Acts - Week 16

Week 16 Acts 5 

Day 1 

READ 

Acts 5:21 

21 So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching. When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council—the full assembly of the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought from the jail for trial. 

Peter and John were doing as the angel instructed them. They began teaching in the temple. As apostles they had spent three years with the resurrected Messiah and had much to pass on from what He taught them. Then it was time for the Supreme Court—the Sanhedrin—to reconvene. They wanted the apostles to be brought from jail so they could begin their trial. They had no idea what had occurred overnight.  

REFLECT 

God often works behind the scenes; sometimes in unexpected ways. Have you experienced in your life that something unexplainable occurred? Did it remind you the sovereign God is in control? 

RESPOND 

As you begin this week on Acts 5, remind your disciple what has already been covered. The background is helpful in knowing what the Christ-followers were facing at this time. 

Day 2 

READ 

Acts 5:22-23 

22 But when the Temple guards went to the jail, the men were gone. So they returned to the council and reported, 23 “The jail was securely locked, with the guards standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!” 

The guards who went to get the apostles returned with a shocking report. The men were not there even though the jail was locked and guards were standing outside. Imagine the surprise of all of them when the outer guards opened the gates and found no one! In those days, the lives of guards could be taken if they let a prisoner escape so surely they were now in fear of what might happen to them. At this point there were many more questions than answers. 

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes been faced with circumstances you could not explain? What was your response then? Did it give you more confidence in God or less? 

RESPOND 

Think now of Christ-followers who are imprisoned for their faith. It may be in other lands or in yours. Pray for them to be courageous at this difficult time.   

Day 3 

READ 

Acts 5:24-25 

24 When the captain of the Temple guard and the leading priests heard this, they were perplexed, wondering where it would all end. 25 Then someone arrived with startling news: “The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!” 

Notice the leaders are now wondering “where it would all end.” That reveals they realized something was going on behind the scenes that they were not able to control. Then came the report that Peter and John were in the temple teaching. How could this be? The leaders who denied the existence of the supernatural, such as angels and resurrection, were faced now with another miracle. Where would all of this end? 

REFLECT 

Does this teach you not to try to explain everything? In reading the Bible some things may be hard to explain but they need to be believed. 

RESPOND 

Talk with your disciple about approaching the Bible with belief as it is God’s written word. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. It is true whether or not you can explain all of it. 

Day 4 

READ 

Acts 5:26-27 

26 The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them. 27 Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. 

So the apostles were arrested again. Observe how carefully it was done because the guards knew a riot could break out and they, not the apostles, could be stoned. Again Peter and John were brought before the highest judicial authorities in the land. There they were confronted by the high priest. Judaism had much respect for the priests in the Jewish system and now these two lowly former fishermen were confronted by the high priest. What will he say? What will they say? 

REFLECT 

Have you ever been confronted by a religious authority who had more credentials than you? If you believe the Bible, you have the greatest credential. 

RESPOND 

Talk about the contradictions one faces if he believes there is no such thing as the supernatural. The Sadducees were that way and so are many today. They do not realize it takes more faith to be an atheist than to believe the Bible. 

Day 5 

READ 

Acts 5:28 

28 “We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!” 

Sometimes the “name” is used to refer to all that a person represents. Here the high priest likely used it rather than speaking the name Jesus Christ, which would have been the same as saying Jesus, the Messiah. Note the unintended compliment: they had “filled all Jerusalem” with their teaching about Jesus. The high priest asked the apostles if they wanted to make the Jewish leaders responsible for the death of Jesus. Peter had already told them that (see Acts 2:36).  

REFLECT 

Jesus died for the world but many still wish to say they had no responsibility. He died for all sinners and all are sinners (see Romans 3:23). 

RESPOND 

Read Luke 23:13-23 to see it was the religious leadership who wanted Jesus to be crucified even though Pilate could find no guilt in Him. There is no way now the priests could deny this.