Acts 5:17-5:42
As we have gone through the Book of Acts, we have seen alternating periods of growth and attack. Consider:
Growth: 2:1-3:26 Pentecost; Peter heals cripple – the church begins and grows
Growth: 2:1-3:26 Pentecost; Peter heals cripple – the church begins and grows
Attack: 4:1-4:22 Peter and John arrested, told not to mention Jesus
Growth: 4:23-4:37 House where praying shaken, church continues to grow
Attack: 5:1-5:11 Ananias and Saphira – the threat from within the church
Growth: 5:12-16 Miraculous signs and wonders – the church grows beyond Jerusalem
Regarding Ananias and Saphira, how great a threat was this to the early church? We will never really know. But I am struck by the fact that Barnabus had his beginnings by doing ostensibly the same thing as Ananias: selling a field and laying the proceeds at the apostles’ feet. Barnabus went on to team with Paul – he had a major role in the early church. What would have happened if Ananias and Saphira became leaders in the early church? How much damage could they have caused? We don’t know, but it could have been enormous.
Then in Acts 5:12-16, we see that the church is beginning to grow beyond Jerusalem. People are coming from outlying towns to be a part of things. John ended last week with Acts 5:16:
Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed. – Acts 5:16
It is amazing! All of them healed! Jerusalem was becoming in a sense a madhouse. Nothing like this had ever happened before. I believe the crowds were larger than at any time during Jesus’ own ministry. The word of mouth, the rumors of what was going on, was spreading like wildfire. Never had Jerusalem been turned so completely upside down. And what did the priests have to do with this? Nothing. How many were they healing? None. How many people were coming to them? Very few, if any. It was time for another attack.
Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. – Acts 5:17-18
They were filled with jealousy, or indignation. Jealousy is the resentment that someone has power and you don’t, and because of this, you want their power taken away. The word for “filled” is the same word used to describe how the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, and the priests and company were filled with jealousy and anger. It is quite a contrast. And the two are incompatible. Galatians 5 makes this clear:
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. – Galatians 5:16-21a
What is it like to be filled with jealousy? You cannot think straight. You cannot stand it! You are willing to do anything to make the situation change. This is how the temple leaders felt. How different from the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22). How would someone filled with the Spirit respond to what was going on? They would rejoice! They would let them use the Temple. They might even resign their positions and let the apostles lead. But these men were not filled with the Spirit. They were not Believers. They were not born again. Christ did not live in them. They did not accept the good news, the gospel. They were living according to their sinful nature.
But back to Acts 5:17-18: This time, the ante is raised. It is not just John and Peter put in jail; it is, apparently, all the apostles. It is apparently a rougher place than last time – this is the public jail; perhaps earlier (Acts 4) they were in a home with guards? We cannot be sure, but the phrase public jail is not used to describe the former event. This public jail would be a place where common criminals would be, including murderers.
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." – Acts 5:19-20
Oh, how I wish there more details here. Luke, the man of details, was not led by the Spirit to give them here. What happened to the guards? What happened to the other prisoners? How did the angel open the doors? How did the angel get in there? Did he just appear? All we are told is that the angel brought them out and gave them a message: Don’t stop! Don’t hold back! Go right back in there and keep on sharing the good news! I love the wording here: Tell them the “full message of this new life.”
Being a Christian, a Believer, is not just a new set of rules. It is not that at all! It is not just a new way of thinking. It does involve a new way of thinking, but it is much more than that. It is a whole new life. Nothing should be the same. The “full message” of this new life involves the entire gospel. It doesn’t shy away from the fact that we are sinners. It doesn’t fear talking about the justified wrath of God. It shows people their absolute need of God’s forgiveness, and their absolute inability to obtain this forgiveness through their own works. It doesn’t shy away from the fact that there is no other way but through Christ that this forgiveness can be obtained. It isn’t just praying a prayer. It isn’t just fire insurance. The prayer only opens the door to Christ’s forgiveness if we really mean what we pray. And if we really mean it, their will be fruit. Our lives will begin to change radically. Our priorities will change. We will want to serve God in any way we can. We will want to be holy, righteous, faithful, because of what He’s done. (This doesn’t mean we can do this in our own strength!) But it is a whole new life.
Now, I have a question. In general, is it wrong to flee and give the message somewhere else? No. Jesus said to do this Himself:
When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. – Matthew 10:23a
But the angel could not have been clearer. Don’t flee. Stay right here. Speak boldly and don’t hold back. So what did they do?
At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. – Acts 5:21a
Isn’t that great? They did just what they were told to do! Were they nervous? Perhaps, but they went forth anyway.
When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, "We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside." On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of this. – Acts 5:21b-24
How did this miracle occur? Again, I wish Luke had given us more details. Did the angel blind the guards while the breakout occurred? Did the angel make them sleep?
In many ways, this miracle reminds me of some of the miracles described in the book of Daniel – at the lion’s den, in the fiery furnace. There, as here, people were being persecuted for their faith, miraculously delivered by God.
Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people." At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. – Acts 5:25-26
Why were they afraid that the people might stone them? Because the apostles were quite popular with the general populace! They were being used by God to heal people. They were the bringers of the great news, the gospel, that salvation was available in Jesus Christ.
Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." – Acts 5:27-28
What do they mean when they say, “You are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood”? I think the meaning is, “Why do you keep blaming us for Jesus’ death? He brought it on himself.” Note how they don’t even say His name. Jesus. Instead, they say “this man’s” blood. Even saying His name makes them uncomfortable. Why? I think God has somehow registered this Name deep down inside of us. Perhaps it is the Holy Spirit speaking to Christian and non-Christian alike. Even today, atheists like to use phrases like X-mas and X-ian.
Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." – Acts 5:29-32
Notice the direct response. They use Jesus’ name right away, unlike their accusers. They restate that indeed, the leaders had killed Jesus. They describe what they know and have witnessed, describing Jesus and Prince and Savior. They describe Him as offering repentance and forgiveness of sins. Only Jesus can do that. Only God can do that. And they describe themselves as witnesses. Indeed, they have seen the resurrected Jesus.
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them. – Acts 5:33-35a
These people did not appreciate being told the good news. They didn’t like being told that they were sinners. They were so mad that they wanted to kill the whole lot of them. But before this could happen, Gamaliel had something to say. Who was Gamaliel?
Gamaliel is described in Jewish writings as well as the Bible. In the Talmud, he is described as the head of the Sanhedrin. In the Mishna, he is described as the writer of several rules regarding marital rights. He believed the law to be completely inspired by God, but he also taught for making the laws for observing the sabbath less strict. This might have referred to Paul. In Acts 22:3, Paul explains that he was “educated at the feet of Gamaliel.”
"Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."- Acts 5:35b-39
Some believe that because of these words, Gamaliel was a Christian. I am not so sure. The fact that he was and is revered in Jewish writings make it somewhat hard to believe that he became a Christian. Even if he wasn’t a Christian, God used him to calm the situation before it truly got out of hand.
Are his words true? Is it true that a religious activity, if of human origin, will fail? [People discuss.] Not in the finite time sense. Look at Islam, for example. But in the eternal sense, certainly. The important thing he says, and this is absolutely true, is the last thing he says: If this is from God, you will not be able to stop these men. You will only find yourselves fighting against God. This is not a position anyone wants to be in. If you fight against God, the maker of the universe, you will lose.
His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. – Acts 5:40
This was the conclusion of the Jewish leaders as well. We don’t want to be fighting God! So did they just let them go? No!
They had them flogged! This was a radical increase in the nature of the “attack.” Previously, they had not suffered physically. To be flogged was to be whipped severely. The result would be a mass of scars on your back for the rest of your life. If you have watched the movie “The Passion,” you have an idea of what flogging was like. Although probably not quite as severe as Jesus’ flogging, it was nevertheless excruciating, severe punishment. Some of them probably had pains as a result of this for the rest of their lives.
Once again, they are ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus. The leaders thought that the flogging would convince them once and for all to obey them.
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. – Acts 5:41-42
Now this is where it is easy to be absolutely floored by what you read in Acts. The apostles were afraid, limping, dripping with blood, back to a home to be cared for, right? Their unity was destroyed, right? Some of them said, I can’t go on any further! This is too much, right? Wrong.
They rejoiced (all of them) – they rejoiced! Is this crazy or what? They rejoiced because “they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace” for the Name of Christ. What does this mean?
Are we supposed to do this? Are we supposed to suffer for Christ? Yes.
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him. – Phil 1:29
It has been granted to you means this is a gift given to you – an opportunity! Do you think of this as a blessing?
Principle: God desires that we suffer for His Name.
Are we supposed to rejoice when we suffer for Christ? Yes.
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. – I Peter 4:12-14
You are blessed means “God has found favor with you.”
Principle: God desires that we rejoice in our sufferings for His Name.
To be blessed by God means that you have been counted worthy. How are we counted worthy?
Among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. […]With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. – 2 Thess. 1:3-5, 11
According to this passage, we are “counted worthy” by suffering for Him. This is not talking about salvation. This is talking about hearing him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Principle: We should pray that God may count us worthy of His calling.
Does this mean we pray that we would suffer for His Name? Yes, if that is what it takes to be “counted worthy.”
Let me challenge you with a quote from a book called, appropriately enough, Counted Worthy by Jan Fletcher, an atheist who became saved later in life. She grew up in a very abusive family situation, became promiscuous, and became a hardcore atheist. She was rather “hippy”-ish in many ways. While pregnant with one of her children, she was told she had cancer of the cervix/uterus, and the doctors wanted her to have an abortion. Her husband wanted her to have an abortion. But she didn’t. Ultimately, the experience led her to Christ. After the birth, it turned out she did not have cancer, but a rapidly growing non-cancerous growth. This was easily solved with surgery. As a new believer, she was led to be active in sharing her faith, and she and her husband desired to do ministry to people in abusive situations. Again and again, she has been persecuted for her faith – mostly by Christians or at least people who call themselves Christians. Here is a quote from near the end of her book:
“I also thank God for discomfort, when I experience it, whether it’s a headache or a toothache. Sometimes, I spend a sleepless night bearing the weight of intercession for someone’s rejection of Christ, or rejection of spiritual maturity the Lord is calling him or her to. I pray for relief, but I thank the Lord for giving me a reason to cry to Him for relief. For just as comfort feeds the flesh, suffering, and turning to God for help, strengthens our spirit and increases our spiritual maturity.”
“I pray for more suffering in my life – that I will be counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the Name of the Lord. I know that just as rigorous exercise strengthens our muscles, trials strengthen our relationships with the Lord. Thank God for the suffering He allows us to endure!”
So my question for us is, what does suffering for Christ look like – what should it look like – at Clemson Community Church? I encourage you to prayerfully consider this question now and to prayerfully return to this question throughout your lives.
I close with the words of Paul:
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. – 2 Tim. 1:8
Regarding Ananias and Saphira, how great a threat was this to the early church? We will never really know. But I am struck by the fact that Barnabus had his beginnings by doing ostensibly the same thing as Ananias: selling a field and laying the proceeds at the apostles’ feet. Barnabus went on to team with Paul – he had a major role in the early church. What would have happened if Ananias and Saphira became leaders in the early church? How much damage could they have caused? We don’t know, but it could have been enormous.
Then in Acts 5:12-16, we see that the church is beginning to grow beyond Jerusalem. People are coming from outlying towns to be a part of things. John ended last week with Acts 5:16:
Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed. – Acts 5:16
It is amazing! All of them healed! Jerusalem was becoming in a sense a madhouse. Nothing like this had ever happened before. I believe the crowds were larger than at any time during Jesus’ own ministry. The word of mouth, the rumors of what was going on, was spreading like wildfire. Never had Jerusalem been turned so completely upside down. And what did the priests have to do with this? Nothing. How many were they healing? None. How many people were coming to them? Very few, if any. It was time for another attack.
Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. – Acts 5:17-18
They were filled with jealousy, or indignation. Jealousy is the resentment that someone has power and you don’t, and because of this, you want their power taken away. The word for “filled” is the same word used to describe how the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, and the priests and company were filled with jealousy and anger. It is quite a contrast. And the two are incompatible. Galatians 5 makes this clear:
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. – Galatians 5:16-21a
What is it like to be filled with jealousy? You cannot think straight. You cannot stand it! You are willing to do anything to make the situation change. This is how the temple leaders felt. How different from the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22). How would someone filled with the Spirit respond to what was going on? They would rejoice! They would let them use the Temple. They might even resign their positions and let the apostles lead. But these men were not filled with the Spirit. They were not Believers. They were not born again. Christ did not live in them. They did not accept the good news, the gospel. They were living according to their sinful nature.
But back to Acts 5:17-18: This time, the ante is raised. It is not just John and Peter put in jail; it is, apparently, all the apostles. It is apparently a rougher place than last time – this is the public jail; perhaps earlier (Acts 4) they were in a home with guards? We cannot be sure, but the phrase public jail is not used to describe the former event. This public jail would be a place where common criminals would be, including murderers.
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." – Acts 5:19-20
Oh, how I wish there more details here. Luke, the man of details, was not led by the Spirit to give them here. What happened to the guards? What happened to the other prisoners? How did the angel open the doors? How did the angel get in there? Did he just appear? All we are told is that the angel brought them out and gave them a message: Don’t stop! Don’t hold back! Go right back in there and keep on sharing the good news! I love the wording here: Tell them the “full message of this new life.”
Being a Christian, a Believer, is not just a new set of rules. It is not that at all! It is not just a new way of thinking. It does involve a new way of thinking, but it is much more than that. It is a whole new life. Nothing should be the same. The “full message” of this new life involves the entire gospel. It doesn’t shy away from the fact that we are sinners. It doesn’t fear talking about the justified wrath of God. It shows people their absolute need of God’s forgiveness, and their absolute inability to obtain this forgiveness through their own works. It doesn’t shy away from the fact that there is no other way but through Christ that this forgiveness can be obtained. It isn’t just praying a prayer. It isn’t just fire insurance. The prayer only opens the door to Christ’s forgiveness if we really mean what we pray. And if we really mean it, their will be fruit. Our lives will begin to change radically. Our priorities will change. We will want to serve God in any way we can. We will want to be holy, righteous, faithful, because of what He’s done. (This doesn’t mean we can do this in our own strength!) But it is a whole new life.
Now, I have a question. In general, is it wrong to flee and give the message somewhere else? No. Jesus said to do this Himself:
When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. – Matthew 10:23a
But the angel could not have been clearer. Don’t flee. Stay right here. Speak boldly and don’t hold back. So what did they do?
At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. – Acts 5:21a
Isn’t that great? They did just what they were told to do! Were they nervous? Perhaps, but they went forth anyway.
When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, "We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside." On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of this. – Acts 5:21b-24
How did this miracle occur? Again, I wish Luke had given us more details. Did the angel blind the guards while the breakout occurred? Did the angel make them sleep?
In many ways, this miracle reminds me of some of the miracles described in the book of Daniel – at the lion’s den, in the fiery furnace. There, as here, people were being persecuted for their faith, miraculously delivered by God.
Then someone came and said, "Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people." At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. – Acts 5:25-26
Why were they afraid that the people might stone them? Because the apostles were quite popular with the general populace! They were being used by God to heal people. They were the bringers of the great news, the gospel, that salvation was available in Jesus Christ.
Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." – Acts 5:27-28
What do they mean when they say, “You are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood”? I think the meaning is, “Why do you keep blaming us for Jesus’ death? He brought it on himself.” Note how they don’t even say His name. Jesus. Instead, they say “this man’s” blood. Even saying His name makes them uncomfortable. Why? I think God has somehow registered this Name deep down inside of us. Perhaps it is the Holy Spirit speaking to Christian and non-Christian alike. Even today, atheists like to use phrases like X-mas and X-ian.
Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." – Acts 5:29-32
Notice the direct response. They use Jesus’ name right away, unlike their accusers. They restate that indeed, the leaders had killed Jesus. They describe what they know and have witnessed, describing Jesus and Prince and Savior. They describe Him as offering repentance and forgiveness of sins. Only Jesus can do that. Only God can do that. And they describe themselves as witnesses. Indeed, they have seen the resurrected Jesus.
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them. – Acts 5:33-35a
These people did not appreciate being told the good news. They didn’t like being told that they were sinners. They were so mad that they wanted to kill the whole lot of them. But before this could happen, Gamaliel had something to say. Who was Gamaliel?
Gamaliel is described in Jewish writings as well as the Bible. In the Talmud, he is described as the head of the Sanhedrin. In the Mishna, he is described as the writer of several rules regarding marital rights. He believed the law to be completely inspired by God, but he also taught for making the laws for observing the sabbath less strict. This might have referred to Paul. In Acts 22:3, Paul explains that he was “educated at the feet of Gamaliel.”
"Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."- Acts 5:35b-39
Some believe that because of these words, Gamaliel was a Christian. I am not so sure. The fact that he was and is revered in Jewish writings make it somewhat hard to believe that he became a Christian. Even if he wasn’t a Christian, God used him to calm the situation before it truly got out of hand.
Are his words true? Is it true that a religious activity, if of human origin, will fail? [People discuss.] Not in the finite time sense. Look at Islam, for example. But in the eternal sense, certainly. The important thing he says, and this is absolutely true, is the last thing he says: If this is from God, you will not be able to stop these men. You will only find yourselves fighting against God. This is not a position anyone wants to be in. If you fight against God, the maker of the universe, you will lose.
His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. – Acts 5:40
This was the conclusion of the Jewish leaders as well. We don’t want to be fighting God! So did they just let them go? No!
They had them flogged! This was a radical increase in the nature of the “attack.” Previously, they had not suffered physically. To be flogged was to be whipped severely. The result would be a mass of scars on your back for the rest of your life. If you have watched the movie “The Passion,” you have an idea of what flogging was like. Although probably not quite as severe as Jesus’ flogging, it was nevertheless excruciating, severe punishment. Some of them probably had pains as a result of this for the rest of their lives.
Once again, they are ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus. The leaders thought that the flogging would convince them once and for all to obey them.
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. – Acts 5:41-42
Now this is where it is easy to be absolutely floored by what you read in Acts. The apostles were afraid, limping, dripping with blood, back to a home to be cared for, right? Their unity was destroyed, right? Some of them said, I can’t go on any further! This is too much, right? Wrong.
They rejoiced (all of them) – they rejoiced! Is this crazy or what? They rejoiced because “they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace” for the Name of Christ. What does this mean?
Are we supposed to do this? Are we supposed to suffer for Christ? Yes.
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him. – Phil 1:29
It has been granted to you means this is a gift given to you – an opportunity! Do you think of this as a blessing?
Principle: God desires that we suffer for His Name.
Are we supposed to rejoice when we suffer for Christ? Yes.
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. – I Peter 4:12-14
You are blessed means “God has found favor with you.”
Principle: God desires that we rejoice in our sufferings for His Name.
To be blessed by God means that you have been counted worthy. How are we counted worthy?
Among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. […]With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. – 2 Thess. 1:3-5, 11
According to this passage, we are “counted worthy” by suffering for Him. This is not talking about salvation. This is talking about hearing him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Principle: We should pray that God may count us worthy of His calling.
Does this mean we pray that we would suffer for His Name? Yes, if that is what it takes to be “counted worthy.”
Let me challenge you with a quote from a book called, appropriately enough, Counted Worthy by Jan Fletcher, an atheist who became saved later in life. She grew up in a very abusive family situation, became promiscuous, and became a hardcore atheist. She was rather “hippy”-ish in many ways. While pregnant with one of her children, she was told she had cancer of the cervix/uterus, and the doctors wanted her to have an abortion. Her husband wanted her to have an abortion. But she didn’t. Ultimately, the experience led her to Christ. After the birth, it turned out she did not have cancer, but a rapidly growing non-cancerous growth. This was easily solved with surgery. As a new believer, she was led to be active in sharing her faith, and she and her husband desired to do ministry to people in abusive situations. Again and again, she has been persecuted for her faith – mostly by Christians or at least people who call themselves Christians. Here is a quote from near the end of her book:
“I also thank God for discomfort, when I experience it, whether it’s a headache or a toothache. Sometimes, I spend a sleepless night bearing the weight of intercession for someone’s rejection of Christ, or rejection of spiritual maturity the Lord is calling him or her to. I pray for relief, but I thank the Lord for giving me a reason to cry to Him for relief. For just as comfort feeds the flesh, suffering, and turning to God for help, strengthens our spirit and increases our spiritual maturity.”
“I pray for more suffering in my life – that I will be counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the Name of the Lord. I know that just as rigorous exercise strengthens our muscles, trials strengthen our relationships with the Lord. Thank God for the suffering He allows us to endure!”
So my question for us is, what does suffering for Christ look like – what should it look like – at Clemson Community Church? I encourage you to prayerfully consider this question now and to prayerfully return to this question throughout your lives.
I close with the words of Paul:
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. – 2 Tim. 1:8
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