Persecution of the Apostles cont’d (Acts 5:27-42)

When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, 28 “We gave you strict orders [did we not?] to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”  29 But Peter and the apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men.  30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.  31 God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.  32 We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him.”  33 When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.  34 But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the men to be put outside for a short time, 35 and said to them, “Fellow Israelites, be careful what you are about to do to these men.  36 Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important, and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed, and all those who were loyal to him were disbanded and came to nothing.  37 After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census. He also drew people after him, but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered. 38 So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself.  39 But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.  40 After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. 41 So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.  42 And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus.

Peter and the apostles did not cower before the Sanhedrin but challenged their authority to order them to stop teaching in Jesus’ name; “We must obey God rather than men (vv. 27-29).”  Peter accused the Sanhedrin of having Jesus killed by “hanging him on a tree (Deut. 21:22-23)” which was the way Roman crucifixion was described at that time.  Jesus, whom they crucified, was raised by God and exalted to His right hand, “as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins (v. 32).”  The apostles and the Holy Spirit were witnesses to those events.  

The Sanhedrin wanted to put the apostles to death upon hearing what the apostles said but Gamaliel, a respected teacher of the Law and a leader of the Sanhedrin, warned them to exercise caution in persecuting the apostles.  He reminded the Sanhedrin that previous leaders perished at the hands of the Romans and their movements died with them.  If their teaching is of human origin it will come to nothing but if it comes from God, the Jewish leaders will be fighting against God.  The Sanhedrin decided to have them flogged and again ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus.  The apostles rejoiced that they were worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus.  They continued to declare publicly in the Temple and in homes that Jesus was the Messiah.  By their actions the Apostles become models for other disciples to follow.

Almighty God, strengthen us with the Holy Spirit that we may fearlessly proclaim the Gospel as the apostles did.  Fill us with your Divine love so that we may willingly accept our trials as we try to serve your kingdom.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

__________________________________

References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.