Phillip Didn’t Take an Uber. Part [4] 09/07/2024 (Morning thought)

Acts 5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, which is the sect of Sadducees and were filled with indignation, 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

After the day of Pentecost, when The Holy Spirit was poured out upon the people, efforts were made by those in authority, to stop the preaching of truth. It backfired signally, for God took it personally, and He sent angels from heaven to make direct intervention into the human experience. The apostles were then incarcerated for preaching Christ, but God sent an angel to open up the prison doors, and let the captives free, so that they could continue their God-given work.

Acts 5:19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people  all the words of this life. 21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

The nature of the intervention must now be closely studied, for the human agent recoils from admitting the raw facts in the matter. Let’s then pay very close attention to what transpires in the following verses, for history will certainly be repeated in the not-too- distant future. The angel who came to set them free did so in ways that the enemies of the gospel would hardly admit to.

Acts 5:22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told, 23 Saying, the prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!

Phillip Didn’t Take an Uber. Part [3] 09/07/2024 (Evening thought)

Acts 5: 38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel, or this work be of men, it will come to naught. 39 But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it; lest haply you be found even to fight against God.

This is what the spiritual leaders, and the politicians of old found out the hard way, for efforts to stop the spread of the true gospel, meant essentially to pick a fight with God Himself. And this is something you never want to do. Nations may choose to pick a fight with Russia, Iran, or China, but when it comes to picking a fight with God, you will lose even before the fight begins.

As a matter of fact, if you can’t win them, you are better off joining them as the saying goes. This is what had taken place just after the day of Pentecost. Concerted efforts were made by those in authority to stop the spread of the gospel, as the apostles in Jerusalem were hunted down by Saul. The Lord’s   servants were jailed, beaten, threatened, punished, ostracized, marginalized, fined and killed, and yet the gospel continued to spread like wild fire.

Acts 8:1 And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere, preaching the word.

Acts 8:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecute thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecute: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!