Posted by Chester Morton / Thursday, 24 March 2016 / No comments
The arrest of the Apostles
THE ARREST OF THE APOSTLES
The High Priest and the Sadducees
were angry with the Apostles. So they arrested them and put them in a common
prison.
At night, the angel of the Lord
opened the doors of the prison and brought the Apostles out. The angel told
them to go into the temple and preach to the people about life. The next day,
the Apostles went to the Temple and preached.
The High Priest called the
Council together and sent that they brought the Apostles. When they went to
pick the Apostles from the cell, the door was securely locked, the watchmen were
outside the door but when they entered they did not see the Apostles. When the
Chief Priest heard this, they thought to themselves where this was going to
lead.
Somebody came to tell them that the men they
sought were in the Temple preaching to the people. The captain brought them,
but without violence. The High Priest asked whether they had not warned them
not to preach Jesus again. He accused them of feeling Jerusalem with their
teachings.
Peter told the High Priest that
they obey only God and not men. He counter-accused the High Priest of Jesus. He
told them that God had exalted Jesus to become a Prince and a savior. When the
High Priest heard this, they planned to kill them.
A well respected Pharisee member
of the Council, called Gamaliel, a Doctor of the law asked that they put the
Apostles outside for a while. When they did, he warned the Council not to touch
the Apostles. He reminded the Council of Theudas who rose and about four
hundred people followed him. Then Theudas was killed and his followers
scattered. After that Judas, the Galilean also rose and many people followed
him. Gamaliel said Judas the Galilean also died and all his followers were
scattered.
According to Gamaliel, the High
Priest should leave them alone. He said if the movement was of men, then they
would fail but if it was of God, they could never stop it. If they tried to fight
it, they might be fighting against God. This advice pleased the Council and so
they asked the Apostles to come in.
The Apostles were beaten and
warned not to preach in the name of Jesus anymore. Then they freed them. The
Apostles left the council, happy that they too had suffered shame for the name
of Jesus.
Daily in the Temple and in the
house, they preached Jesus Christ.
TYPES OF OPPOSITION CONFRONTING
THE CHURCH TODAY
1. In some countries, Christians
are not allowed to preach publicly.
2. In some countries too church
buildings are not allowed to be sited everywhere.
3. Some Christians experience
persecution which sometimes leads to the destruction of lives and properties.
4. In some countries, Christians
suffer discrimination in employment opportunities and promotions in the public
service.
5. Christians are also
discriminated against in marriages and funeral ceremonies.
QUALITIES THAT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED
TO GAMALIEL
1. Gamaliel did not display any
form of fear in defending the Apostles. It makes him come out as a man of
courage.
2. He displayed a deep knowledge
of the history of his people as he referred to Theudas and Judas the Galilean.
3. Gamaliel did not support the
murder of the innocent Apostles. He comes across as someone who was God-fearing.
4. He hated any form of violence in the society
so he was also a man of peace.
5. He was tolerant so he allowed
the exercise of individual conviction.
SAMPLE QUESTION(S)
1. a. How did God use Gamaliel to
further the cause of Christianity in the early Church?
b. Mention any four types of opposition
confronting the church today.
2. a. How did Gamaliel save the
Apostles during their trial by the Sanhedrin?
b. Identify two qualities that can be attributed
to Gamaliel.
