"Pandemic" - Acts 5:17-42
- Series: "Pandemic" - The Gospel Unleashed
- by: Matthew Savage 12/06/09
Acts 5:17-42 "Preaching, Persecution and Power"
The Lord has appointed for the gospel to spread to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:16-20). The means by which the gospel will spread is the church. And what we see in Acts and still to this day is that the suffering of the church spreads zeal and passion for the gospel rather than stifling it. Tertullian, a father of the early church remarked, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church”. Every time persecution fell upon the church, God used it to increase the audience and fame of the gospel. And this is exactly what we see in Acts chapter five. The Apostles not only endured suffering for the name of Jesus, they embraced it and praised God for it as they continued to preach salvation in Jesus’ name.
Engage the Text
- Why do the High Priest and Sadducees continually arrest the Apostles? What do they want from the Apostles?
- What are the “words of this Life”? (verse 20)
- How is Jesus exalted as “Leader and Savior”?
- Think about the great works of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. The works and miracles of the Holy Spirit are a testimony, a witness to the resurrection and power of Jesus. The main purpose of the miracles is to affirm the truthfulness of the gospel and the claims of Jesus. Jesus’ words and life are confirmed by not only God the Father but also the Holy Spirit.
- According to Gamaliel, why couldn’t the Apostles be stopped?
From Thought to Action
- How does jealousy tear apart the people of God and dishonor the gospel?
- What are things we could learn from vs. 41-42? They rejoiced in spite of being flogged. We complain about the smallest inconveniences –even ministry related ones. How do we become people who respond to adversity more like the Apostles? How do we grow to be more like the Apostles in regards to suffering and less addicted to our comforts?
- How can we take seemingly negative circumstances and see them as ministry opportunities?
- What are some practical ways we can teach about Christ in our homes?
If we began to obey God rather than men in every circumstance, what would the consequences be? Within the context of Acts, how do our potential consequences measure up? What are we ultimately afraid of? What does this reveal about us?
