Obedience Even in Persecution

Every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.
–Acts 5:42

When the church began to grow, the religious leaders tried to stop the spread of Christianity. But the apostles kept on preaching Jesus Christ, so the religious leaders reminded them, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name” (Acts 5:28). Did Peter call a prayer meeting to decide what they should do? No. He and the other apostles said, “We must obey God rather than men” (v. 29). Now, Romans 13 says clearly that we ought to obey government. But there is one exception: When government asks us to do something that violates commands from God’s Word–not our political views, not our personal preferences, but God’s commands–we are to say no to government and yes to God.

How did the religious leaders respond when the apostles doubled down? Acts 5:33 says, “They were cut to the quick and intended to kill them.” What a contrast to the day of Pentecost! After Peter’s sermon, the crowd asked what God would have them do, and then they repented. In contrast, the religious leaders in Acts 5 hardened themselves against God’s Word and decided to silence the messengers. But Gamaliel, a respected rabbi, intervened. He said, “Stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them” (vv. 38–39). He was saying, “If this movement is not of God, it will fail. If it’s of God, there’s not a thing you can do to stop it.”

Instead of killing the apostles, the religious leaders flogged them and once again “ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus” (v. 40). Did the apostles obey? No. Verses 41–42 say, “They went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

Somebody has compared the apostles to those trick birthday candles that reignite when you try to blow them out. The religious leaders kept trying to silence the apostles, but the apostles continued preaching the Word of God.

Today’s devotion is adapted from “The Church in the Kettle,” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2021.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.