The Power of Persistence (Acts 5:12-42)

How many times has God's word moved you to make a change in your life?

Persistent Ministry (12-42)

As we read through Acts 5, we see the apostles being abundantly blessed with the ability to work miracles. In Acts 4, they were all praying together and asking God to give them the boldness to speak when the religious leaders threatened them not to speak. At that time, God shook the earth to show them they didn't need to be afraid. God would be with them throughout it all.

Solomon's Portico (12-16)

Now, we learn that God is working miraculous signs through them as he did with Jesus. The text tells us they were carrying the sick onto the road so that the shadow of an apostle would heal the person of faith.

Can you imagine everyone who is sick coming to Jerusalem and being healed? This would cause quite a stir so that everyone would start to believe the apostles' testimony about Jesus. We read in verse 12 that the apostles were teaching in Solomon's Portico. That is right outside the temple courtyard. They were not teaching about Jesus from a hidden location or trying to keep their rebellion against the religious leaders a secret.

Jealousy (17-20)

The high priest and the Sadducees were jealous because the people flocked to the apostles instead of listening to them. So they put them in prison, but something amazing happened.

At night an angel came. After removing them from the prison, he told them to stand in the temple and to speak to the people all the words of "This Life." This is fascinating because it is so bold! They go from imprisonment for speaking on Solomon's Portico to the temple. Typically, we would be happy to be set free, and we would leave that city in hopes of not going back to prison.

Teaching Again (21-26)

But the disciples go to the temple and are once again preaching and teaching. They do exactly as the angel has commanded them. Meanwhile, the high priest called together the council and the senate to have these men brought to trial, but they couldn't find them in prison. The door is locked, and no one is inside. They don't know what to do with that information. How could they have just disappeared like that?

Then, someone comes to them and tells them that these men are now teaching in the temple. When they sent the guards to get them, they didn't take them forcefully because they feared being stoned by the people.

This is humorous. If we were watching this unfold in a TV show, we would be laughing over this. These men look foolish, and the disciples seem entirely in control.

Preaching To The Leaders (27-32)

When they are brought before the leaders, the leaders say...

Acts 5:28 (ESV) --- 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

Peter and the apostles respond without fear. They are stubborn and unwilling to yield to these leaders.

Acts 5:29--32 (ESV) --- 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

The subject of the trial is freedom of speech and whether or not the people can speak against the religious leaders. Notice that the apostles don't hold anything back. They let them have it. The truth is what it is, whether or not they want to believe it. They refuse to back down, and they make strong accusations against them. It almost seems like the religious leaders are on trial rather than the disciples. It's unbelievable that these common, uneducated men would be so bold and persistent. They are making a statement.

Gamaliel (33-40)

After this statement, the leaders are ready to kill them. They have the power to do this. They don't want these men to continue to spread the idea that religious leaders murdered Jesus. So they could have these men put to death as well.

But one of the Pharisees in the council named Gamaliel could talk them down and convince them that it would all blow over unless it were from God. The Jewish people widely revere Gamaliel. Gamaliel brings up religious zealots from the past who were killed. When they died, their disciples disappeared.

Acts 5:38--39 (ESV) --- 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,

So the leaders beat the disciples and threatened them again to stop speaking in the name of Jesus.

Continue Preaching and Teaching (41-42)

The words that follow are mind-blowing.

Acts 5:41--42 (ESV) --- 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

The religious leaders beat these men, but they were rejoicing. One might think they were rejoicing to still be alive, but the text says they were rejoicing to be counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Christ. Isn't that bizarre?

They have made a massive leap in boldness and faithfulness. Are these disciples looking for suffering and pain? No, but imagine how you would feel if you were cowering in fear just a few months ago while Jesus is suffering.

The text also says they rejoiced because they were counted worthy to suffer for the name. They see suffering for Jesus as a grace that God has given them. In their minds, suffering for the cause of Christ is an honor.

1 Peter 2:18--24 (ESV) --- 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

They are honored to go through something that resembles what Jesus went through. They went into the same place as Jesus and endured similar sufferings.

What Do We Learn?

As we hear this story, we cannot help but notice that these apostles received great boldness from God and were able to do more than they had ever done before. Please don't read this and think that the disciples have this remarkable ability to be stubborn about the truth. They prayed for this and submitted their lives to the gospel teaching.

The apostles did not say, "What if the religious leaders find out?" They knew they would. They were going to plant the seed of Jesus without stopping. Notice that God provided them with a tremendous increase.

Acts 5:14 (ESV) --- 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

There is no stopping because they want to bring as many as possible into the fold, so they don't stop.

What Are We Supposed To Do?

As we read this story and see these men's faith, how does it make us feel?

Would We Be Good Stubborn?

It's incredible how often we see the apostles boldly teaching the word. They taught in the temple after healing a man. Then, they were arrested and told not to teach in his name. I imagine that they felt a little awkward preaching in Solomon's Portico. The text tells us that some disciples wouldn't dare do that, but the 12 apostles would. They pushed past the awkward feelings and pressed on to speak the truth to those who needed to hear it. Then they do it again after being arrested. They go to the temple to speak the truth. Then, they do it again in front of the council. Then, they do it again after being beaten.

Would we be so persistent? How many of us would be cowering in fear after the first close call and threatening? Would we even have prayed for boldness?

We shouldn't be surprised. The world around us is not much different than these religious leaders. They seek to silence us and prevent the gospel's truth from spreading. We have to pre-decide how we are going to respond to this. We have to make up our minds beforehand and prepare ourselves for punishment. Knowing what will happen shouldn't prevent us from teaching and preaching the truth because we love Christ and those who are lost around us.

I remember being at Stanley Steemer and going through this daily.

Would We Be Rejoicing?

The fantastic thing about this is that they were looking at these events and rejoicing because God has given them this honor. Their suffering for the name of Christ was an honor. They, like the Philippians, were happy to suffer for Christ's sake.

Philippians 1:27--30 (ESV) --- 27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Would we consider it an honor to suffer for Christ? Would we think of it as a gift from God? Instead of hiding and being scared of suffering, we should be doing what we ought to do. They aren't looking for trouble. They aren't looking for suffering or intentionally trying to provoke these men. They are just trying to teach the truth about Jesus.

Conclusion

The result of this stubbornness is the gospel spreading throughout the world. Because they would not stop speaking the truth, men and women worldwide got to hear the gospel and receive the promised blessing of eternal life.

When God called Ezekiel to be a prophet, he told him that the people he was talking to had heads as hard as flint. So God made Ezekiel's head just as hard as theirs. The truth is that we live in a society that can be very stubborn and hard-headed. But we should pray for God to send us leaders who are just as stubborn and hard-headed as they are. Men who will persist in spreading the truth for all to know Christ's gift is for them.

If we seek God's help in this, he promises we will find it. Those who ask receive, those who seek find, and those who knock will have the door opened for them. We must recognize that and love people enough to pursue God's help.