Prison Break
Acts 5:17-26 … v. 16, “Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” That kind of success
does not go unnoticed. See vv. 17-18, “Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.” My guess is they were jealous of the success, and it was happening on their turf: the temple! So, the religious leaders did the only thing they knew to do, stop it. It is Jesus’ church; He will build it. God is in control. Satan will not prevail against the church, v. 18b … “and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” God is in complete control of the building of His church. Verses 19-21a record the miraculous escape from jail … “But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ‘Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.’ And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught.” The emphasis here is on the total helplessness of the Jewish authorities. Don’t miss the irony, it is priceless: an angel opened the door, led them out, and told them to return to the temple to resume preaching. The irony? The Sadducees didn’t believe in angels. Verses 21b-26 provide details of the discovery of the miraculous escape, v. 25, “So one came and told them, saying, ‘Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!’” The bottom line—God is in control. What was the result of this event? The apostles were even more bold, and were arrested again, willingly.
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.