Acts 5:38 - We are Witnesses
Acts 5:27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28) saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” 29) But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30) The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31)God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32) And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.
Introduction to The Acts of the Apostles: Sometime near the end of the first century A.D., after the fall of Jerusalem and before Paul’s letters were gathered and widely circulated, a dedicated Christian believer sat down to write an orderly account of the events of the early Christian movement from the birth of Jesus through the arrival of the gospel in Rome. This account was written in two parts. The first part we call the Gospel according to Luke. The second part we call the Acts of the Apostles. Acts is a theological history. That is to say, that the narrative is designed to carry truth and makes no pretense to historical objectivity. The events are told to reveal truth not to record independent history, even though many of the stories are, of course, historical. Acts is the only book in the New Testament that continues the story of Jesus’ work within the church and the apostles after his ascension. It is about the incredible work of God to spread the Gospel. It is not completely clear whether it was written to one individual, Theophilus (which means ‘lover of God’) or to a community of God lovers. What is clear is that it was written to try to put Christianity in a good light, particularly in the face of growing persecution by Roman authorities. Its purpose is to lift up and encourage the church. The early chapters give an amazing picture of the redemption and power of Peter after his denial of Jesus. Nearly half of the book centers on the trial and defense of Paul. Many scholars believe that it was written to defend Paul and help rehabilitate his image after being an early persecutor of the church. In addition, the work of the Holy Spirit occupies a major place in the book and shows how powerful cooperating with what the Spirit is doing can be.
Significant Issues in Chapter Five: If you study the writings of Luke alongside those of Paul, you will notice differences. One of those differences had to do with Luke’s acceptance and celebration of spiritual phenomena such as healings or other ecstatic or supernatural experiences, and Paul’s reservations about them. Whether you embrace those unique stories like Luke, or find them discomfiting like Paul, they are given to us for a reason, and each has an important truth to teach. Chapter 5 of Acts contains some doozies. It begins with a rather grim story of the sudden death of two duplicitous members of the faith community, Ananias and Saphira, who are struck dead when their deception is discovered. This is followed by so many dramatic healings that people come to believe that if Peter’s shadow fell on them they would be healed. This was a bridge too far for the power elite in the Temple who arrest Peter and other disciples and put them in prison. Whereupon God miraculously breaks them out and they go right back to preaching. Today’s passage takes place when the disciples have been rounded up again and questioned about their refusal to obey the decrees of the council. The issue, at the heart of this brief passage, and a thorny one at that, is what is a believers’ responsibility to abide by an unjust law. In other words, who really rules us?
Word Study
Vs. 27 – Council – this probably refers to the governing council, the Sanhedrin. This council consisted of 71 men who were prominent members of the families of the chief priest, elders and scribes. They ordinarily pronounced sentences on violations of Jewish law but had also been given certain rights by the Roman rulers to preside over cases that had to do with order and disorder in the community. They could even pronounce the death penalty subject to Roman review.
Vs. 28 - Gave strict orders – this phrase translates one word that means to announce, to give the word or to order from a superior to a subject or inferior.
To teach – didasko – This word means to instruct by word of mouth in such a way as to influence the understanding of the one taught in such a way that what is taught is then assimilated into the learners life and moral actions.
This name – refers to Jesus in whose name the disciples are teaching. To teach in the name is to stand as that person speaking. It is like an ambassador who acts as the country represented.
Man’s – there is an only thinly veiled insult here. The word is a generic word for human being as distinct from gods or animals. In the New Testament it is usually used to indicate a sinful man.
Blood – blood was sacred to the ancestors. It was believed that one’s essence and very life resided in the blood. That was why it was seen as dangerous and unclean. To have Jesus’ blood on them, figuratively of course, was both a shame and a sin itself.
Vs. 30 – raised up – literally to wake up.
Vs. 31 - His right hand – this was the place of highest honor.
Leader – this is the word for founder, leader or first prince.
Repentance – metanoia – This word refers to the experience of having a primal change of mind or world view such that one changes one’s behavior and orientation toward the world.
Forgiveness – aphesis – This means to release, to send away, to cause to stand again.
Sins – hamartia – this means to miss the mark.
Vs. 32 – witnesses – martus – This beautiful word literally means the one who remembers or the one who has personally informed knowledge.
Things – rhema – the refers to the word or substance of a thing. It often denotes an all-powerful command of God.
Questions for Reflection
- What do you think about the notion of civil disobedience, that is, resisting a secular law on the grounds of a higher good or command? How does one decide when such a thing is necessary? What kind of accountability is needed?
- In what ways do you ‘teach in Jesus’ name’? Are there ways to do that in addition to words?
- What is your story with Jesus? Take a moment to think of times in which you felt led, inspired, corrected, strengthened by him.
- The text today links the experience of the Holy Spirit with obedience in ‘story telling.’ Have you ever noticed and increase in your sense of Spirit power when you shared your faith in some way? Have you noticed that in others?