The Sanhedrin could not stop the Apostles from preaching the Gospel. They were quick to react against the preaching. They wanted to kill them. There was a Pharisee called Gamaliel. See Acts 22:3 – The Apostle Paul learned from this great teacher. The approach of Gamaliel was calm and logical. It may seem good advice. Yet his logic is lethal. His advice is really awful. He is a fence straddle. He sits on the fence. We are not to wait and see. We are to see and wait.

1 -They cause a deadly reaction (vs. 33)

They heard Peter’s words and were furious. They should have repented but they reacted in rebellion. It was as if they were cut in two. Their hate was so intense that they wanted to kill them all. What a deadly reaction to the Gospel!

They did not like that fact that the Apostles were popular with the crowds. They were jealous. They wanted to be popular with the people. The preaching of the Word of God will cut you up. It is a two-edged sword. The Bible is a powerful book. It will confront you. It will convict you. It will convert you! If it does not convert you then it will condemn you. You are condemned already if you are not converted. If you are converted then this Word will control you. In difficulties this Word will comfort you.

2 – The dangerous reasoning (vs. 34-38)

Two things are wrong:-

• It is a wrong comparison – He talks about to revolutionists. He is comparing the ministry of Christ with two rebels. Jesus is like another Jewish rebel. Jesus is not just another man. Jesus is not on a list to compare with anyone else. You cannot put Jesus Christ on a list with anyone else. No one else had a virgin birth. He lived a virtuous life – without sin. Who else can say this? His vicarious death was unique. He died for the sins of the world. His victorious resurrection from the dead. Has anybody else done this? Jesus arose from the dead and is still living. What about his visible ascension to Heaven? There is no one else like Jesus. Get off the fence!
• It is wrong prediction – He is predicting that the church is going to disband. No one has been able to stop God’s Church. Persecution and sin has not stopped God’s Church. You cannot destroy Christianity! There is no power on this earth that can destroy God’s Church.

3 – The determined restraint (vs. 38-39)

Two more things are wrong:-

• He is wrong in his neutrality – He wants to do nothing. They have a choice between life and death. They need to repent. They decide to do nothing. What about Jesus’ life and resurrection? What about the miracles by the Apostles? They decide to sit on the fence. They are not against them they are just going to ignore them. Too many people do that today. They are not against the Bible; they just choose to ignore it. They are sitting on the fence. It is the same outcome if you sit on the fence or do not go through the gate. If you do not accept Jesus Christ as Saviour you will die and go to Hell. You can only say “Yes” or “No” to Jesus. There is no neutrality.
• He is wrong in his philosophy – It sounds good. If it is not of God it will fail. They are lots of things in this world that succeeds without it being good. Remember the destruction of the “Twin Towers”. Remember the extermination of six million of Jews. You cannot judge whether something is godly on the basis of it succeeding or not. He says “If it is of God you cannot overthrow it” This is true ultimately. However, the world is not carrying out things according to God’s rules.

4 – The divine response (vs. 40-42)

They bring the Apostles in and beat them. They command them to not speak in the name of Jesus anymore. The Apostles come out praising the Lord! They have been threatened and beaten! They are glad! You can’t stop a child of God who is on fire for God.

They left there praising and preaching. They went straight back to preaching with increased fever. They could not keep it to themselves! They were not sitting on the fence. They went out and preached to the people the good news of Jesus Christ. Get off the fence! The fence straddler will not commit. They will come to church and not go any further than that. Get off the fence right now!

Categories: Acts