Atos 5
William Barclay · Citado em PreceptAustin
Atos 5
Barclay - They had principles. And their ruling principle was that in all circumstances obedience to God must come first. They never asked: ‘Is this course of action safe?’ They asked: ‘Is this what God wants me to do?’ (Acts of the Apostles) Robertson on we must - Moral necessity left them no choice. They stood precisely where Peter and John were when before the Sanhedrin before (Acts 4:20). Must (1163)(dei) describes that which is necessary. Must is in the present tense so what they are telling the Sanhedrin is that they are continually under compulsion to obey God's commands. They were obligated. Dei is the same word Peter had used in his first appearance before the Sanhedrin when he declared "there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must (dei) be saved.” (Acts 4:12+). The Lord Jesus had used this same word in giving His first command to Saul declaring "get up (aorist imperative) and enter (aorist imperative) the city, and it will be told you what you must (dei in the present tense = what you continually must) do.” (Acts 9:6+, cf "must" in Acts 9:16+) Later in Acts Luke records that the apostles were "strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must (dei in the present tense) enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22+). The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas "Sirs, what must (dei in the present tense) I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30+). Peter's declaration echoes the incredible testimony of the three Jewish boys standing before King Nebuchadnezzar facing their death sentence for disobeying his orders. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. 17 “If it be so, our God Whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 “But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18+) Comment - The very flames that were meant to destroy them actually delivered them from their bonds! (see Da 3:23-25). Martin Luther echoed the words of the three Hebrew boys when he declared “Here I stand. God help me. I cannot do otherwise.” Daniel likewise choose to obey God rather than men (King Darius' decree prohibiting prayer - Da 6:7+) regardless of the consequences. Now when Daniel knew that the document (prohibiting prayer for 30 days) was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. (Da 6:10+) It is notable that Peter is also the one who gave believers in Jesus this command... Submit (aorist imperative) yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, (1 Peter 2:13) Comment - We submit to the right of government to limit our right to choose in hundreds of areas, especially when the good of others is at stake. We understand that governments exist to limit the right to choose and we submit to that. And we do it "for the Lord's sake" for His glory and honor, always seeking to avoid sullying His great Name! Charles Ryrie gives the one exception to Peter's command to saints - Christians are to be law-abiding citizens. If the law of one's government violates the revealed will of God, then, of course, the believer must obey God, though he may have to suffer the penalties of that government's laws. John
Atos 5
Barclay - Witnesses are essentially people who speak from first-hand knowledge. They know from personal experience that what they say is true; and it is impossible to stop people like that, because it is impossible to stop the truth. (Acts of the Apostles) Witnesses (3144)(martus/martys) describes one who has seen and/or experienced something or someone and who testifies to what they saw. The apostles were simply obeying their Lord's charge to "be My witnesses (martus/martys both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8+) All of Luke's uses of martus - Lk. 11:48; Lk. 24:48; Acts 1:8; Acts 1:22; Acts 2:32; Acts 3:15; Acts 5:32; Acts 6:13; Acts 7:58; Acts 10:39; Acts 10:41; Acts 13:31; Acts 22:15; Acts 22:20; Acts 26:16 Robertson on the Holy Spirit Whom God has given - Peter claims the witness of the Holy Spirit to the raising of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, by the Father. Toussaint - the Holy Spirit was corroborating their testimony by supernaturally enabling them to preach with boldness and to perform miracles. This same Spirit is given to all who believe in Christ (Ro 8:9+). And so is the Holy Spirit Whom God has given (cf 1 Jn 5:7) - The Holy Spirit is the supernatural witness, Who takes the truth about Jesus and applies it to the heart of the hearer. In the Upper Room the night before His crucifixion, Jesus had promised His disciples that "When the Helper comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, Who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness (martureo) of Me." Also notice that just as repentance and forgiveness are both gifts from God, so is the Holy Spirit! And what a Gift He is! Can I ask you figuratively speaking "Have you opened your "Gift" from the Father?" (cf Lk 11:13+) Or do you still see the Spirit as an impersonal "it"? Jesus said He would be our Helper, not just to witness but to live this supernatural Christian life. Be sure to "open the Gift" from your Father! To those who obey Him - Obey is in the present tense signifying continual obedience to God. Of course perfect obedience to God is impossible and the only way one can achieve (imperfect) continual obedience to Him is by relying on the enabling power of the indwelling Spirit. Thus is it clear that the phrase those who obey Him signifies those who have placed their faith in Jesus. Their obedience does not save them but it is the fruit in keeping with repentance and faith which demonstrates that they are genuinely saved. Beloved, don't let anyone mislead you into believing you can be saved and not obey God. That is a lie from the pit of hell and will damn the one who believes it to hell! If someone is granted repentance and forgiveness of sins, they also receive the Spirit Who enables a lifestyle the "general direction" of which is toward Heaven, not toward Hell. If an individual NEVER demonstrates some evidence of obedience to God, of a lifestyle in keeping with God's will and Word, then there is reason to be concerned that this person's profession of faith in Christ was just that -- a profession of Christ, but one without possession of the Spirit of Christ (cf 2 Cor 13:5+) Some interpret this obedience as an individual obeying John 6:29 where Jesus said "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." While the reference to obedience may relate to this passage, it is vital that those who believe in Jesus obey Him. As