Acts 5: 17-21a All the Apostles are arrested All the Apostles are rescued by God All the Apostles are to publicly testify

The Apostles were rescued by God, not simply to be kept safe…

but to be made “dangerous!”

Acts 5:20“Go, stand in the temple courts,”

he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.”

Jeremiah 20: 8-98 … “So the Word of the LORD has brought

me insult and reproach all day long.9 But if I say, “I will not mention His Word

or speak anymore in His Name,”His Word is in my heart like a fire,

a fire shut up in my bones.I am weary of holding it in;

indeed, I cannot.”

Acts 5: 21b-26 “The Case of the Missing Apostles” Jewish Leaders suspect “sympathizers” Apostles are found and re-arrested

Acts 5: 27-33 Apostles are questioned & threatened Peter speaks for the group, reminding them of their role in crucifying Jesus and that they must obey God… not them!

Acts 5: 33“When they heard this,

they were furious [cut to the heart]

and wanted to put them to death.”

Isaiah 30: 10-1110 They say to the seers “See no more

visions!” and to the prophets, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things,

prophesy illusions.11 Leave this way,

get off this path,and stop confronting us

with the Holy One of Israel!”

Just as Jesus Christ is the Head of His

Church, He also is its Protector &

Preserver. He sent the Holy Spirit to guide

and protect the Church…

using an unlikely ally to weather this early storm of persecution.

Acts 5: 34-39Pharisee leader

“Gamaliel the Elder”(Rabbi of Paul)

rationalizes with the Sanhedrin

and convinces them not to execute

the Apostles

Acts 5: 40-42Apostles are flogged and re-threatened

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Apostles rejoice in sharing in suffering

for Jesus’ sake-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

- Apostles testify in public & in private

Although the Church continued to testify publicly

about Jesus, persecution forces

the Church to begin going

“underground,” meeting in homes.

When Jesus Christ was arrested, the Apostles ran away and hid.Now… they stand boldly with Jesus and are blessed by supernatural joy as they “share in Christ’s sufferings.”

* 1 Peter 4: 12-16

We see from this story that

the early church was united in:

SalvationWitnessSuffering

Joy & Hope

We now prepare as“the Body of Christ”

to share in the Body & Blood of Christ,

united under Jesus.