UNIFORM LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 20, 2015
Scripture passage and lesson focus: Acts 5:27-30, 33-42
The spectacular numerical growth of the Christian community in Jerusalem came about by the power of the Holy Spirit at work in the evangelical witness of the early church led by the 12 apostles. Luke reports that there were 3,000 and then 5,000 more new believers along with many others who believed in the resurrected Jesus. The apostles testified powerfully with words and deeds in the temple and on the streets of Jerusalem. In Luke’s words, “Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles” (Acts 2:43).
It wasn’t long before the religious authorities, jealous of the success enjoyed by the followers of Jesus, put the apostles in prison. Perhaps they thought a public shaming would be enough to discourage the apostles. Imagine their surprise and chagrin when they were informed that those same apostles had been miraculously released from jail and promptly went right back to the temple to testify to their faith in Jesus!
Acts 5:27-29 – Obey God’s commands
The apostles were summoned to appear before the religious leaders, the Sanhedrin, who feared a popular Jewish movement that honored a crucified Nazarene named Jesus. After all, their tenuous grip on the loyalty and income-producing support of the populace could be jeopardized. Furthermore, their cozy arrangement with the occupying Roman forces could be endangered if the alleged bandit the Romans had crucified was now said to be alive and proclaimed to be the savior. “Savior” was a term used to describe the Roman emperor.
The religious authorities also had their own reputation to defend. Luke says they were afraid that the apostles were trying to pin the blame for the Jesus’ death on them. In verse 30, the apostles accuse the Jewish leaders of arranging the death of Jesus.
The apostles’ memorable reply was, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” This bold statement of faith in God began a pattern of courageous witnessing that characterized the early church in the face of Roman persecution for the next few centuries. Subsequent generations of faithful believers have continued to give voice to their allegiance to God in the face of human opposition. Even when they know their confession of faith could lead to martyrdom, they did not compromise their faith in God.
Acts 5:33-42 – Don’t fight against God
The angry Sanhedrin, eager to get rid of their problem, wanted to kill the apostles. Gamaliel – one of their members who was also a Pharisee and a respected religious teacher – spoke against that plan. Little is known about Gamaliel, but we do know he was Paul’s teacher before Paul became a follower of Jesus (Acts 22:3). Later Paul set out to persecute followers of Jesus, so his teacher Gamaliel was evidently not a supporter of the Jesus movement, although Luke presents him in a favorable light.
Gamaliel requested a secret session to discuss the situation. He asked his colleagues to reconsider their murderous intentions. According to Luke, Gamaliel pointed to the activities of Theudas and Judas the Galilean, two other Jewish leaders who had tried unsuccessfully to start popular movements against the Romans. Luke’s account does not agree with the usually reliable reports of the Jewish historian Josephus, who placed Theudas chronologically later than Judas the Galilean. According to Josephus, the Romans killed Theudas around 44 A.D., well after the time of Gamaliel’s speech to the Sanhedrin.
Gamaliel urged his colleagues to leave the followers of Jesus alone. If they were another example of misguided human attempts to start a movement, like Judas the Galilean or Theudas, they would come to the same ignominious end. On the other hand, Gamaliel argued, if they are doing God’s will, opposition would be fruitless. In fact, it would be fighting against God.
Gamaliel’s Sanhedrin colleagues did not want to be fighting against God, so they adopted Gamaliel’s recommendation. They released the apostles, but not until they had them beaten and ordered them to stop teaching about Jesus. This only encouraged the apostles, who considered their persecution a badge of honor. They redoubled their efforts to witness boldly for the resurrected Jesus in the temple and in the neighborhoods of Jerusalem.
For discussion: This passage has been quoted by anti-Semitic Christian voices who have labeled Jews as “Christ-killers.” Why is such an interpretation of this passage wrong? (Keep in mind that this passage involves Jewish leaders in the first century, not all Jews, and the apostles were a minority that addressed fellow Jews under Roman occupation.) Do you think it is important that Luke’s historical references to Theudas and Judas the Galilean are probably not accurate?
