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John Phillips · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Phillips - Imagine the high priest, supposedly the spiritual leader of Israel, infuriated because sick people were being healed and because Satan's hold over peoples' lives was being broken. Truly no hatred is like religious hatred. The Holy Spirit was giving the leaders of Israel the signs they always craved, and the response was fury. Truly the nation was ripe for judgment. Nor was this simply the high priest. This was the entire Sadduccean leadership of the Sanhedrin. Nor was it just personal spite. It was organized, deliberate opposition to the truth and grace of God. (Exploring Acts) (Bolding added) Bock makes an interesting point - "The Sadducees are often seen as more hostile to the new movement than the Pharisees in Acts , whereas in Luke"s Gospel the Pharisees are major opponents of Jesus. This fits the shift of attention to Jerusalem from the setting of Jesus"s ministry outside the city. The Sadducees have more to lose, since they control the council and have worked out a compromise with the Romans to share power." G Campbell Morgan rightly reminds us that even in our day ""Sadduceeism is rampant, so is Pharisaism; they are represented to-day by rationalism and ritualism. These are the opponents of living, vital Christianity today, just as they were in Jerusalem." Acts 5:18 They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail. KJV Acts 5:18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. Acts 4:3; 8:3; 12:5-7; 16:23-27; Luke 21:12; 2 Cor 11:23; Heb 11:36; Rev 2:10 Acts 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries GOSPEL HEALERS LOCKED UP LIKE COMMON CRIMINALS! As Peter would write (from experience) years later Beloved, do not be surprised (present imperative with a negative = stop action already in process or do not let it begin) at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; (1 Peter 4:12+). The jealousy of the Sadducees convinced them that they needed to an end to this new movement once and for all! They would begin with imprisonment and then consider their fate. Undoubtedly some members favored killing them (because these were the same ones who had killed Jesus), although the text is silent. They laid hands on the apostles - The Greek text of this sentence is literally "AND they laid hands on..." You ask "So what?" As just noted above, jealousy filled them and controlled them, motivating their flesh to take action. So the "AND " logically connects their attitude ("cause") in Acts 5:17 with their action ("effect") in Acts 5:18. That's usually how jealousy works! It does not generally fill a person and remain "dormant" so to speak, but usually incites the jealous party to some type of action (usually with negative consequences)! We have all probably "been there, done that," haven't we? Jealousy is a nasty little emotion which is not easily tamed. It needs to be confessed quickly before it wreaks havoc in our relationships. Who is "they"? While this could be the temple "police," (cf Acts 5:22,23) the nearest antecedent is the Sadducees. They may have been so furious that they took matters into their own hands. This is interesting (regardless of who arrested the apostles) because the religious leaders did not dare arrest Jesus during the day (for fear of the crowds), but here the arrest is in broad daylight! They leaders must have been "stewing" to make such a move. In Mk 14:46 the same verb (epiballo) is used to describe the religious crowd's reaction to Jesus = "they laid hands on (epiballo) Him." Jesus had prophesied that "if they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you...but all these things they will do to you for My Name's sake, because they do not know the One Who sent Me." (Jn 15:20-21) His prophetic words were beginning to be fulfilled!
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Phillips comments on this great escape - The whole transitional period was packed with supernatural happenings. God was accrediting His church to the Jewish people. The miraculous release of the prisoners was one more hammer blow at the conscience of such of the Sanhedrin as would listen. The Sadducees, who were now taking the lead in opposing Christianity, denied the supernatural. What could be more fitting than that the Holy Spirit should force them to confront it? Sadly, many were quite willing to rationalize even these multiplied and manifest miracles. If they could explain away the resurrection of Christ, no doubt they could rationalize this escape, too. (Exploring Acts) Opened the gates of the prison - In Acts 12:7-11 Peter had a personal angelic encounter releasing him from prison. A third divine "jail break" is orchestrated by God in Acts 16:26, 27). "Locked doors" are nothing for God! What are the "locked doors" in your life beloved? God can open them, but in His good and acceptable and perfect will and timing does not always do so. If He does not open them that should never cause us to doubt that "God is able" to still use those "locked doors" to conform us the image of His Son Christ Jesus. Opened (455)(anoigo from ana = again + oigo = to open) means to open, to open up, to open again, to give access to. Luke uses anoigo of another "great escape" of God's apostles from jail writing that "suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened." (Acts 16:26) Luke's uses of anoigo - Lk. 1:64; Lk. 3:21; Lk. 4:17; Lk. 11:9; Lk. 11:10; Lk. 12:36; Lk. 13:25; Acts 5:19; Acts 5:23; Acts 8:32; Acts 8:35; Acts 9:8; Acts 9:40; Acts 10:11; Acts 10:34; Acts 12:10; Acts 12:14; Acts 12:16; Acts 14:27; Acts 16:26; Acts 16:27; Acts 18:14; Acts 26:18 What happened to the guards? The text does not say, but clearly they were unaware of the "great escape," until later. And taking them out he said - Put yourself in the sandals of the apostles for a moment. Prison gates creak open at the hand of an angel and they walk out free thinking "Yes, we're out of jail!" And then the angel gives instructions that would lead to further persecution (and as far as they knew possibly even death). Nevertheless, the apostles were fearless (Acts 5:21) because they were filled with the Spirit. Paul Apple - Illustration: A story appeared Moody Bible Institute’s devotional magazine Today in the Word, (October, 1991, p. 18), the story of John Paton, who was a missionary in the New Hebrides Islands. • One night hostile natives surrounded the mission station, intent on burning out the Patons and killing them. • Paton and his wife prayed during that terror-filled night that God would deliver them. • When daylight came they were amazed to see their attackers leave. • A year later, the chief of the tribe was converted to Christ. Remembering what had happened, Paton asked the chief what had kept him from burning down the house and killing them. The chief replied in surprise, "Who were all those men with you there?" • Paton knew no men were present--but the chief said he was afraid to attack because he had seen hundreds of big men in shining garments with drawn swords circling the mission station. This story sounds eerily like the story of Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6, when the King of Syria sends an army to capture Elisha. • Elisha’s servant wakes up early in the morning and sees chariots and horses surrounding their home. • He runs to Elisha and says, we’re surrounded! We’re dead!” Elisha says, oh no, we outnumber them (servant; two of us?). Elisha prays, “Lord, open his eyes!” And we learn, “Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (v. 17). The point is, “If we could only see the angels. If we would only see all the chariots.” • Maybe we would face life with more confidence in God. Confidence that God is in control. -- Mark Strauss
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Phillips writes "The gathering was called to order, and, as the various members took their seats, the officers were sent to bring the prisoners. While awaiting their arrival, views were no doubt aired about the momentous decision about to be made." (Ibid) They called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel - Council and Senate are almost certainly the same entity, the Sanhedrin (sunedrion). The NET renders it "they summoned the Sanhedrin– that is, the whole high council of the Israelites."
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Phillips - There was a higher court in Israel than the Sanhedrin: the Supreme Court of Heaven. The God of heaven had sent His Son into the world; He had sent His Spirit into the world; He had now sent His servants into the world. The Sanhedrin had no authority to forbid them to preach in the name of Jesus. They knew it. The apostles knew it. It was simply a question of loyalty. (Exploring Acts) Toussaint - Christians are to obey their governments unless it is a sin to do so (cf. Ro 13:1–7; 1 Peter 2:13–17). (BKC) Moody Bible Commentary - The apostles’ determination to obey God rather than man placed the Sanhedrin in a predicament. Because the Sanhedrin claimed they were committed to obeying God (see 5:29 and 5:32b), they did not want to be perceived as opposing the Lord.
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Phillips - Some Jews refer to Jesus still as Taluy ("the hanged one"). NET Note - Or "by crucifying him" ("hang on a tree" is by the time of the first century an idiom for crucifixion). The allusion is to the judgment against Jesus as a rebellious figure, appealing to the language of Dt 21:23. The Jewish leadership has badly "misjudged" Jesus. Had put to death (1315)(diacheirizo from dia = intensifies meaning + cheirizo = to handle from word cheir = hand) means literally to lay hands upon and then to kill or to slay (with one's own hands). This is at least the second time the leaders of the Sanhedrin have heard this accusation from the Spirit filled lips of Peter! (Acts 4:10+). Hanging (2910)(kremannumi) means literally to hang something or someone on something (in Acts 5:30 implying the Cross as stated in Acts 10:39, also Lk 23:39+). In Mt 18:6 Jesus describes a "heavy millstone...hung around his neck," referring to anyone who cause one of the little ones who believe in Him to stumble. Used to describe the poisonous viper "hanging from" Paul's hand (Acts 28:4). Paul used this verb in his famous explanation in Galatians 3:13+ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us–for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE” (Dt 21:22, 23). Kremannumi - 7x in 7v - depend(1), hanged(1), hanging(3), hangs(1), hung(1). - Mt 18:6 Mt 22:40 Luke 23:39 Acts 5:30 Acts 10:39 Acts 28:4 Gal 3:13 Acts 5:31 "He is the One Whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. KJV Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand Acts 2:33,36; 4:11; Ps 89:19,24; 110:1,2; Ezek 17:24; Mt 28:18; Eph 1:20-23; Php 2:9-11; Heb 2:10; 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22 a Prince Acts 3:15; Ps 2:6-12; Isa 9:6; Ezek 34:24; 37:25; Da 9:25; 10:21; Rev 1:5 a Saviour Acts 13:23; Isa 43:3,11; 45:21; 49:26; Mt 1:21; Luke 2:11; Php 3:20; Titus 1:4; Titus 2:10,13; 3:4-6; 2 Peter 1:1,11; 2:20; 3:18; 1 John 4:14; Jude 1:25 To grant repentance to Israel Acts 3:26; 11:18; Jer 31:31-33; Ezek 36:25-38; Zech 12:10; Luke 24:47; Ro 11:26,27; 2 Timothy 2:25,26 and forgiveness of sins. Acts 3:19; 13:38,39; Mark 2:10; 4:12; John 20:21-23; 2 Cor 2:10; Eph 1:7; Colossians 1:14 Acts 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries JESUS A PRINCE AND A SAVIOR He (THE VERY ONE THEY CRUCIFIED) is the One Whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior - This is a repetition of the previous accusation that they "put to death the Prince of life, the One Whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses." (Acts 3:15+). These words must have been very painful for the Sanhedrin to hear, for they are a fulfillment of Jesus' prophetic answer to this same body some 50 plus days earlier... “If You are the Christ (THE MESSIAH), tell us (THE SANHEDRIN).” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe; 68 and if I ask a question, you will not answer. 69 “But from now on THE SON OF MAN WILL BE SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND of the power OF GOD.” 70 And they all said, “Are You the Son of God, then?” And He said to them, “Yes, I am.” 71 Then they said, “What further need do we have of testimony? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth.” (Lk 22:67-71+) His right hand - This truth of Jesus' exaltation to the place of honor, power, and authority is repeated throughout Scripture - Psalm 110:1, Mt 22:44; Mk 14:62; 16:19; Acts 2:33-34; 5:31, Acts 7:55; Ro 8:34; Eph 1:20; Col 3:1; Heb 1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; and 1 Pe 3:22 Prince ("Prince of life" in Acts 3:15)(747)(archegos) strictly speaking is the One Who goes first on the path and hence is the source, the leader, the pioneer Who blazes the trail, in this case the "trail" of salvation leading to eternal life. Hebrews 2:10NRSV+ refers to Jesus as "the Pioneer" (archegos) Who through suffering was made perfect (cf Archegos in Heb 12:2+ = "Author and Perfecter of faith.") Jesus was the "Founder" (and Firm Foundation) of the movement (Christianity).
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Phillips says "At this point in the Spirit's convicting work, a person either repents or reacts. With the Sanhedrin there was an immediate reaction. How to get rid of the disciples-that was the question." However
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Phillips - The law of Moses permitted flogging-"forty stripes save one" was the usual formula (based on Deut. 25:3). (Exploring Acts)
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Phillips - The Sanhedrin had now lost two rounds in its fight against the church. Warren Wiersbe closes out this chapter with a pithy question - In his clever and convicting book The Gospel Blimp, the late Joe Bayly wrote: "Jesus Christ didn't commit the Gospel to an advertising agency; He commissioned disciples." That commission still stands. In your life, is it commission—or omission? (Wiersbe Commentary on Acts)