“Imprisoned For Preaching”
“As they
were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to
them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and
proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on
them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.”
(v.1-3)
Our text
is a continuation of chapter 3 where we saw Peter (after healing 40-year-old
man lame from birth) turn to the crowd and deliver a scolding message in
Solomon’s Porch. His message that day accused all Israel of; delivering up
Jesus to Pilate (v.13), denying Him (v.14), requesting a murderer be released
(v.14), and consulting to the murder of Jesus whom God raised from the dead
(v.15). Peter went on to declare in chapter 3 that both he and John were
witnesses to this and all Israel should repent of their sins (v.19).
Here in
chapter 4 we see the religious authorities (Sadducees) did not take kindly to
this and threw them both in jail. The Sadducees were particularly offended in
two ways; 1) by the teaching of the resurrection, which they denied and 2) the
fact that both Peter and John were, “lay people” instructing the masses who
were clearly responding (v.4). After all, they (Sadducees) were the ones who
acted on God’s behalf and spoke with His authority and could not imagine by
what power or authority Peter and John were drawing from.
We should be encouraged by Peter and John's example. Being
an effective witness does not require going to seminary! The most essential
qualification for evangelism is available to every believer—reliance upon the
Holy Spirit. Although a seminary degree is certainly appropriate for some
ministries, God is more than happy to use “untrained” individuals with willing
hearts.
The Truth
“But the
Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He
will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said
to you.” (John 14:26)
