth that they were right in the middle of the fulfilment of their own Scriptures.

“Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9 NIV.

For these stubborn unbelievers it was a danger sign, not a reason to celebrate the arrival of their rightful and righteous ruler. Had they only listened to Jesus instead of opposing Him at every turn, they would have realized that Jesus was no threat to Rome. The kingdom of which He spoke was unseen and within, transforming people from selfish and greedy getters to compassionate and generous givers because of a new Master in their lives.

They would still be under Roman rule until the Father saw fit to release them from their oppressors, but that would be nothing compared with their release from the burden of religion, sin and the slave-drivers within; the guilt, shame and fear which tormented them and from which Jesus came to set them free. The throne of which their Scriptures taught was not an earthly throne but the control centre of their lives surrendered to Jesus so that He could direct them into a life of peace and oneness with the Father.

Where was Jesus heading when He came riding into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey accompanied by the crowds in a party spirit? To Pilate’s residence to make a bid to oust Rome…with a mighty army of twelve men and a crowd of revelling children? To the temple where He would challenge the authority of the religious leaders and take over the temple?

Yes, it was His announcement that He had come as a king but…His reign would be a reign of peace – “I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.” Zechariah 9:10 NIV.

However, that peace would come at a price, His own blood shed for the nations so that they would experience the peace that is much more than the cessation of war — peace with God and the peace of God which transcends understanding.

Acknowledgement

AN EFFECTIVE BARRIER TO TRUTH

July 31, 2021Bible Studychief priests, Pharisees, temple guardsLuella Campbell

AN EFFECTIVE BARRIER TO TRUTH

“Finally, the temple guards went to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, ‘Why didn’t you bring Him?’ ‘No one ever spoke the way this man does,’ the guards replied, ‘You mean He deceived you also?’ the Pharisees retorted. ‘Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in Him? No, but this mob that knows nothing of the law – there is a curse on them.’

“Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, ‘Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?’ They replied, ‘Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.'”

“Then they all went home.” John 7:45-53 (NIV).

Ugh! These men are obnoxious!

They sent temple guards to arrest Jesus, but the guards could not bring themselves to do it. His words fascinated and mesmerized them. They had never heard anyone speak as Jesus spoke. They returned to the religious rulers and Pharisees empty-handed who were so sure of themselves that they dismissed them with withering contempt.

These men held themselves up as the measure of truth. Since none of their number had believed in Jesus (perhaps Nicodemus had kept his night-time visit to Jesus a secret), of course Jesus was a trickster and a fraud! The temple guards were taken in by Him because they were just part of the gullible mob, according to them

Nicodemus put in a rather weak protest, appealing to his colleagues at least to give Jesus a hearing, but his was a lone voice trying to get a fair deal for Jesus. His plea was swept aside with the same arrogant dismissal as the guards received.

Why did these men stick so tenaciously to their opinion of Jesus that they were not even prepared to give Him a hearing?

Their first argument was the typical everybody’s-doing-it reason. Since all of them (except Nicodemus, and he was of no consequence to them), dismissed Jesus as a fraud, that made them right. Their confidence was based on the flimsy premise that majority opinion must be the truth.

Unfortunately, in God’s eyes this kind of reasoning does not hold water. Even if the whole world chooses to believe lies, that does not make it the truth. Billions of people follow false religions, sincerely believing that they are right and even being willing to murder to defend their beliefs but that still does not make lies the truth.

Secondly, they clung to their superficial reason for rejecting Jesus because they refused to investigate the evidence. What were they afraid of? Would they have changed their minds about Him if they found out the truth? I don’t think so. This was not about Jesus; this was about them. It would take honesty and humility to listen to Jesus and to take Him seriously and they were not prepared to do that because they would have to forfeit their status in the community and bow to Him.

We may not think we are like the Pharisees but deep in every heart there lurks the pride that cuts us off from God. “God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.” Humility is the only attitude that opens the door to revelation from God. Jesus told His hearers that, if anyone genuinely wants to know the truth, he will be able to discern the source of His teaching – from God or from Himself.

Once again, this conflict opens up new understanding about God, about us and about the depravity of our own hearts. My plea is that we put aside our right to be right and examine the evidence. We have only one source of truth – the Word of God. He has graciously given us an infallible point of reference to keep us on track. If we are humble enough to say, ‘I don’t know,’ we will be on the way to finding out the truth.

Let’s use it!