LESSON 26

WISDOM, SUFFERING AND REJOICING

Acts 5:34-42 King James Version (KJV)

³⁴ Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; ³⁵ And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. ³⁶ For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. ³⁷ After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. ³⁸ And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: ³⁹ But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. ⁴⁰ And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. ⁴² And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

1.   GAMALIEL, A DOCTOR OF THE LAW V. 34-39

Ø  Take heed (be careful) how you handle these men

Ø  Theudas, Judas – came to nothing

Ø  Let these men alone: if of men will fail; if of God you cannot win

2.   AGREEMENT & PUNISHMENT V. 40

3.   APOSTLES REJOYCED IN SUFFERING V. 41

4.   DAILY CONTINUED TO TEACH AND PREACH JESUS CHRIST V. 42

WE NEED TO OBEY GOD AND DO HIS WORK EVEN IN SUFFERING

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LESSON 25

OPEN PERSECUTION CONTINUES

Acts 5:26-33 King James Version (KJV)

²⁶ Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. ²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, ²⁸ Saying, 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. ²⁹ Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 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. ³² And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. ³³ When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

1.   BROUGHT THEM – TO THE COUNCIL V.26-27

2.   DON’T TEACH IN JESUS NAME V. 28

3.   THE APOSTLES’ RESPONSE V.30-32

4.   THE REACTION OF THE RULERS V. 33

WE OUGHT TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MAN.

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LESSON 24

OPEN PERSECUTION BEGINS

Acts 5:17-25 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷ Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, ¹⁸ And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. ¹⁹ But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, ²⁰ Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. ²¹ And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. ²² But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told, ²³ Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. ²⁴ Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. ²⁵ Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

1.   THE HIGH PRIEST ROSE UP – V. 17-18

Ø  Sadducees – didn’t believe in the resurrection (so they’re “sad you see”)

Ø  Put the apostles in prison

2.   BUT…THE ANGEL OF THE LORD – V.19-20

Ø  Instructions to the apostles – “GO SPEAK IN THE TEMPLE THE WORDS OF THIS LIFE.”

3.   HIGH PRIEST CALLED THE COUNCIL TOGETHER – V. 21-24

Ø  Sent for apostles to be brought

Ø  Couldn’t find them

Ø  Wondered how this situation would grow

4.   APOSTLES FOUND IN THE TEMPLE TEACHING ABOUT JESUS – V. 25

WHEN PERSECUTION STARTS, GOD SHOWS HIS POWER IN GREATER WAYS.

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LESSON 23

1^ST CENTURY CHURCH ACTIVITY & GROWTH

Acts 5:12-16 King James Version (KJV)

¹² And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. ¹³ And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. ¹⁴ And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) ¹⁵ Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. ¹⁶ There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

 

Acts 5:12-16 Common English Bible (CEB)

¹² The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. They would come together regularly at Solomon’s Porch. ¹³ No one from outside the church dared to join them, even though the people spoke highly of them.¹⁴ Indeed, more and more believers in the Lord, large numbers of both men and women, were added to the church. ¹⁵ As a result, they would even bring the sick out into the main streets and lay them on cots and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow could fall on some of them as he passed by. ¹⁶ Even large numbers of persons from towns around Jerusalem would gather, bringing the sick and those harassed by unclean spirits. Everyone was healed.

1.   SIGNS & WONDERS – V.12

2.   FEAR BECAUSE OF AN ACT OF GOD – V. 13

3.   MORE BELIEVERS ADDED – V. 14

4.   BROUGHT THE SICK & POSSESSED – V. 15-16a

5.   EVERYONE WAS HEALED – V. 16b

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