Acts 5:17-26
Acts 5:17-26
May 10, 2020
Acts 5:17-26
17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the
party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.
Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. 1
What do you think the biggest barrier that people have to responding to the gospel? What is the one thing that seems to be most common that actually keeps the majority of people on the planet from surrendering to Jesus Christ?
Apart from not ever hearing...which is the impetus of the missions movement in Christianity based on the Great Commission to go and
1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 5:17–26). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. 1
make disciples, what personally (not corporately) keeps John and Jane Doe from saying YES to Jesus Christ?
Presuming that the message of the gospel is known...
Presuming that Christians are lovingly sharing the truth of Jesus, the life offered through Christ, the way to heaven and fulfillment in him...
Presuming the opportunity to hear is available... Why would anyone say NO?
Why would there be pressure to squelch the message? Why?
This is the age-old question that goes back to the birth of the church in Acts, even to the time of Christ during the gospels. Ultimately, it goes back to the expulsion from the Garden of Eden.
Human nature, you know.
There are often conversations that come up with other Christians that relate to sin. It’s so common and so deadly that these conversations are needed.
The one question I hear often goes something like this “What is the unpardonable sin?”
The unpardonable sin. That is a strange question when you think of it. What motivates someone to ask such a question?
Fear, perhaps? Permission?
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Often they are doing a bit of Bible reading, which is good, but perhaps with no context. They come across these verses...
Matthew 12:31-32
31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. 2
According to the gospel writers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, the only unpardonable sin is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
A few years ago this trended on YouTube as people would make short clips saying “I blaspheme the Holy Spirit” as a way to proclaim their opposition to Christianity and all things related to Christ and God. It was a futile attempt to make a point. Oh, the point was made – people didn’t believe in God and made a joke about it.
The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, specific as it was to the
Pharisees’ situation as addressed in the gospels, cannot be duplicated
today. Jesus Christ is not physically on earth, and no one can personally
see Jesus perform a miracle and then attribute that power to Satan
instead of the Spirit.
Yet, the question persists “What is the unpardonable or unforgivable
sin?”
People desire to know so they can ensure they don’t cross that line,
possibly?
2 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 12:31–32). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. 3
Or perhaps so they can get as close as possible without fearing gone too
far.
While the unforgivable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit is not
possible today, there is a sin that could be categorized as unforgivable or
unpardonable. It is the one sin that historically and continually keeps
people from God, from hope, from life, from heaven.
It is the sin that is only unforgivable at the moment of death, but up to
that point is redeemable, pardonable, and forgivable.
As I read this passage in Acts I see the symptoms of this sin. The things
that people say and do (and said and did) that leaves a person with
discerning eyes watching and knowing that Christ is not honored, not
worshiped, not even known by certain people.
This is still the case as some will ask at times, especially related to
celebrities or well-known people “I wonder if he/she is a Christian?”
Sometimes it is asked because we so desire people to be Christians
without desiring them to know Christ.
It’s the American post-modern version of liberal Christianity that really,
really wants everyone to go to heaven. What happens is we attribute redemption and salvation to those who simply vote as we desire, are
good neighbors, volunteer at the clothes closet and soup kitchen, and
earn perpetual merit badges for being “good guys” and “good girls.”
Yet, the goodness of man pales in comparison to the holiness of God and
as Scripture says, even our best is but a filthy rag before him.
So, what keeps people from truly coming to Christ?
The same thing that always has and is evident in this chapter in Acts.
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PRIDE.
Pride comes in many flavors. It’s like the ice cream at Baskin-Robbins. Just a few that seem to be evident in this passage and also in our culture.
1. INTELLECTUAL PRIDE
In this passage you see a response to the teachings and miracles of the apostles. The ones who did not want their status quo changed are most angry. These are the elite. The ones who look down their noses at others who “just don’t get it.”
You may know people like this. You may live with one. It’s clear that these people think very highly of themselves. Some are highly educated with numerous degrees and accolades. Others are just the self-proclaimed smartest people in the room and play that game by making others feel dumb or uninformed.
Intellectual pride offered by the high priest, the Sadducees, as well as the others here pushed them to a point of frustration. They were angry at the apostles. For what? For healing? For loving people as God does? For sharing the gospel?
YES!
And for gaining popularity among the “common people” whom they perpetually looked down upon with their prideful views.
2. POSITIONAL PRIDE
In the case of the High Priest, his position alone gives him authority among the Jews. The person may not be worth admiring, but the position is. This is true with other positions of authority in the world, and has been for generations.
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The Sadducees were the theological liberals of the day, discounting the resurrection of anyone or the existence of angels.
They are not unlike Christians who categorize themselves as theologically liberal today, denying penal substitutionary atonement, and preaching a pseudo-gospel of good works and community activism only while strongly ignoring, even speaking against, any mention of the blood of Christ and the need for repentance.
Universalists with crosses. Denying the power therein.
3. SOCIAL PRIDE
Those struggling with social pride do not dare risk public humiliation or loss of power by believing in Christ.
This is not just a stance for politicians seeking to not alienate a voting bloc by saying the wrong thing. This is anyone who fears speaking out, even softly and lovingly, about the truth of the gospel in any venue where influence may be lost.
I get it. If you get fired, you will lose money. You’ll lose security. Your retirement will take a hit. It’s easier to just go with the flow and not rock the boat.
What happens when you rock the boat? Well, you may fall off. Or others will.
Your kids may not get picked for the team. No more invites to the social gatherings. Ostracized for being intolerant.
I get it. It’s real.
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But...what do we see in this passage?
We see bold men of God, speaking truth in love to the people needing hope. The message of the gospel is being proclaimed.
It wasn’t political. It wasn’t positional. It was simply truth. The truth will set you free, right?
But when the truth impacts someone’s pride...there will be a price to pay.
In this case, the apostles are arrested. They’re jailed not for civil disobedience. Not for breaking laws. Not for causing a riot or violent behavior.
They’re jailed for stepping into a story where status quo is expected. They’re jailed for rocking the boat. They’re jailed for daring to speak the truth.
They’re jailed for the sake for the gospel.
And from a 21st century perspective reading this historical account, we say “We would do it too!:”
Unless we ever find ourselves in a compromising position where speaking the truth in love costs us.
There’s a fourth level of pride evident here.
4. FAMILY PRIDE
Many people get tangled up in this. For those with family members who are not believers, it is most difficult.
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It is really hard to admit that the ones we hold closest here in our families who are not believers will not be in heaven unless they repent. It is so hard and so many of you watching know this. You may be trying to talk yourself into believing your family member is saved, covered by a different version of grace not requiring total surrender, but you know. You know. You know the truth.
The wages for sin for your mama, your pop, your siblings, and cousins, even your spouse, children, in-laws, and more is death. Just like it is for you and for me and for every single human being ever to live.
The wages, the penalty for sin, is death.
But thanks be to God we have a way. THE way. The truth. The life – Christ himself who paid that debt.
But...sadly, not all get this payment in their name. And that is troubling.
So, for some family pride keeps the conversation from ever happening. The fear that speaking about Jesus truthfully (not the cultural Christian Jesus or the good-old-boy version that is so prevalent) with the ones we live with, share a name with, or even share DNA with keeps the conversation from ever happening.
CONCLUSION
At this point in Acts we meet a group of people that symbolize and evidence the pride of humanity all too well. This group exhibits all the prideful issues that keep people from Jesus.
As a result the apostles teachings enraged them (as we will see later in verse 33.)
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It is an amazing story.
The apostles are jailed overnight, to be brought to the high priest and the Sadducees the next morning.
During the night, an angel (you know a being the Sadducees declare as not existing) opens the doors to the prison and leads the apostles out.
This messenger from God then states to them clearly “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”
This LIFE – JESUS CHRIST!
The next day, the high priest had the guards go to the prison to get the men and was soon notified they were not there. The captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were “greatly perplexed” and wondering what had happened to them.
Where were they?
In hiding like they were after the crucifixion? Nope.
They were in the temple. Standing there in public. Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and teaching the people. Just as the angel of the Lord had said.
And, it frightened the religious leaders greatly.
There’s much to consider here, but ultimately what we know is this.
God has commissioned his children to make disciples. This is not done silently. It is not something for the pastors and missionaries alone. It is the commission and command for all. So, wherever God has placed you,
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be sure that you are not allowing your pride to keep your “faith a personal thing” never to be shared.
Oh, and that unpardonable sin?
The sin of unbelief that leads to rejection of Christ as Lord.
Every human being on the planet is guilty of this. Every Christian was guilty prior to surrender. But thanks be to God for my sake and my brothers and sisters in Christ, God made a way. The Way. And if you’re breathing today, you still have time to go the right way, repent of your sin, receive Christ as your Lord, and live the remainder of your days not succumbing to the cancer of sinful pride, but free and alive today and forevermore.
Footnotes
