5/15

Acts 5:38-39

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; ³⁹but 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.

Peter and John obeyed God, but in doing so they disobeyed the Jewish leadership. They continued to preach that salvation could only be found in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:12). They were arrested again and imprisoned. At night, an angel brought them out of the jail and ordered them to continue to preach the gospel message (Acts 5:20).

They were arrested again and brought before the council. Peter was as bold as ever, reiterating the fact that the council had killed the Messiah and that the God of their fathers had raised Him from the dead. The council was so angry at hearing this that, in spite of the miraculous jail break, they wanted to stone Peter and John.

Gamaliel reminded the council about several other movements that had stirred up the people but soon passed. If it wasn't of God, it would pass, too. But if God was in it, they had better not be found to be fighting God. It was a wake-up call to the council. They had seen Jesus crucified, but they knew His body wasn't in the grave. These "unlearned" disciples of Jesus were preaching with power and working miracles. The religious leaders had to decide if they really wanted to risk possibly opposing God.

Consider: Movements come and go, but what is of God will bear lasting fruit that cannot be denied. The world resists these movements, but no one can stop a move of God.