Acts 5:33-42 (CLICK HERE FOR BIBLE VERSES)
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Acts 5:33-42. As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below. Let’s go!
Acts 5:33-40 (NIV)
33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.
34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
35 Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.
36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
On verses 33-40: The Sanhedrin, which is the assembly of Israel’s elders (Acts 5:21), wants to put the apostles to death for refusing to obey the Sanhedrin’s orders not to preach about Jesus (v33). But Gamaliel, who is both a Pharisee and a teacher of the law and who is highly respected by the people, uses his considerable influence to move the Sanhedrin in another direction. Ordering the apostles to wait outside, Gamaliel speaks to the Sanhedrin and asks them to carefully consider their next step (v35). He cites two previous movements, one led by Theudas who apparently claimed to be a Messiah-like figure (v36) and another led by Judas who revolted against the Roman government census (v37). These two movements came and went and ultimately amounted to nothing. Gamaliel’s point is that if this Christian movement they are witnessing is not from God, then it will fail on its own (v38). But if this Christian movement is from God, you won’t be able to stop it (v39).
Persuaded by Gamaliel’s argument, the Sanhedrin decides not to put the apostles to death. Instead, they have the apostles flogged and order the apostles not to preach the name of Jesus anymore.
Keep in mind that Gamaliel was not a professing Christian, yet God used Gamaliel in a significant way to keep the Christian movement alive. Though not a Christian himself, Gamaliel would also play a significant role in another way: before the Apostle Paul became a Christian, he was trained in the Jewish law by Gamaliel (Acts 22:3).
What can we learn from this? Here are three lessons I learn about the sovereignty of God:
First, when you say yes to Jesus and become a Christian, realize that you are not joining some fragile, human-powered movement. Rather, you are joining a movement that God has providentially protected, powered and presided over personally. It’s a movement of divine origins, a God movement. And that’s why neither the Sanhedrin back in Acts 5 nor any human effort since then has been able to stop the Church. As Jesus says, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
Second, as Gamaliel suggested, God always has the last word. If God is behind something, you won’t be able to stop it no matter how hard you try. As Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”
Third, over and over history bears witness to the fact that God sometimes uses influential unbelievers to protect and advance the cause of Christianity, whether they realized it themselves or not. God is sovereign in that He can use whomever He wants to accomplish His purposes.
Acts 5:41 (NIV)
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
On verse 41: The apostles considered it not a burden but a badge of honour that they suffered disgrace for preaching the Gospel. This reminds me of Jesus’ words in Luke 6:22-23:
22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.
Acts 5:42 (NIV)
42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
On verse 42: Day after day both in large public gatherings (“in the temple courts”) and in small private gatherings (“from house to house”) the apostles did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Likewise, as followers of Jesus, through our actions and words, whether in big crowds or in private conversations, let’s be ready to represent and share Jesus with people around us.
Sovereign God, thank You that I get to belong to Your unstoppable church. Every day, may I always be ready to share Jesus with the people around me and to represent You well and courageously wherever I go. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2022 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
