Resurrection Preaching in Acts
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:29-31
When Peter and John were hauled into court for preaching Jesus’ resurrection, they were commanded to stop – and beaten for emphasis. (Acts 4:23-31) That back-fired. The two apostles gathered the church and together they all prayed for the strength and ability to keep on preaching with boldness: Jesus is the Christ, crucified and risen.
The Holy Spirit answered those prayers. The apostles continued to boldly preach the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Sanhedrin then rounded up a group of Jesus’ apostles and jailed them – holding them over for trial in the morning. During the night God sent an angel and initiated an “early release” unbeknownst to the prison guards. The angel told the apostles, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” (Acts 5:20)
In the morning, after finding the cell empty, the commander of the temple guard finally located the apostles teaching in the temple. He requested their presence before the sanhedrin. They came. The high priest pointedly asked them, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?” (Acts 5:28)
The apostles’ said they were simply acting in obedience to God. For Jesus, whom the Sanhedrin had murdered, had been raised from the dead by God the Father and exalted to His right hand. Indeed, the risen Savior wanted those who murdered Him to repent and receive forgiveness.
We sometimes note how Peter’s words about obeying God rather than men should be applied when someone demands we do something God forbids. There are more times when we should remember the original context of Peter’s statement. We also need to give witness to the resurrection of Jesus and how this historic fact seals the forgiveness of sins and resurrection to eternal life for believing hearts.
Holy Spirit, do not let any threat keep us from speaking to others about our Living Lord. Amen.