Exposition of Acts: Flourishing Church
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. POWER
A. FILLED WITH JEALOUSY
Acts 5:17-18 But the high priest responded, along with all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested all the apostles and put them in the public prison. (II Tim 3:12)
1. ATTITUDE
2. ARREST
B. FREED BY AN ANGEL
Acts 5:19-21 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. (Heb 1:4; 13:2; Lk 24:4-5)
1. ANGEL
2. AUTHORITY
II. PERPLEXING
A. FOUND NO ONE
Acts 5:21-23 Now when the high priest arrived along with those who were with him, they convened the Council of the entire Sanhedrin of the people of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
1. ARRAIGNMENT
2. ADMISSION
B. FRANTIC SEARCH
Acts 5:24-26 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. And someone came and reported, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”
Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
1. ALARMED
2. ASTONISHED
III. PUZZLE
A. FLOUTED RULES
Acts 5:27-28 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them: “We strictly charged you not to teach in this Name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” (Acts 2:23; 4:17-20)
1. AFFRIGHT
2. ACCUSATION
B. FOLLOWED GOD
Acts 5:29-32 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
1. AFFIRMED
2. ASSERTED
IV. POLEMICS
A. FIGURED IT OUT
Acts 5:33-39a When they heard this, they were cut deeply and plotted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, rose and ordered to put the men outside for a little while.
And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.
So, in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” (Mt 23:33-35)
1. ACTION
2. ADVICE
B. FOCUSED ON JESUS
Acts 5:39b-42 They took his advice and had the apostles called in, they flogged them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus. then released them. They left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. And daily in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and preaching that the Messiah is Jesus.
1. AFFLICTED
2. ACCOMPLISHMENT?