God Works in Diverse Ways

 

Mrs. Ima Terror chased her husband through the crowds at the zoo, waving her umbrella and unleashing insults like invisible missiles. Her perspiring husband, seeing that the lock on the lion’s cage had not quite closed, yanked it open, jumped into the cage and slammed the door. He pushed the astonished lion hard against the bars and peered over its shoulder. His frustrated wife shook her umbrella, stuttered in anger and finally managed to explode, “Ralph, come out of there, you coward!”

In the book of Acts chapter 5 we read that the apostles were arrested because of preaching the gospel. They were put in jail waiting to appear before the Sanhedrin the following morning. That night an angel rescued them and instructed them to go and continue preaching. In the morning “when the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel” v.21.

This was an important matter; the full assembly of the elders of Israel were there. Little did they know that they were in for quite a shock! The officers were sent to bring the prisoners. But “on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported ‘we found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors but when we opened them, we found no one inside’” vv.21-23

This must have been a mind blowing experience!  Given the secure door and standing sentinels, the likelihood of escape bordered on impossible! For men that would be true but not for God; "nothing is too hard for him!” (Jer.32:17, 27). Notice the irony of guards carefully keeping empty jail cells secured and the highest powers of Israel gathered to judge prisoners they did not have! God has a wonderful sense of humor.

On “hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to” v. 24. They were perplexed; God was frustrating them in every way.  Every effort to stop the apostles had failed, instead great success was following them; more and more people were believing their message. Miracles were going on throughout the city. Here was another one they had to face and there was no way to explain it.

“Then someone came and said, ‘Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people’”v. 25.  Really? They were back in the temple doing exactly what the angel had told them to do. “At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them” v. 26.

The apostles were so popular that the captain and his police had to be very careful how they handled the situation. They had no regard or fear of Jesus, yet they were afraid of men. The Apostles could have resisted at that point very easily. They could have incited the crowd but they did not.  They willingly surrendered, trusting that God was in control. They knew that whatever they would get into, God had some plan in mind.

Earlier, when these religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus they feared the reaction of the people (Luke 20:19).  They recalled his non-retaliatory response to those who came to arrest Him in the Garden (Luke 22:52-53). Jesus had told them that these things would happen to them too (Matt. 10:17-20).They knew they were to imitate their Master as Peter would later write (1 Peter 2:21).  There is no record of any violent response at any time from any of the believers in the book of Acts.

The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood” vv. 27-28. Surprisingly the Sanhedrin did not ask how the Apostles got out of prison. The facts indicated it was by some supernatural means.  They did not want to know more about it because it negated their belief.

The apostles knew that another appearance before the Sanhedrin was another opportunity to give witness about Jesus (Matt 10:18). The first charge made against them was that they had disobeyed the orders given in the previous arrest (Acts 4:18). The high priest avoided saying Jesus’ name. He spoke in general terms of “this name” and “this man.” It’s almost as if he was afraid to speak the name of Jesus!

Peter and the other apostles replied, “we must obey God rather than human beings! V.29. They once again showed tremendous courage in speaking so boldly to the Sanhedrin who had the power to put them to death. They gave their reason for disobeying the order, “we must obey God rather than men”. Peter repeated the same great principle he had alluded to before (Acts 4:19).

The Apostles clearly understood that their ultimate allegiance belonged to God and not to man. “Must” is not something we can take or leave.  It is not enough to just know the will of God; we must do the will of God.  Christians must learn to obey God in everything. The church must obey rather than compromise the word of God to attract crowds or to please men.  Preachers must speak “all the words of this life” (Acts 5:20).

The second charge was “you are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood”. This is ironic because that’s exactly what the people said to Pilate “his blood be on us and our children” (Matt. 27:25). Now they were concerned that the apostles were accusing them of killing Jesus. The Sanhedrin’s observation was totally accurate. That is what Peter had been saying all along (Acts 2:36; 3:15 ; 4:10).

In the middle of the verse (Acts 5:28), between the two charges against the apostles, is a wonderful commendation, “you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching”. This must have delighted Jesus in heaven. That is exactly what he told the disciples to do; he said “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The apostles had fulfilling the first part of that commission. 

This was a remarkable testimony to the progress which the Gospel had made in so short a time. It had taken zeal, courage and above all the power of the Holy Spirit to enable them to do this. In verses 30-31Peter proceeded to speak of Jesus death, resurrection and ascension again! He declared the religious leaders responsibility in Jesus’ death again! Peter said, “Right, you did it”.

Peter’s words made them religious leaders so furious, they wanted to put the apostles to death (vv.32-35). But, God would not allow it, he already had a plan to rescue them again. Gamaliel, a highly respected rabbi had the apostles removed from the room. Then he advised the religious leaders not to kill the Apostles but rather to adopt a wait-and-see attitude. He reminded them about other movements that started up in the past, but after the leader was killed, the movement eventually stopped too.

Gamaliel’s advice was, “leave these men alone! If their activity is of human origin, it will all come to nothing. But if it is from God, then you are fighting a losing battle. You will not be able to stop them; you will only find yourselves fighting against God and that is a battle you will never win”.   They agreed with him. The apostles were beaten, then commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus and released.

So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name (vv.40-41). Later James the leader of the Jerusalem church would write “consider it pure joy, my brethren whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4)

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ (vv.40-42). These apostles were unstoppable, not even the threat of death could stop them. Jesus had told them “do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt. 10:28). Paul had such an attitude, when staring at death in the Roman jail, because of faithfully doing his part in the Great Commission (Phil.1:18-23).

God works in mysterious and diverse ways; “He does whatever he pleases... and many such plans he still has in store” (Job 23:13-14). At first he used an angel to supernaturally rescue the apostles from prison. The next time he uses a natural deliverance to save them from death. Gamaliel was an unbeliever yet God overruled in Gamaliel's life and caused him to make a decision which would be favorable to the Apostles. 

The prediction of Gamaliel will be fulfilled. The preservation of this religion amidst so much and so varied opposition proves that it is of God. The gates of Hades will never overcome the Church (Matt 16:18).The kingdom of God will spread and to fill the earth (Dan. 2: 32-35,44). This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matt 24:14). And,in every generation, carrying out the Great Commission will take courage, single- mindedness and joy in suffering.

In Isaiah 51:7-16 the Lord warned his people that fearing the reproach of men could be their downfall. He said to them “listen to me, you who know righteousness, you people in whose heart is my law. Do not fear the reproach of men, nor be afraid of their insults. For the moth will eat them up like a garment and the worm will eat them like wool; But, my righteousness will be forever and my salvation from generation to generation...

I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die and of the son of a man who will be made like grass? And you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth. You have feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he has prepared to destroy. And where is the fury of the oppressor?... I have put my words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of my hand”.

Isaiah gave a promise that one day, with every enemy defeated, and every obstacle taken care of, God’s people will enter Zion singing. With such a glorious promise and a God this mighty, we have no reason to fear man. Where is the fury of the oppressor? it is under the control of God. Knowing the permanence of the righteousness, the salvation of the LORD and the passing nature of the wicked, we must obey God. We should stand strong in faith and not be afraid of men.