A Perplexing Problem

 

Acts 5:17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 

This chapter opens with the account of Ananias and Sapphira, trying to trick the apostles (and God) about how much they received from selling land and giving the proceeds to the ministry of the church. Their lie was no match for the Holy Spirit or the apostles whom He filled and directed. The incident was no problem. The ones who did have the problem were the Council of religious leaders. Every day the twelve would go to the temple and preach the good news of Christ and heal in His name, even though they had been warned to cease and desist such activity. The council tried putting them in prison, but the Holy Spirit delivered them.  The passage goes on to say there was much debate about what to do with them.  Some wanted to kill them; others wanted to wipe out the church.  But the church had already become too popular for the people to allow such things, let alone any reaction brought by Rome if there was too much commotion. Wiser heads gave counsel, giving examples of similar movements which had just fizzled out, saying: 

38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!”  So they did, beating them, warning them not to do it again, then sending them away.  But as we will see, the movement did not go away, but grew and remains today.