July 27, 2020, Psalms 137, Acts 5 Continued...

Psalms 137

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.

There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; 

(I love that the writer calls them songs of joy; Israel rejoiced in God. But what is joy without God? What is songs of joy without God? It is just noise.)

They said, "sing to us one of the songs of Zion!

How can we sing the songs of the Lord in a foreign land?

If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.

May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not considered Jerusalem my highest joy. 

(The joy was in the land; I love Israel's love for Jerusalem).

Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. 

"Tear it down, they cried, tear it down to its foundations!

Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who repays you according to what you have done to us. 

Happy is the one who seizes your infants

and dashes them against the rocks.

The Apostles Persecuted

Acts 5 cont....

Then the High priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducee's, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. Go, stand in the temple courts, he said, and tell the people all about this new life.

At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. 

When The high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin-the full assembly of elders of Israel-and sent to the jail for the apostles. 

But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, we found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside. On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.  

Then someone came and said, "Look! the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people. At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, they feared that people would stone them.

The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 

The Sanhedrin

The Sanhedrin was the final authority on Jewish law, and any scholar who went against its decisions was put to death as a rebellious elder. Caiaphas was the high priest or president of the Sanhedrin at the time of Jesus' trial and execution.

The Sanhedrin was a council of 71 individuals, around the time of Christ, that was comprised of Pharisees and Sadducees who governed the Jewish nation while under the rule of Rome. It often served as a court to settle legal and religious matters.

We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, he said, "yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood. 

Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than human beings!

The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead-whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. 

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and order that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 

Peter speaks the truth but it makes them furious. What do you think is the basis of their anger? 

Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and lead a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 

But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. 

(A tough saying but it is awesome to know that if you are obeying God's purpose or command; who can be against you (or we could say who can stop you). 

They hope that the gospel is nothing but it is something. Something big!

His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. They ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name, Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. 

Have a wonderful day!

Something good to think on.... the gospel cannot be stopped. God's purpose cannot be stopped and only a fool will fight against God.