Persecution of Apostles
The
Passage: Acts 5:12-42
Structure:
a. 5:12-16, miracles and teaching of Apostles
b. 5:17-18,
Apostles arrested
c. 5:19-20,
Help by angel of the LORD
d. 5:21a,
Teaching by apostles
e. 5:21b,
High priests
f. 5:22-23,
Report of “police”
g. 5:24,
Captain of the Temple guard and high priests
f’.
5:25-26, Repost of others
e’. 5:27-28,
High priests
d’. 5:29-32,
Apology of apostles
c’. 5:33-39,
Help by Gamaliel
b’. 5:40,
Apostles dismissed
a’. 5:41-42,
Apostles proclaim Jesus the Messiah
Historical
and geographical context: The events of this passage happened in the Temple area. Solomon’s
Portico was NOT built by king Solomon (first Temple was destroyed 587 BC).
Apparently, the Temple also had a jail attached to it (5:17-18).
Theology:
Apostles do
signs and wonders. First, Jesus gave authority and power to the disciples for
performing signs and wonders at the first call (Mat. 10:5-8). Second, they
continue the ministry of Jesus (Mark 16:14-18). Third, even the false prophets
and false ministers can perform signs and wonders (Mat. 24:24). Therefore, the
miracles or special abilities do not testify to the integrity of the call from
God. The main part of the ministry is forgiveness of sins and reconciliation
with God and the others (5:42 – the ending bracket of the story).
Apostles
disappear from prison (5:19-21). First, it resembles the resurrection of Jesus –
regardless of the presence of the Roman guard He walked out of from the tomb.
Second, it happened in the middle of the night. One of many night events in the
Bible (Passover [Exodus], sleepless night of Ahasuerus [Esther 6], Nicodemus
[John 3], betrayal by Judas and arrest of Jesus [John 13:29-30]). Unlike Judas,
St. Peter and other apostles are not overcome by the darkness of night. It is
symbolically significant and chronologically accurate that they (the group as a
whole) came back to teach and preach at daybreak – being the bearers of
light.
High priest
(interesting, he remains un-named throughout the whole story) accuses the
disciples that they want “to bring this man’s blood upon us” (5:28). It is
important to see a connection between this phrase and claims of the crowd
during the Trial of Jesus (Mt 27:25).
Speech of
St. Peter gives an example of godly push-back. He presents the case of Jesus
with two witnesses – apostles and the Holy Spirit (cp. Deut. 17:6 and 19:15).
They claimed that Jesus is the “leader and Savior”. The word for leader lit.
means someone who begins something or a founder (Bauer, p. 112). This reflects
Trinitarian theology and Christian teaching of Incarnation.
The wisdom
of Gamaliel. He is a historic figure. The texts of Judaism attribute to him
many important theological perspectives on Creation (Genesis Rabbah 4:7, 6:3,
14:5). Regardless his Christological preferences, in Acts he gives a wise
advice to the “council” [cp. Sanhedrin when we talked about ch. 4]. His advice
expresses a trust in the LORD who can and
will carry out His plans. On the other hand, human endeavors are doomed to fail
(cp. 1000-year Reich, USSR etc.).
Suffering
for Jesus’ sake. Apostles rejoiced in the fact that they suffered for the sake
of the name of Jesus. The modern Western world doesn’t like the idea of
suffering. Life should be positive and sense-pleasing. Together with apostles
we need to re-learn that “in Baptism, our suffering, broken, sinful bodies are
joined to Christ’s suffering, dying, and risen body, and in this communion with
his flesh, we share in his suffering, death, and resurrection.” [Arthur Just,
CTQ 83:3-4, p.252] (also, Mt. 5:10; 1 Pet. 3:13-17, 18-22)
Other
themes:
Theology of
day and night (v.18-19) + apostles come at the daybreak (cp. With Jacob the wrestler,
and Judah who walks into the night)
Shadow
impact.
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