Fulfilling The Great Commission

1-21-2024

“Fulfilling The Great Commission!”

Acts 5:17-42

• At this point in the narrative, the Apostles are on fire! Holy Spirit Fire!

Jealousy!

Acts 5:17-18

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.

• The Sadducees were .

James 3:13-18

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵ This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

• Wisdom from above: Put off and .

Jailed and Freed!

Acts 5:19-26

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. ²⁵ And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” ²⁶ Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

• Interesting how they were so blinded by jealousy that they could not put

together the miracles that were happening and how they got out of jail…

• They were brought back “”

Who Do We Owe Our Obedience To?

Acts 5:27-32

²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, ²⁸ saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. ³¹ God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

• “We must obey God” is Peter’s response to the questioning. What is he being obedient to?
  • “We strictly charged you not to teach”… yes, but charged them to teach!
  • The Angel of the Lord
  • The “”

▪ Matthew 28:16-20

¹⁶ Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. ¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Deuteronomy 21:22

²² “And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put

to death, and you hang him on a tree, ²³ his body shall not remain all night

on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is

cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is

giving you for an inheritance

What the Jews meant for a curse; God meant for redemption!!!

Galatians 3:13

¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us – for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”

A Voice of Reason Appears

• Imagine who that may be in our Western culture.

Acts 5:33-39

³³ When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. ³⁴ But a

Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. ³⁶ For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 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 took his advice.

• When Gamaliel spoke, all the Sanhedrin listened.
  • He was gentle, , and spoke with
  • He spoke in a manner to convince the Sadducees.

Earthly Consequences of Obedience to God.

Acts 5:40-41

⁴⁰ and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

• Are we willing to endure earthly punishment for a Heavenly God?
• Do we rejoice in our suffering for the Gospel? Honestly??
• Do we think that because we suffer, we are not in God’s will?

Continued Fulfillment of the Great Commission

Acts 5:42

⁴² And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

• The full gospel message of resurrection and salvation through Jesus.
• Full knowledge and experience of the consequences would not keep them down!
  • !
  • Without cease!
  • Front and center
    • The Sadducees were still there!

Isaiah 53:4-5

⁴ Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him

punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our

transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Amen!