This morning has consisted of two plenary sessions, the first morning prayer with Rev David Short and the second session with Pastor Rick Warren. Below are my incomplete notes from Rev Short’s sermon.

Acts 5
17Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducee’s, were filled with jealousy. 18They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20″Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.”
21At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

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. 22But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, 23″We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what would come of this.

25Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26At 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.

27Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28″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.”

29Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men! 30The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

33When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34But 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. 35Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36Some 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. 37After 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. 38Therefore, 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. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

40His 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.

41The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42Day 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.

It had been a difficult couple of months for the Sanhedrin. Having put the original troublemaker to death they thought they had dealt with the problem, now they were dealing with His followers who boldly claimed He had risen from the dead and were preforming miracles and signs. Donors had switched allegiance to the new movement and the Sanhedrin were just not getting the respect they deserved (delivered tongue in cheek in reference to the Current Unpleasantness).

The Sanhedrin responded by trying to crush the new movement but found they could not silence the gospel. v17 – they responded by arresting the apostles, motivated by jealousy, the resurrection being a massive threat to them. However when the church is put under pressure the witness to the gospel increases.

The angel freed the apostles from prison – their response was not to run and hide, but to witness boldly the gospel at the temple. This is where they were arrested by the Sanhedrin again. v28 – there was no greater offense to them than their authority and jurisdiction being defied. But the apostles said they must obey God, not men. And they witnessed to the Sanhedrin – they did not write them off as a lost cause. Question was, who was really on trial?

v33 – the council was enraged and wanted to kill them – that’s what you call effective preaching!

The Gamaliel argument – a head in the sand pragmatist of the Sanhedrin.

Three applications of this:

1 – Freedom of God
The angel of the Lord rescued the apostles at night – the rescue was to be seen only by the apostles, not the guards, not the Sanhedrin. It was to show that all is in God’s hands and there is no situation that is out of His hands. It’s not about comfort and safety, but being in the sovereign hands of God. All things work for God’s good purposes.

2. Freedom of God’s gospel
v30-32 IS the gospel – focus is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Two implications of resurrection, Jesus (God has exalted Him to rule as Lord of all), us (Jesus Christ offers forgiveness and repentance). We often have a me-focused view of heaven rather than a Christ one.

Greatest reversal in all history is the resurrection.

Not about unconditional acceptance of me as I am, but repentance and forgiveness that leads to salvation. Is this our gospel?

Our chief aim is mission not governance. Documents do not give life. The gospel does.

3. Freedom of God’s people
Leads on from 1. and 2.

Freedom was from prison – not for their ‘safety’, but for God’s good purposes. Vancouver trial was used for that as witness on the stand gave his testimony. Rejoice to be counted worthy to suffer dishonour in His name.

Everything gets turned upside down in the gospels (what is honoured by us is dishonoured by God, what is dishonoured by us is honoured by God).

Praise be to God.