WEBVTT

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 Acts chapter 5 verses 12 to 42.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word.

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 Heavenly Father, we confess that

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 we find ourselves sometimes

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 in our sinfulness,

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 vying for supremacy with you.

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 Instead of seeking to be conformed to your will,

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 we want you to consecrate and put a stamp of approval

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 on our will.

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 We,

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 even when

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 ostensibly seeking to do your service,

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 often promote ourselves,

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 seek to preserve ourselves.

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 But Lord, we want to be aligned more closely with your purposes.

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 We want to be on your side.

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 To obey you at all costs.

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 So teach us, Lord.

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 Speak to us in your Word.

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 That we might do so more and more.

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 In Jesus' name we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Let's read Acts chapter 5, 12 to 42.

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 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles,

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 and they were all together in Solomon's portico.

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 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.

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 And more than ever, believers were added to the Lord,

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 multitudes of both men and women,

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 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats,

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 that as Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.

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 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem,

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 bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits,

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 and they were all healed.

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 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him,

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 that is the party of the Sadducees,

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 and filled with jealousy,

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 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.

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 But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors

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 and brought them out and said,

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 Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.

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 And when they heard this,

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 they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

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 Now, when the high priest came and those who were with him,

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 they called together the council,

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 all the senate of the people of Israel,

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 and sent to the prison to have them brought.

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 But when the officers came,

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 they did not find them in the prison,

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 so they returned and reported.

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 We found the prison securely locked

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 and the guards standing at the doors,

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 but when we opened them, we found no one inside.

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 Now, when the captain of the temple

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 and the chief priests heard these words,

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 they were greatly perplexed about them,

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 wondering what this would come to.

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 And someone came and told them,

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 Look, the men whom you put in prison

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 are standing in the temple and teaching the people.

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 And the captain with the officers went and brought them,

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 but not by force,

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 for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

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 And when they had brought them,

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 they set them before the council,

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 and the high priest questioned them,

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 saying,

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 We strictly charge you not to teach in this name,

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 and yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching,

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 and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

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 But Peter and the apostles answered,

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 We must obey God rather than men.

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 The God of our fathers raised Jesus,

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 whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.

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 God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior

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 to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

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 And we are witnesses to these things.

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 And so is the Holy Spirit,

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 whom God has given to those who obey him.

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 When they heard this,

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 they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

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 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel,

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 a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people,

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 stood up and gave orders to put the man outside for a little while.

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 And he said to them,

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 Men of Israel,

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 take care of what you are about to do with these men.

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 For before these days,

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 Theodos rose up,

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 claiming to be somebody.

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 And a number of men, about 400, joined him.

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 He was killed,

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 and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.

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 After him,

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 Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census

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 and drew away some of the people after him.

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 He too perished,

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 and all who followed him were scattered.

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 So in the present case,

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 I tell you,

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 keep away from these men and let them alone.

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 For if this plan or this undertaking is of man,

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 it will fail.

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 But if it is of God,

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 you will not be able to overthrow them.

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 You might even be found opposing God.

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 So they took his advice,

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 and when they had called in the apostles,

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 they beat them

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 and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus

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 and let them go.

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 Then they left the presence of the council,

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 rejoicing that they were counted worthy

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 to suffer dishonor for the name.

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 And every day,

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 in the temple

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 and from house to house,

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 they did not cease teaching and preaching

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 that the Christ

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 is

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 Jesus.

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 This is God's holy

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 and authoritative word.

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 In Joshua 5,

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 13 to 15,

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 just before

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 God's miraculous conquest

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 of the heavily fortified Jericho,

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 there is this interesting dialogue

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 between Joshua

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 and the commander of the Lord's army.

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 He says,

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 When Joshua was by Jericho,

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 he lifted up his eyes

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 and looked,

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 and behold,

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 a man was standing before him

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 with his drawn sword in his hand.

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 And Joshua went to him

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 and said to him,

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 Are you for us

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 or for our adversaries?

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 And he said,

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 No,

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 but I am the commander

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 of the army of the Lord.

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 Now I have come.

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 And Joshua fell on his face

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 to the earth

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 and worshipped

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 and said to him,

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 What does my Lord say

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 to his servant?

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 And the commander

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 of the Lord's army

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 said to Joshua,

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 Take off your sandals

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 from your feet

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 for the place

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 where you are standing

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 is holy.

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 It's a fascinating dialogue

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 because Joshua asks,

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 Are you for us

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 or against us?

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 But the angel responds,

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 No,

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 for I am the commander

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 of the army of the Lord.

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 He doesn't say,

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 Well, I'm for you.

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 He says,

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 No,

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 but I am the commander

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 of the army of the Lord.

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 We live in a very partisan world.

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 And us versus them

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 attitude pervades

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 our culture,

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 our society.

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 And people are eager

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 to co-opt God

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 for their own agendas.

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 But the Lord of heaven's armies

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 will not be reduced

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 to a pawn in our own battles.

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 He has his own purposes

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 and priorities

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 that he is sovereignly

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 working out.

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 So it is said

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 that during the American Civil War

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 when someone asked

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 President Abraham Lincoln

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 if he believed

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 that God was on his side,

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 Lincoln replied,

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 Sir,

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 my concern is not

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 whether God is on our side.

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 My greatest concern

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 is to be on God's side

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 for God is always right.

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 Instead of asking ourselves,

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 how can I use the Bible

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 to support my opinion,

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 we should ask,

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 is my opinion biblical?

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 Instead of asking,

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 is God on our side,

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 we should ask,

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 are we on God's side?

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 In Acts 5,

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 we see a struggle

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 between two Jewish factions,

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 the Jews,

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 led by the high priest

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 and the Sanhedrin,

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 and then the Jewish Christians,

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 led by the twelve apostles.

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 There is a struggle

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 for authority

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 and jurisdiction,

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 for the right to speak

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 and teach the Jews

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 in Jerusalem,

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 but Luke makes it

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 very clear in this passage

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 that while the Christians

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 are on God's side,

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 that the Jews find themselves

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 in opposition to God.

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 And the main point

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 of this passage

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 is that even when

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 opposed by men,

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 we must obey God

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 and preach Christ.

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 That's the main point.

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 We are going to explore

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 that main point

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 by looking at profiles

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 of three different

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 groups of people.

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 First, the odd people.

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 Second, the jealous leaders.

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 And third, finally,

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 the joyful witnesses

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 of Jesus.

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 So let's look at

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 the odd people.

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 In the preceding passage,

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 we saw God's judgment

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 of Ananias and Sapphira,

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 and that struck great fear

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 into people's hearts

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 so that they learned

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 that God was not a person

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 to trifle with.

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 And verses 12 to 16

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 is Luke's summary

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 of the aftermath

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 of that event,

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 how the church

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 continued to grow.

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 He says in verses 12 to 13,

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 Now many signs and wonders

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 were regularly done

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 among the people

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 by the hands of the apostles,

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 and they were all together

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 in Solomon's portico.

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 None of the rest

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 dared join them,

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 but the people

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 held them in high esteem.

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 So the gathered believers

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 earlier prayed

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 in chapter 4

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 for boldness,

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 and they asked God

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 to continue to stretch out

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 His mighty hand

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 to heal and to perform

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 signs and wonders.

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 And so we're seeing

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 an answer to that prayer here,

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 because many signs

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 were done regularly

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 among the people

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 by the hands of the apostles.

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 And these signs and wonders

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 included healings

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 and exorcisms.

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 And even to non-Christian

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 onlookers,

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 it was obvious

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 that something supernatural

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 and spiritual

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 was happening

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 among the Christians.

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 And so that,

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 it says,

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 none of the rest

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 dared join them,

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 but the people

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 held them in high esteem.

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 People were awed

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 by the Spirit-filled church.

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 They took the Christians

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 seriously

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 and respected them.

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 They didn't treat

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 the church

00:11:08.020 --> 00:11:09.620
 with snarky condescension

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 or casual dismissiveness.

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 They couldn't

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 because the hand of God

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 worked so powerfully

00:11:17.500 --> 00:11:18.300
 among the church.

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 So many of them

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 did not dare

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 to join the gathering

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 of believers.

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 Verses 14 to 16

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 continue this summary

00:11:27.040 --> 00:11:27.960
 of the church's growth.

00:11:28.080 --> 00:11:28.220
 It says,

00:11:28.340 --> 00:11:29.159
 And more than ever,

00:11:29.899 --> 00:11:30.659
 believers were added

00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:31.240
 to the Lord,

00:11:31.680 --> 00:11:33.279
 multitudes of both men

00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:33.940
 and women,

00:11:34.259 --> 00:11:34.940
 so that they even

00:11:34.940 --> 00:11:35.960
 carried out the sick

00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:36.879
 into the streets

00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:38.240
 and laid them on cots

00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:38.820
 and mats.

00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:40.660
 That as Peter came

00:11:40.659 --> 00:11:41.360
 by it,

00:11:41.899 --> 00:11:43.100
 that as Peter came by,

00:11:43.199 --> 00:11:43.980
 at least his shadow

00:11:43.980 --> 00:11:45.100
 might fall on some of them.

00:11:45.839 --> 00:11:46.439
 And the people who,

00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:47.839
 people also gathered

00:11:47.839 --> 00:11:48.419
 from the towns

00:11:48.419 --> 00:11:49.079
 around Jerusalem,

00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:49.879
 bringing the sick

00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:50.600
 and those afflicted

00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:51.459
 with unclean spirits,

00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:52.839
 and they were all healed.

00:11:53.360 --> 00:11:54.480
 So we see here

00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:55.659
 an explosive growth

00:11:55.659 --> 00:11:56.120
 of the church.

00:11:56.219 --> 00:11:56.819
 We were told that

00:11:56.819 --> 00:11:57.419
 the church grew

00:11:57.419 --> 00:11:58.919
 to 3,000 in chapter 2,

00:11:58.959 --> 00:11:59.480
 verse 41,

00:12:00.039 --> 00:12:01.339
 and then to 5,000

00:12:01.339 --> 00:12:02.000
 in chapter 4,

00:12:02.059 --> 00:12:02.639
 verse 4.

00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:03.919
 And so thousands

00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:04.620
 of people have been

00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:05.199
 coming to faith,

00:12:05.299 --> 00:12:05.879
 but now it says

00:12:05.879 --> 00:12:06.699
 in verse 14,

00:12:06.839 --> 00:12:07.899
 even more than that,

00:12:07.899 --> 00:12:09.000
 more than ever,

00:12:09.439 --> 00:12:10.199
 believers were added

00:12:10.199 --> 00:12:10.699
 to the Lord.

00:12:12.959 --> 00:12:14.439
 And because the gathering

00:12:14.439 --> 00:12:15.299
 of the believers

00:12:15.299 --> 00:12:16.259
 at Solomon's portico

00:12:16.259 --> 00:12:17.059
 had ballooned

00:12:17.059 --> 00:12:18.139
 to such a size,

00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:19.299
 it was increasingly

00:12:19.299 --> 00:12:20.399
 difficult for people

00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:22.079
 to get a personal audience

00:12:22.079 --> 00:12:22.939
 from Peter

00:12:22.939 --> 00:12:23.919
 and the apostles.

00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:25.799
 So some people

00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:26.399
 resorted to

00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:27.659
 superstitious practices

00:12:27.659 --> 00:12:28.799
 of laying out

00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:29.980
 the sick on the street,

00:12:30.539 --> 00:12:31.579
 on cots and mats,

00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:32.279
 so that as Peter

00:12:32.279 --> 00:12:32.840
 came by,

00:12:32.919 --> 00:12:33.939
 at least his shadow

00:12:33.939 --> 00:12:35.019
 might fall on

00:12:35.019 --> 00:12:35.579
 some of them.

00:12:37.659 --> 00:12:39.899
 Since this passage

00:12:39.899 --> 00:12:41.340
 distinguishes people,

00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:42.500
 which refers

00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:43.620
 to the general population,

00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:44.579
 from believers,

00:12:45.199 --> 00:12:46.120
 and Luke typically

00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:47.259
 uses the word people

00:12:47.259 --> 00:12:48.899
 to refer to the general public

00:12:48.899 --> 00:12:49.759
 and not specifically

00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:50.379
 to believers,

00:12:51.019 --> 00:12:51.840
 it's likely that

00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:52.460
 the people who are

00:12:52.460 --> 00:12:53.179
 bringing the sick

00:12:53.179 --> 00:12:54.059
 out to the streets

00:12:54.059 --> 00:12:55.879
 for Peter's shadows

00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:56.500
 to pass by

00:12:56.500 --> 00:12:57.460
 are not believers,

00:12:57.980 --> 00:12:59.100
 but sympathizers

00:12:59.100 --> 00:13:00.439
 who are interested

00:13:00.439 --> 00:13:01.620
 in what's going on

00:13:01.620 --> 00:13:02.559
 among the Christians

00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:03.539
 and want a piece

00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:04.199
 of the miracles

00:13:04.200 --> 00:13:05.560
 that are taking place.

00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:08.400
 It's clear that God

00:13:08.400 --> 00:13:09.900
 was doing extraordinary

00:13:09.900 --> 00:13:11.120
 miracles through the apostles.

00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:12.360
 Later in Acts 19,

00:13:12.560 --> 00:13:13.840
 we see sick people

00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:14.400
 get healed

00:13:14.400 --> 00:13:15.420
 by just touching

00:13:15.420 --> 00:13:16.900
 even the handkerchiefs

00:13:16.900 --> 00:13:17.940
 and aprons

00:13:17.940 --> 00:13:18.980
 that Paul had touched.

00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:21.740
 But in this instance,

00:13:22.040 --> 00:13:23.200
 Luke doesn't tell us

00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:23.780
 whether or not

00:13:23.780 --> 00:13:24.640
 people were actually

00:13:24.640 --> 00:13:26.000
 healed by Peter's shadow.

00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:28.480
 But the fact that

00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:29.960
 people went to such an extent

00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:31.040
 as to hope that

00:13:31.040 --> 00:13:32.200
 even Peter's shadow

00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:33.220
 might fall on them

00:13:33.220 --> 00:13:34.220
 to heal the sick

00:13:34.220 --> 00:13:36.200
 shows that their expectation

00:13:36.200 --> 00:13:37.820
 for powerful miracles

00:13:37.820 --> 00:13:38.500
 of God

00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:39.879
 was at a fever pitch.

00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:43.139
 Luke is demonstrating

00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:45.379
 the extraordinary growth

00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:46.200
 and popularity

00:13:46.200 --> 00:13:47.120
 of the church

00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:47.879
 during those days.

00:13:49.160 --> 00:13:50.139
 And not only did people

00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:50.800
 put out the sick

00:13:50.800 --> 00:13:51.639
 out on the streets,

00:13:52.180 --> 00:13:53.720
 people from outside

00:13:53.720 --> 00:13:54.200
 of Jerusalem,

00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:55.300
 from the surrounding towns,

00:13:55.379 --> 00:13:56.480
 the countryside of Judea

00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:57.340
 were now also

00:13:57.340 --> 00:13:58.220
 bringing the sick

00:13:58.220 --> 00:13:59.360
 and those afflicted

00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:00.220
 with unclean spirits

00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:01.700
 and they were all healed.

00:14:02.980 --> 00:14:04.040
 The word is now

00:14:04.040 --> 00:14:05.720
 spreading beyond Jerusalem

00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:06.860
 so people are making

00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:08.480
 long treks to get there

00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:10.519
 in hopes,

00:14:11.300 --> 00:14:12.120
 in faith,

00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:14.560
 that God will heal them.

00:14:15.700 --> 00:14:16.660
 This is a period

00:14:16.660 --> 00:14:17.399
 of great revival

00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:18.139
 for the church

00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:19.460
 and God did heal

00:14:19.460 --> 00:14:21.040
 all those who came

00:14:21.040 --> 00:14:22.620
 in those ways in faith.

00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:25.899
 So that's the odd people.

00:14:26.899 --> 00:14:27.500
 Now, but whenever

00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:28.360
 the Spirit of God

00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:29.779
 is powerfully at work,

00:14:29.940 --> 00:14:31.440
 Satan always tries

00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:32.320
 to undermine

00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:33.200
 and discredit

00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:33.759
 that work.

00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:36.159
 Whether it's through

00:14:36.159 --> 00:14:37.039
 internal discord

00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:37.659
 like we saw

00:14:37.659 --> 00:14:39.179
 with Ananias and Sapphira

00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:40.560
 or in this case

00:14:40.560 --> 00:14:41.860
 with external pressure.

00:14:43.159 --> 00:14:44.379
 So goodwill

00:14:44.379 --> 00:14:45.060
 and favor

00:14:45.060 --> 00:14:45.779
 among people

00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:46.919
 and ill will

00:14:46.919 --> 00:14:47.779
 and persecution

00:14:47.779 --> 00:14:48.720
 from people

00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:50.299
 are not mutually exclusive.

00:14:50.299 --> 00:14:52.740
 And often they occur

00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:53.779
 side by side.

00:14:55.839 --> 00:14:56.959
 In this case,

00:14:57.399 --> 00:14:57.899
 the persecution

00:14:57.899 --> 00:14:59.099
 is driven by the leaders

00:14:59.099 --> 00:15:00.019
 of the Jewish community.

00:15:00.139 --> 00:15:01.759
 It says in verses 17 to 18,

00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:03.199
 But the high priest

00:15:03.199 --> 00:15:03.779
 rose up

00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:04.899
 and all who were with him,

00:15:05.019 --> 00:15:05.639
 that is the party

00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:06.439
 of the Sadducees,

00:15:06.659 --> 00:15:08.779
 and filled with jealousy,

00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:10.240
 they arrested

00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:11.299
 the apostles

00:15:11.299 --> 00:15:12.019
 and put them

00:15:12.019 --> 00:15:13.500
 in the public prison.

00:15:17.339 --> 00:15:18.240
 We were introduced

00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.079
 to the Sadducees

00:15:19.079 --> 00:15:20.259
 early in chapter 4.

00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:21.740
 They were a Jewish sect

00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:23.159
 much like the Pharisees,

00:15:23.259 --> 00:15:24.259
 but there were key differences

00:15:24.259 --> 00:15:24.899
 between them.

00:15:25.799 --> 00:15:27.639
 Sadducees did not believe

00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:28.719
 in the resurrection of the dead

00:15:28.719 --> 00:15:29.939
 as the Pharisees did.

00:15:30.439 --> 00:15:31.240
 And the Sadducees,

00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:31.919
 it appears,

00:15:32.579 --> 00:15:33.639
 were more powerful

00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:35.359
 in Jerusalem itself.

00:15:35.839 --> 00:15:36.899
 It seems like

00:15:36.899 --> 00:15:37.719
 they were the dominant

00:15:37.719 --> 00:15:40.539
 party within the Sanhedrin.

00:15:41.939 --> 00:15:42.939
 And it says

00:15:42.939 --> 00:15:43.959
 that they were filled

00:15:43.959 --> 00:15:45.139
 with jealousy.

00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:49.080
 John 11, 47 to 48,

00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:50.080
 in there,

00:15:50.139 --> 00:15:51.039
 the Jewish council

00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:52.220
 discuss among themselves

00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:53.500
 what to do with Jesus.

00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:54.100
 And they say,

00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:55.500
 What are we to do?

00:15:55.580 --> 00:15:56.439
 For this man

00:15:56.439 --> 00:15:57.879
 performs many signs.

00:15:58.299 --> 00:15:58.919
 If we let him

00:15:58.919 --> 00:15:59.819
 go on like this,

00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:00.960
 everyone will believe

00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:01.539
 in him.

00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:02.559
 And the Romans

00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:03.759
 will come and take away

00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:04.840
 both our place

00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:05.559
 and our nation.

00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:07.779
 So a similar dynamic

00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:08.580
 is at work here.

00:16:08.580 --> 00:16:10.139
 The apostles declared

00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:11.200
 the resurrection of Jesus

00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:11.900
 from the dead,

00:16:12.020 --> 00:16:13.379
 which contradicted

00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:14.420
 the Sadducees'

00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:15.580
 doctrinal belief

00:16:15.580 --> 00:16:16.720
 that there is no

00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.720
 resurrection of the dead.

00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:19.420
 The apostles

00:16:19.420 --> 00:16:20.720
 were gaining a following.

00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:21.940
 The Church of Christ

00:16:21.940 --> 00:16:23.680
 was growing like never before,

00:16:24.040 --> 00:16:24.560
 which means,

00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.780
 especially at this point

00:16:25.780 --> 00:16:26.820
 when most of the converts

00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:28.240
 are Jewish converts,

00:16:29.040 --> 00:16:30.860
 they're siphoning adherents

00:16:30.860 --> 00:16:33.220
 away from the Jewish leaders,

00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:34.320
 from the Sanhedrin,

00:16:35.020 --> 00:16:35.940
 from the Sadducees.

00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:38.660
 And if the Jewish leaders

00:16:38.660 --> 00:16:39.780
 lose their clout

00:16:39.780 --> 00:16:40.980
 among the Jewish people,

00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:42.300
 then they are at risk

00:16:42.300 --> 00:16:43.000
 of having their

00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:43.980
 political power,

00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:45.140
 authority taken away

00:16:45.140 --> 00:16:46.380
 by the Romans as well.

00:16:47.040 --> 00:16:48.080
 And so they are

00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:49.600
 filled with jealousy

00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:51.420
 because they are

00:16:51.420 --> 00:16:52.140
 more concerned

00:16:52.140 --> 00:16:53.440
 with self-preservation

00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:55.780
 than God glorification.

00:16:57.560 --> 00:16:58.820
 They resent

00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.820
 the popularity

00:16:59.820 --> 00:17:00.520
 of the apostles.

00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:02.220
 And because of that,

00:17:02.260 --> 00:17:03.180
 they miss out

00:17:03.180 --> 00:17:04.120
 on the powerful work

00:17:04.120 --> 00:17:04.620
 of God

00:17:04.620 --> 00:17:05.580
 because they're

00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:06.599
 too preoccupied

00:17:06.599 --> 00:17:07.179
 with themselves.

00:17:09.539 --> 00:17:10.679
 So out of envy,

00:17:10.779 --> 00:17:11.539
 the Sadducees

00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:12.659
 arrest the apostles

00:17:12.659 --> 00:17:13.179
 and put them

00:17:13.179 --> 00:17:14.019
 in the public prison.

00:17:14.879 --> 00:17:15.599
 But it says

00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.619
 in verses 19 to 20,

00:17:16.819 --> 00:17:17.359
 during the night,

00:17:17.439 --> 00:17:18.220
 an angel of the Lord

00:17:18.220 --> 00:17:19.399
 opened the prison doors

00:17:19.399 --> 00:17:20.299
 and brought them out

00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:21.039
 and said,

00:17:21.139 --> 00:17:21.799
 go and stand

00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:22.299
 in the temple

00:17:22.299 --> 00:17:23.259
 and speak to the people

00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:24.059
 all the words

00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:24.679
 of this life.

00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:26.439
 So God intervenes

00:17:26.439 --> 00:17:27.500
 directly by

00:17:27.500 --> 00:17:28.460
 sending his angel

00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:29.119
 as a representative

00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:29.960
 to bring the apostles

00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:30.799
 out of prison.

00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:32.139
 And then he directly

00:17:32.139 --> 00:17:33.039
 contradicts

00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:33.740
 the Jewish leaders

00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:34.720
 strict charge

00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:36.400
 to not to speak

00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:37.240
 in the name of Jesus.

00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:39.600
 God gives the apostles

00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:40.440
 three commands.

00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:41.140
 Go,

00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:43.160
 stand in the temple,

00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:44.579
 and speak

00:17:44.579 --> 00:17:45.380
 to the people.

00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:47.980
 Just the day before,

00:17:48.059 --> 00:17:48.480
 the apostles

00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:49.279
 had been arrested

00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:50.579
 for speaking

00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:51.120
 to the people

00:17:51.120 --> 00:17:51.720
 about Jesus

00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:53.059
 in the temple.

00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:54.779
 But God tells them

00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:55.519
 to go back

00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:56.620
 to that very same

00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:57.380
 public setting

00:17:57.380 --> 00:17:58.259
 to stand up

00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:58.819
 and speak

00:17:58.819 --> 00:17:59.880
 to the people.

00:17:59.880 --> 00:18:03.140
 This might seem

00:18:03.140 --> 00:18:04.180
 foolhardy to us.

00:18:05.360 --> 00:18:07.260
 If our personal welfare

00:18:07.260 --> 00:18:08.540
 is the highest good

00:18:08.540 --> 00:18:09.480
 that we are seeking

00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:10.160
 to preserve,

00:18:11.160 --> 00:18:13.540
 this command

00:18:13.540 --> 00:18:14.260
 makes no sense

00:18:14.260 --> 00:18:14.760
 to us.

00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:17.540
 But if we understand

00:18:17.540 --> 00:18:18.600
 obedience to God

00:18:18.600 --> 00:18:19.780
 as our highest good,

00:18:20.620 --> 00:18:21.660
 if honoring God

00:18:21.660 --> 00:18:23.560
 is our higher priority

00:18:23.560 --> 00:18:24.740
 than preserving ourselves,

00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:25.920
 then this command

00:18:25.920 --> 00:18:26.480
 makes sense.

00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:29.319
 This is not to say

00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:30.279
 that every Christian

00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:30.940
 should deliberately

00:18:30.940 --> 00:18:31.620
 put themselves

00:18:31.620 --> 00:18:33.099
 in dangerous situations,

00:18:33.860 --> 00:18:35.460
 in persecuted places.

00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:38.019
 In Matthew 10, 23,

00:18:38.200 --> 00:18:38.880
 Jesus says,

00:18:39.160 --> 00:18:40.180
 when they persecute you

00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:41.000
 in one town,

00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:42.099
 flee to the next.

00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:44.839
 So later,

00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:45.579
 it says in Acts

00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:46.400
 chapter 14,

00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:47.059
 5 to 6,

00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:48.299
 that when both Gentiles

00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:48.759
 and Jews

00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:49.559
 with their rulers

00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:50.019
 were seeking

00:18:50.019 --> 00:18:50.980
 to stone Paul

00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:51.680
 and Barnabas,

00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:52.759
 they learned of it

00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:53.500
 and fled

00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:54.559
 to Lystra

00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:55.259
 and Derbe.

00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:57.539
 However,

00:18:57.619 --> 00:18:58.240
 still later,

00:18:58.359 --> 00:18:59.240
 in Acts 21,

00:18:59.559 --> 00:19:00.319
 when a prophet

00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:01.139
 warns Paul

00:19:01.139 --> 00:19:02.159
 that he will be bound

00:19:02.159 --> 00:19:02.819
 and imprisoned

00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:04.440
 if he goes to Jerusalem

00:19:04.440 --> 00:19:05.700
 and the Christians

00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:06.299
 in Caesarea

00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:07.359
 urge him not

00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.099
 to go to Jerusalem,

00:19:08.279 --> 00:19:09.039
 Paul answers,

00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:10.119
 I am ready

00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:11.399
 not only to be imprisoned

00:19:11.399 --> 00:19:12.359
 but even to die

00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:12.879
 in Jerusalem

00:19:12.879 --> 00:19:13.359
 for the name

00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:14.039
 of the Lord Jesus.

00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.799
 And he goes there anyway.

00:19:17.099 --> 00:19:18.019
 So there isn't

00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:19.500
 a one-size-fits-all

00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:20.279
 biblical answer

00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:21.039
 to whether or not

00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:21.700
 Christians should

00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:22.599
 flee persecution

00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:23.599
 and continue

00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:24.279
 to proclaim

00:19:24.279 --> 00:19:24.959
 the gospel

00:19:24.959 --> 00:19:25.619
 where they are.

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.959
 It seems that

00:19:27.959 --> 00:19:29.000
 in certain specific

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.719
 situations,

00:19:29.899 --> 00:19:30.959
 God calls some

00:19:30.959 --> 00:19:31.439
 Christians

00:19:31.439 --> 00:19:32.659
 to stay

00:19:32.659 --> 00:19:34.359
 in spite of persecution

00:19:34.359 --> 00:19:35.379
 to continue

00:19:35.379 --> 00:19:35.980
 to proclaim

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.459
 the gospel,

00:19:37.459 --> 00:19:38.759
 even at great

00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.379
 personal risk

00:19:39.379 --> 00:19:39.879
 to themselves.

00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:41.740
 And that's what

00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:42.419
 God does here

00:19:42.419 --> 00:19:43.379
 in Acts chapter 5.

00:19:44.719 --> 00:19:45.500
 And the apostles

00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:46.379
 are not permitted

00:19:46.379 --> 00:19:47.240
 to sugarcoat

00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:47.799
 the message

00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.799
 or to speak only

00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:49.799
 of the things

00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:50.699
 that were acceptable

00:19:50.699 --> 00:19:52.039
 to their persecutors

00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:52.920
 because the angel

00:19:52.920 --> 00:19:53.259
 of the Lord

00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:53.879
 says clearly

00:19:53.879 --> 00:19:54.539
 in verse 20,

00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:55.659
 speak to the people

00:19:55.659 --> 00:19:57.059
 all the words

00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:57.740
 of this life.

00:19:59.960 --> 00:20:00.680
 The words

00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:01.240
 of this life

00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:02.339
 refer to the words

00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:02.980
 of Jesus.

00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:05.359
 Earlier in chapter 3,

00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.099
 verse 15,

00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:07.079
 Jesus was described

00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:07.940
 as the author

00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:08.799
 of life,

00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.339
 meaning Jesus

00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:11.139
 is the founder

00:20:11.139 --> 00:20:12.000
 or the pioneer

00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:12.980
 of life.

00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:14.240
 He is the first

00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:15.299
 born from the dead,

00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:16.579
 the first to rise

00:20:16.579 --> 00:20:17.099
 from the dead,

00:20:17.139 --> 00:20:17.480
 as it says

00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.680
 in Acts 26, 23.

00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:19.839
 He's the one

00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:20.459
 through whom

00:20:20.459 --> 00:20:21.220
 God gives

00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:22.199
 eternal life

00:20:22.199 --> 00:20:23.379
 to His people.

00:20:23.939 --> 00:20:24.779
 So He's the author

00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:25.279
 of life.

00:20:25.639 --> 00:20:26.199
 And the words

00:20:26.199 --> 00:20:26.720
 of this life

00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.419
 is that word

00:20:27.419 --> 00:20:28.039
 about Jesus.

00:20:29.459 --> 00:20:30.259
 Just because

00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:30.959
 the Sadducees

00:20:30.959 --> 00:20:31.759
 do not believe

00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.339
 in the resurrection

00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:33.199
 of the dead

00:20:33.199 --> 00:20:34.659
 and oppose anyone

00:20:34.659 --> 00:20:35.220
 who teaches

00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:35.720
 the resurrection

00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:36.240
 of the dead,

00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:36.839
 the apostles

00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:37.899
 do not get

00:20:37.899 --> 00:20:38.379
 to leave

00:20:38.379 --> 00:20:39.059
 that part

00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:39.639
 of the gospel

00:20:39.639 --> 00:20:40.039
 out.

00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.039
 Likewise,

00:20:43.299 --> 00:20:43.980
 just because

00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:45.459
 people nowadays

00:20:45.459 --> 00:20:46.119
 disbelieve

00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:46.779
 in the resurrection,

00:20:47.199 --> 00:20:47.899
 we don't get

00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:48.560
 to modify

00:20:48.560 --> 00:20:49.300
 or leave

00:20:49.300 --> 00:20:50.280
 out that part

00:20:50.280 --> 00:20:51.060
 of Jesus'

00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.080
 physical resurrection

00:20:52.080 --> 00:20:52.759
 from the dead.

00:20:53.880 --> 00:20:54.759
 Just because

00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.860
 people nowadays

00:20:55.860 --> 00:20:57.180
 cherish their autonomy

00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:58.120
 and don't want

00:20:58.120 --> 00:20:58.580
 to submit

00:20:58.580 --> 00:20:59.200
 to the lordship

00:20:59.200 --> 00:20:59.740
 of Christ

00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:01.040
 does not mean

00:21:01.040 --> 00:21:01.580
 that we can

00:21:01.580 --> 00:21:02.500
 leave out

00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:03.160
 that part

00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:04.120
 about dying

00:21:04.120 --> 00:21:04.740
 to ourselves

00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:05.240
 and carrying

00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:05.700
 the cross

00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:06.180
 and following

00:21:06.180 --> 00:21:06.560
 Jesus.

00:21:08.840 --> 00:21:09.700
 We too

00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:10.300
 must speak

00:21:10.300 --> 00:21:10.860
 to the people

00:21:10.860 --> 00:21:11.640
 all the words

00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:12.200
 of this life.

00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:13.580
 And that's exactly

00:21:13.580 --> 00:21:14.220
 what the apostles

00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:14.620
 do.

00:21:15.820 --> 00:21:16.860
 It says in verse 21,

00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:17.959
 when they heard

00:21:17.959 --> 00:21:18.259
 this,

00:21:18.339 --> 00:21:18.740
 they entered

00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:19.179
 the temple

00:21:19.179 --> 00:21:20.159
 at daybreak

00:21:20.159 --> 00:21:21.019
 and began

00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:21.639
 to teach.

00:21:22.379 --> 00:21:23.339
 At the earliest

00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:23.959
 opportunity,

00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:24.579
 the disciples,

00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:25.159
 the apostles

00:21:25.159 --> 00:21:26.019
 returned to the

00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:26.699
 temple that

00:21:26.699 --> 00:21:27.379
 they were arrested

00:21:27.379 --> 00:21:29.399
 in on the

00:21:29.399 --> 00:21:30.059
 previous day

00:21:30.059 --> 00:21:30.839
 and began

00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:31.399
 to teach.

00:21:32.919 --> 00:21:34.299
 It says in verse 21,

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.240
 now when the high

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.839
 priest came

00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:36.399
 and those who

00:21:36.399 --> 00:21:37.019
 were with him,

00:21:37.419 --> 00:21:37.919
 they called

00:21:37.919 --> 00:21:39.079
 together the council,

00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:40.219
 all the senate

00:21:40.219 --> 00:21:40.819
 of the people

00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:41.259
 of Israel,

00:21:41.379 --> 00:21:42.119
 and sent to the

00:21:42.119 --> 00:21:42.859
 prison to them

00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:43.559
 to have them

00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:43.839
 brought.

00:21:44.459 --> 00:21:45.240
 So the high

00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:46.179
 priest arrives

00:21:46.180 --> 00:21:47.180
 and uses

00:21:47.180 --> 00:21:47.640
 his authority

00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:48.140
 to summon

00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:48.779
 the council,

00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:49.840
 which is the

00:21:49.840 --> 00:21:50.460
 Sanhedrin,

00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:51.299
 the highest

00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:52.220
 Jewish religious

00:21:52.220 --> 00:21:52.620
 political

00:21:52.620 --> 00:21:53.120
 and legal

00:21:53.120 --> 00:21:53.580
 council.

00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.019
 And this

00:21:55.019 --> 00:21:55.700
 council is

00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.400
 also called

00:21:56.400 --> 00:21:57.440
 all the senate

00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:58.200
 of the people

00:21:58.200 --> 00:21:58.620
 of Israel.

00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.340
 The word senate

00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:00.080
 is a translation

00:22:00.080 --> 00:22:00.740
 of the word

00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.759
 that means

00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.539
 the elders

00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.120
 of Israel,

00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.600
 which reveals

00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:05.740
 how the Sanhedrin

00:22:05.740 --> 00:22:06.500
 viewed themselves.

00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:07.039
 They viewed

00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:08.680
 themselves as

00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.360
 representatives

00:22:09.360 --> 00:22:10.900
 of the entire

00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:11.779
 Jewish people

00:22:11.779 --> 00:22:12.420
 everywhere.

00:22:12.420 --> 00:22:14.860
 And so

00:22:14.860 --> 00:22:15.580
 after this

00:22:15.580 --> 00:22:16.460
 dignified

00:22:16.460 --> 00:22:16.940
 introduction

00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:17.759
 of the

00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:17.940
 high

00:22:17.940 --> 00:22:18.240
 priest

00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:18.600
 and

00:22:18.600 --> 00:22:19.100
 the

00:22:19.100 --> 00:22:19.380
 elders

00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:19.539
 of

00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:19.779
 Israel,

00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:20.580
 the Sanhedrin,

00:22:21.340 --> 00:22:21.940
 what happens

00:22:21.940 --> 00:22:22.700
 next is like

00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.200
 something out

00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:23.680
 of a comedy

00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.100
 sketch.

00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:26.360
 It exposes

00:22:26.360 --> 00:22:27.160
 the powerlessness

00:22:27.160 --> 00:22:28.340
 of the Sanhedrin.

00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:30.279
 It says in

00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:31.400
 22 to 26,

00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:32.039
 but when the

00:22:32.039 --> 00:22:32.860
 officers came,

00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:33.560
 they did not

00:22:33.560 --> 00:22:34.140
 find them in

00:22:34.140 --> 00:22:34.539
 the prison,

00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:35.340
 so they

00:22:35.340 --> 00:22:35.940
 returned and

00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.340
 reported.

00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:37.820
 We found

00:22:37.820 --> 00:22:38.200
 the prison

00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:39.360
 securely locked

00:22:39.360 --> 00:22:40.100
 and the guards

00:22:40.100 --> 00:22:41.019
 standing at the

00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:41.300
 doors,

00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:41.799
 but when we

00:22:41.799 --> 00:22:42.319
 opened them,

00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:42.740
 we found

00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:43.200
 no one

00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:43.639
 inside.

00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:45.659
 Now when the

00:22:45.659 --> 00:22:46.200
 captain of the

00:22:46.200 --> 00:22:46.680
 temple and the

00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.079
 chief priest

00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:47.500
 heard these

00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:47.700
 words,

00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:47.919
 they were

00:22:47.919 --> 00:22:48.319
 greatly

00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:48.879
 perplexed

00:22:48.879 --> 00:22:49.279
 about them,

00:22:49.419 --> 00:22:49.899
 wondering what

00:22:49.899 --> 00:22:50.220
 this would

00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:50.740
 come to.

00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:51.779
 And someone

00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.319
 came and

00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:52.740
 told them,

00:22:52.899 --> 00:22:53.059
 look,

00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:54.039
 the men

00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:54.440
 whom you

00:22:54.440 --> 00:22:54.799
 put in

00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:55.180
 prison are

00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:55.720
 standing in

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.079
 the temple

00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:56.659
 and teaching

00:22:56.659 --> 00:22:57.159
 the people.

00:22:57.859 --> 00:22:58.299
 Then the

00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:58.879
 captain with

00:22:58.879 --> 00:22:59.480
 the officers

00:22:59.480 --> 00:23:00.000
 went and

00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:00.559
 brought them,

00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:01.419
 but not by

00:23:01.419 --> 00:23:01.819
 force,

00:23:02.099 --> 00:23:02.480
 for they were

00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.139
 afraid of being

00:23:03.139 --> 00:23:03.980
 stoned by the

00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.279
 people.

00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:05.720
 It appears

00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.079
 that the

00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:06.960
 miraculous prison

00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:07.659
 break happened

00:23:07.659 --> 00:23:08.460
 without the

00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:09.099
 guards even

00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:09.440
 knowing.

00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:11.360
 The officers

00:23:11.360 --> 00:23:12.580
 sent by the

00:23:12.580 --> 00:23:13.120
 Sanhedrin to

00:23:13.120 --> 00:23:13.519
 bring the

00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.900
 apostles found

00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:15.320
 the prison

00:23:15.320 --> 00:23:16.019
 still locked

00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.279
 and the

00:23:16.279 --> 00:23:16.860
 guards still

00:23:16.860 --> 00:23:17.480
 standing in

00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:17.980
 their station,

00:23:18.140 --> 00:23:19.180
 and yet the

00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:19.580
 prison was

00:23:19.580 --> 00:23:19.980
 empty.

00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:23.039
 They thought

00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:23.400
 they were

00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:23.920
 fully in

00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:24.360
 control of

00:23:24.360 --> 00:23:24.920
 the situation

00:23:24.920 --> 00:23:26.120
 with the

00:23:26.120 --> 00:23:26.980
 apostles safely

00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:28.500
 guarded behind

00:23:28.500 --> 00:23:29.140
 bars, but

00:23:29.140 --> 00:23:29.700
 they were

00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:30.580
 powerless before

00:23:30.580 --> 00:23:30.940
 God.

00:23:31.940 --> 00:23:32.620
 And as they're

00:23:32.620 --> 00:23:33.320
 wondering what

00:23:33.320 --> 00:23:33.779
 had happened

00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:34.360
 to them and

00:23:34.360 --> 00:23:34.779
 what's going to

00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.500
 happen next,

00:23:36.100 --> 00:23:36.980
 they hear this

00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:37.519
 news from

00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.440
 someone who

00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:38.839
 had observed

00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.259
 them in the

00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:39.879
 temple coming

00:23:39.879 --> 00:23:40.359
 and reporting

00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:40.819
 that they are

00:23:40.819 --> 00:23:41.400
 back in the

00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:42.119
 temple preaching,

00:23:42.759 --> 00:23:44.180
 doing exactly

00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:44.680
 what they had

00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.160
 told them not

00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:45.539
 to do.

00:23:47.220 --> 00:23:47.980
 And so they

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.460
 send their

00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:49.220
 officers to

00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:49.700
 grab them,

00:23:49.879 --> 00:23:50.579
 but not by

00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:51.259
 force because

00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:51.519
 they were

00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.059
 afraid of

00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:52.680
 being stoned

00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:53.119
 by the

00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:53.420
 people.

00:23:54.559 --> 00:23:55.039
 Ironically,

00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:56.180
 this forcible

00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:57.839
 arrest looks

00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:59.539
 more like an

00:23:59.539 --> 00:24:00.519
 escort service.

00:24:00.519 --> 00:24:06.339
 the Sanhedrin,

00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:07.639
 all the

00:24:07.639 --> 00:24:08.019
 Senate of

00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:08.379
 the people

00:24:08.379 --> 00:24:08.960
 of Israel,

00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:10.460
 afraid of

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:11.119
 being stoned

00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:11.660
 by the very

00:24:11.660 --> 00:24:12.259
 people that

00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:12.660
 they believe

00:24:12.660 --> 00:24:13.240
 themselves to

00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:13.859
 have authority

00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:14.180
 over.

00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:16.819
 This entire

00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:17.480
 episode is

00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:18.799
 highlighting the

00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:19.680
 powerlessness of

00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:20.379
 the Sanhedrin

00:24:20.379 --> 00:24:21.359
 before Christ and

00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:21.920
 his apostles,

00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:22.839
 and Luke's

00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:23.379
 making the

00:24:23.379 --> 00:24:24.420
 point that

00:24:24.420 --> 00:24:25.339
 the mantle of

00:24:25.339 --> 00:24:26.180
 leadership among

00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:26.940
 God's people has

00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:28.440
 passed on from

00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:29.879
 the Sanhedrin to

00:24:29.880 --> 00:24:30.600
 the twelve

00:24:30.600 --> 00:24:31.000
 apostles.

00:24:33.700 --> 00:24:34.300
 You know,

00:24:34.340 --> 00:24:34.940
 given that the

00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:35.580
 public sentiment

00:24:35.580 --> 00:24:36.140
 was in their

00:24:36.140 --> 00:24:37.200
 favor, the

00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:37.880
 apostles probably

00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:38.540
 could have

00:24:38.540 --> 00:24:39.540
 resisted arrest

00:24:39.540 --> 00:24:40.140
 at this point.

00:24:41.360 --> 00:24:42.060
 I mean, they

00:24:42.060 --> 00:24:42.680
 were afraid of

00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:43.220
 being stoned,

00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:43.760
 so the

00:24:43.760 --> 00:24:44.500
 officers probably

00:24:44.500 --> 00:24:45.080
 would not have

00:24:45.080 --> 00:24:45.520
 been able to do

00:24:45.520 --> 00:24:46.380
 anything about it

00:24:46.380 --> 00:24:47.260
 if the apostles

00:24:47.260 --> 00:24:48.100
 just refused to

00:24:48.100 --> 00:24:48.280
 go.

00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:50.140
 But the

00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:51.180
 apostles go

00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:52.640
 willingly, just

00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:53.900
 as Jesus went

00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:54.680
 willingly to the

00:24:54.680 --> 00:24:55.060
 cross.

00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:58.300
 The apostles

00:24:58.300 --> 00:24:59.320
 disobeyed the

00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:00.099
 civil authorities

00:25:00.099 --> 00:25:01.139
 when their

00:25:01.139 --> 00:25:02.139
 directives clearly

00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:04.000
 contradicted God's

00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:05.379
 commands, but in

00:25:05.379 --> 00:25:06.579
 doing so, they

00:25:06.579 --> 00:25:07.659
 were willing to

00:25:07.659 --> 00:25:09.019
 suffer and be

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:10.659
 punished for their

00:25:10.659 --> 00:25:11.659
 disobedience by the

00:25:11.659 --> 00:25:12.339
 same civil

00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:12.759
 authorities.

00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:16.779
 That's what

00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:17.500
 Christian civil

00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:18.339
 disobedience looks

00:25:18.339 --> 00:25:18.619
 like.

00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:21.379
 They never

00:25:21.379 --> 00:25:22.099
 resorted to

00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:23.079
 violent protest

00:25:23.079 --> 00:25:24.379
 or forceful

00:25:24.379 --> 00:25:24.819
 resistance.

00:25:24.819 --> 00:25:25.000
 repentance.

00:25:27.879 --> 00:25:28.839
 This is because

00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:29.119
 they were

00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:29.839
 following Jesus'

00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:30.419
 teaching.

00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:31.799
 In Matthew

00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:32.519
 chapter 10,

00:25:32.659 --> 00:25:33.460
 verses 16 to

00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:34.220
 33, Jesus

00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:34.740
 said to his

00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:35.179
 disciples,

00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.519
 Behold, I am

00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.319
 sending you out

00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.279
 as sheep in

00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:38.939
 the midst of

00:25:38.939 --> 00:25:39.399
 wolves.

00:25:40.179 --> 00:25:41.519
 So be wise as

00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.299
 serpents and as

00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:43.139
 innocent as

00:25:43.139 --> 00:25:43.539
 doves.

00:25:44.659 --> 00:25:45.599
 Beware of men,

00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:46.259
 for they will

00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:47.079
 deliver you over

00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:47.779
 to courts and

00:25:47.779 --> 00:25:48.599
 flog you in their

00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:49.679
 synagogues, and

00:25:49.679 --> 00:25:50.379
 you will be dragged

00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:51.339
 before governors and

00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:52.000
 kings for my

00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:53.299
 sake, to bear

00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:54.059
 witness before

00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:54.500
 them and the

00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:55.179
 Gentiles, and

00:25:55.179 --> 00:25:55.519
 you will be

00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:56.460
 hated by all for

00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:57.099
 my name's sake,

00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:57.879
 but the one who

00:25:57.879 --> 00:25:58.879
 endures to the

00:25:58.879 --> 00:25:59.500
 end will be

00:25:59.500 --> 00:25:59.960
 saved.

00:26:01.359 --> 00:26:02.539
 The apostles knew

00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:03.159
 they were called

00:26:03.159 --> 00:26:04.279
 to bear suffering

00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:04.839
 witness for

00:26:04.839 --> 00:26:05.259
 Christ.

00:26:06.179 --> 00:26:06.899
 Jesus did not

00:26:06.899 --> 00:26:07.940
 send his people

00:26:07.940 --> 00:26:09.259
 to be lions in

00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:09.720
 the midst of

00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:10.079
 wolves.

00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.599
 He sent them

00:26:12.599 --> 00:26:13.679
 out to be sheep

00:26:13.679 --> 00:26:14.539
 in the midst of

00:26:14.539 --> 00:26:14.859
 wolves.

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:18.079
 And everyone

00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:18.559
 knows what

00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:19.700
 happens to

00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:20.519
 sheep in the

00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.159
 midst of wolves.

00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:27.579
 So let's see

00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:28.159
 what happens

00:26:28.159 --> 00:26:30.220
 as they enter

00:26:30.220 --> 00:26:30.639
 the wolves

00:26:30.639 --> 00:26:30.919
 den.

00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:32.460
 In verses

00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.599
 27 to 28,

00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:34.319
 the Sanhedrin

00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:35.779
 begins their

00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:36.559
 interrogation of

00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:36.980
 the apostles.

00:26:37.179 --> 00:26:37.379
 It says,

00:26:37.460 --> 00:26:37.779
 And when they

00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:38.240
 had brought

00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:38.599
 them, they

00:26:38.599 --> 00:26:38.960
 set them

00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.399
 before the

00:26:39.399 --> 00:26:40.460
 council, and

00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:40.759
 the high

00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.440
 priest questioned

00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:41.960
 them, saying,

00:26:42.339 --> 00:26:42.859
 We strictly

00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:43.819
 charge you not

00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:44.440
 to teach in

00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:44.919
 this name.

00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:45.859
 Yet here you

00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:46.399
 have filled

00:26:46.399 --> 00:26:47.079
 Jerusalem with

00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:47.619
 your teaching,

00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.179
 and you

00:26:48.179 --> 00:26:48.700
 intend to

00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.179
 bring this

00:26:49.179 --> 00:26:49.819
 man's blood

00:26:49.819 --> 00:26:50.460
 upon us.

00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:53.539
 It's

00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.039
 curious that

00:26:54.039 --> 00:26:54.340
 the high

00:26:54.340 --> 00:26:54.980
 priest doesn't

00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:55.299
 ask.

00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:55.980
 I think my

00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:56.600
 first question

00:26:56.600 --> 00:26:56.840
 would have

00:26:56.840 --> 00:26:57.160
 been, how

00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:57.539
 did you get

00:26:57.539 --> 00:26:57.880
 out of the

00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:58.160
 prison?

00:26:58.620 --> 00:26:59.079
 But they're

00:26:59.079 --> 00:26:59.880
 not asking

00:26:59.880 --> 00:27:00.319
 that question,

00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:00.960
 probably because

00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:01.360
 it's really

00:27:01.360 --> 00:27:02.180
 irrelevant for

00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:02.900
 Luke's purposes,

00:27:04.259 --> 00:27:05.200
 because we

00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:05.740
 already know

00:27:05.740 --> 00:27:06.740
 how they got

00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:06.920
 out.

00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.319
 The readers

00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:07.860
 already know.

00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:10.559
 The main

00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:11.240
 issue at hand

00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:11.539
 is the

00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:12.279
 conflict between

00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:12.700
 the apostles

00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:13.039
 and the

00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:13.539
 Sanhedrin,

00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:15.059
 namely the

00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:16.220
 issue of

00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:16.819
 teaching in

00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.220
 the name of

00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:17.480
 Jesus.

00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:19.660
 So first,

00:27:19.660 --> 00:27:20.019
 the Jewish

00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:20.640
 leaders object

00:27:20.640 --> 00:27:20.940
 to the

00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:21.279
 apostles,

00:27:21.400 --> 00:27:21.900
 continue to

00:27:21.900 --> 00:27:22.259
 teach in

00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:22.480
 the name

00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:22.940
 of Jesus,

00:27:23.120 --> 00:27:23.660
 despite their

00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:24.240
 prohibition in

00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:24.800
 chapter 4.

00:27:25.620 --> 00:27:25.980
 And then

00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:26.300
 second,

00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:26.660
 they don't

00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:27.060
 like the

00:27:27.060 --> 00:27:27.540
 fact that

00:27:27.540 --> 00:27:28.160
 this teaching

00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:28.740
 that Jesus

00:27:28.740 --> 00:27:29.100
 is the

00:27:29.100 --> 00:27:29.759
 Messiah and

00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:31.420
 Savior implicates

00:27:31.420 --> 00:27:32.000
 them in

00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:32.779
 his death,

00:27:33.360 --> 00:27:33.720
 makes them

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.180
 look really

00:27:34.180 --> 00:27:34.540
 bad.

00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:37.920
 They don't

00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:38.420
 want Jesus'

00:27:38.620 --> 00:27:39.040
 blood on

00:27:39.040 --> 00:27:39.560
 their hands,

00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:43.019
 especially as

00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:43.340
 the church

00:27:43.340 --> 00:27:43.900
 continues to

00:27:43.900 --> 00:27:44.480
 grow and

00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:44.980
 enjoy the

00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:45.480
 favor of

00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.180
 the populace.

00:27:47.779 --> 00:27:48.440
 This is

00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:48.860
 similar to

00:27:48.860 --> 00:27:49.240
 how,

00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.220
 Pontius

00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:50.720
 Pilate,

00:27:51.080 --> 00:27:52.320
 before ordering

00:27:52.320 --> 00:27:53.320
 Jesus to be

00:27:53.320 --> 00:27:53.660
 crucified,

00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:54.400
 washes his

00:27:54.400 --> 00:27:54.680
 hands,

00:27:54.779 --> 00:27:55.180
 saying that

00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.700
 he is not

00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:56.600
 going to

00:27:56.600 --> 00:27:57.080
 have Jesus'

00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:57.620
 blood on

00:27:57.620 --> 00:27:58.160
 his hands.

00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:02.880
 Because in

00:28:02.880 --> 00:28:03.680
 Genesis 9,

00:28:03.800 --> 00:28:04.440
 5-6,

00:28:04.580 --> 00:28:05.100
 God had

00:28:05.100 --> 00:28:05.740
 decreed

00:28:05.740 --> 00:28:08.060
 concerning

00:28:08.060 --> 00:28:08.700
 mankind,

00:28:09.300 --> 00:28:09.740
 for your

00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.580
 lifeblood I

00:28:10.580 --> 00:28:11.240
 will require

00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:12.000
 a reckoning.

00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:13.120
 From every

00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:13.720
 beast I

00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.300
 will require

00:28:14.300 --> 00:28:14.600
 it and

00:28:14.600 --> 00:28:15.400
 from man.

00:28:15.860 --> 00:28:16.160
 And from

00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:16.680
 his fellow

00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.060
 man I

00:28:17.060 --> 00:28:17.540
 will require

00:28:17.540 --> 00:28:18.060
 a reckoning

00:28:18.060 --> 00:28:18.420
 for the

00:28:18.420 --> 00:28:18.880
 life of

00:28:18.880 --> 00:28:19.180
 man,

00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:19.680
 whoever

00:28:19.680 --> 00:28:20.420
 sheds the

00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:20.800
 blood of

00:28:20.800 --> 00:28:21.080
 man,

00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:21.700
 by man

00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:22.140
 shall his

00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:22.600
 blood be

00:28:22.600 --> 00:28:22.820
 shed,

00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:23.320
 for God

00:28:23.320 --> 00:28:23.980
 made man

00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:24.259
 in his

00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:24.880
 own image.

00:28:25.900 --> 00:28:26.480
 Because a

00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:27.019
 human being

00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:27.600
 is created

00:28:27.600 --> 00:28:27.980
 in the

00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:28.360
 image of

00:28:28.360 --> 00:28:28.700
 God,

00:28:28.880 --> 00:28:29.200
 his or her

00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:30.740
 life is

00:28:30.740 --> 00:28:31.180
 sacred,

00:28:32.100 --> 00:28:32.840
 and because

00:28:32.840 --> 00:28:34.019
 the life of

00:28:34.019 --> 00:28:34.640
 the flesh is

00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:35.380
 in the blood,

00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:36.000
 as it says in

00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:36.740
 Leviticus 17,

00:28:36.820 --> 00:28:37.160
 11,

00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:38.440
 when a life

00:28:38.440 --> 00:28:39.000
 is taken

00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:39.620
 and when

00:28:39.620 --> 00:28:40.180
 blood is

00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:40.580
 shed,

00:28:41.060 --> 00:28:41.380
 Scripture

00:28:41.380 --> 00:28:41.960
 tells us

00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:42.480
 that the

00:28:42.480 --> 00:28:43.539
 blood of

00:28:43.539 --> 00:28:44.080
 the deceased

00:28:44.080 --> 00:28:45.240
 cries out for

00:28:45.240 --> 00:28:45.660
 vengeance.

00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:48.180
 God

00:28:48.180 --> 00:28:48.820
 most famously

00:28:48.820 --> 00:28:49.640
 after Cain

00:28:49.640 --> 00:28:50.259
 murders his

00:28:50.259 --> 00:28:50.920
 brother Abel

00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:51.820
 in Genesis 4,

00:28:52.220 --> 00:28:52.840
 God says to

00:28:52.840 --> 00:28:53.100
 Cain,

00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:53.840
 the voice of

00:28:53.840 --> 00:28:54.820
 your brother's

00:28:54.820 --> 00:28:56.040
 blood is

00:28:56.040 --> 00:28:56.840
 crying to

00:28:56.840 --> 00:28:57.480
 me from

00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:58.040
 the ground,

00:28:58.660 --> 00:28:59.820
 and now you

00:28:59.820 --> 00:29:00.500
 are cursed

00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:00.940
 from the

00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:01.160
 ground.

00:29:03.120 --> 00:29:03.779
 If the

00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:04.660
 apostles continue

00:29:04.660 --> 00:29:05.420
 to speak of

00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:05.940
 how Jesus

00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:06.660
 was killed,

00:29:06.820 --> 00:29:07.460
 in part by

00:29:07.460 --> 00:29:07.840
 the Jewish

00:29:07.840 --> 00:29:08.400
 authorities,

00:29:09.540 --> 00:29:09.940
 and how

00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:10.660
 Jesus that

00:29:10.660 --> 00:29:11.320
 they killed

00:29:11.320 --> 00:29:11.700
 is the

00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:12.060
 Son of

00:29:12.060 --> 00:29:12.440
 God who

00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:12.720
 was sent

00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:13.180
 to save

00:29:13.180 --> 00:29:13.380
 us,

00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:13.680
 then the

00:29:13.680 --> 00:29:13.900
 Jewish

00:29:13.900 --> 00:29:14.200
 leaders

00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:15.380
 fear that

00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:15.799
 the people

00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.180
 will make

00:29:16.180 --> 00:29:16.720
 them pay

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:17.140
 for the

00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:17.600
 blood on

00:29:17.600 --> 00:29:18.100
 their hands.

00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:21.680
 But Peter

00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:21.960
 and the

00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:22.580
 apostles give

00:29:22.580 --> 00:29:23.340
 an unflinching

00:29:23.340 --> 00:29:23.980
 response in

00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:24.600
 verses 29

00:29:24.600 --> 00:29:25.180
 to 32,

00:29:25.560 --> 00:29:26.480
 we must

00:29:26.480 --> 00:29:27.580
 obey God

00:29:27.580 --> 00:29:28.160
 rather than

00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:28.440
 men.

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:29.700
 The God

00:29:29.700 --> 00:29:29.980
 of our

00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.320
 fathers

00:29:30.320 --> 00:29:31.140
 raised Jesus

00:29:31.140 --> 00:29:31.660
 whom you

00:29:31.660 --> 00:29:32.240
 killed by

00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:32.840
 hanging him

00:29:32.840 --> 00:29:33.080
 on a

00:29:33.080 --> 00:29:33.320
 tree,

00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:34.060
 and God

00:29:34.060 --> 00:29:34.539
 exalted

00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:34.960
 him at

00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:35.480
 his right

00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:37.660
 hand as

00:29:37.660 --> 00:29:38.220
 leader and

00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:39.000
 savior to

00:29:39.000 --> 00:29:39.740
 give repentance

00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.380
 to Israel

00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:41.140
 and forgiveness

00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:41.860
 of sins.

00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:44.720
 And we

00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:45.240
 are witnesses

00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:45.720
 to these

00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:46.100
 things.

00:29:46.860 --> 00:29:47.519
 Notice that

00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.039
 the apostles

00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:49.019
 do the two

00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:49.779
 exact things

00:29:49.779 --> 00:29:50.039
 that the

00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:50.400
 Sanhedrin

00:29:50.400 --> 00:29:50.799
 had told

00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:51.140
 them not

00:29:51.140 --> 00:29:51.539
 to do.

00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.500
 First,

00:29:52.580 --> 00:29:52.960
 they once

00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:53.539
 again speak

00:29:53.539 --> 00:29:53.900
 in the name

00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:54.340
 of Jesus,

00:29:54.820 --> 00:29:55.400
 and then

00:29:55.400 --> 00:29:55.680
 two,

00:29:56.299 --> 00:29:56.759
 they tell

00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:56.980
 him,

00:29:57.180 --> 00:29:57.740
 you killed

00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:57.960
 him.

00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:02.340
 But it's

00:30:02.340 --> 00:30:02.840
 important to

00:30:02.840 --> 00:30:03.180
 note that

00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:03.840
 apostles are

00:30:03.840 --> 00:30:04.480
 not out

00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.299
 for vengeance.

00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:06.840
 Their goal

00:30:06.840 --> 00:30:07.420
 isn't to

00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:07.900
 stir up the

00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:08.380
 mob against

00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:08.820
 the Jewish

00:30:08.820 --> 00:30:09.299
 leaders.

00:30:09.880 --> 00:30:10.200
 Instead,

00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:11.279
 as they have

00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:11.680
 done in the

00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:12.060
 preceding

00:30:12.060 --> 00:30:12.400
 chapters,

00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:12.940
 they speak

00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:13.660
 of repentance

00:30:13.660 --> 00:30:15.019
 and forgiveness

00:30:15.019 --> 00:30:15.720
 of sins.

00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:22.860
 The

00:30:22.860 --> 00:30:23.580
 Sanhedrin,

00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.700
 the leaders

00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:25.100
 of the

00:30:25.100 --> 00:30:25.799
 Jewish nation,

00:30:25.920 --> 00:30:26.880
 also belong

00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:28.559
 to that

00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:29.680
 nation for

00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:30.220
 which Jesus

00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:30.900
 came and

00:30:30.900 --> 00:30:31.220
 died.

00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:33.940
 They,

00:30:34.100 --> 00:30:34.160
 too,

00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:34.799
 can repent

00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:35.160
 of their

00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:35.799
 sins and

00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:36.700
 receive forgiveness

00:30:36.700 --> 00:30:37.440
 for sins.

00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.400
 And Jesus'

00:30:39.620 --> 00:30:39.900
 blood,

00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.460
 instead of

00:30:40.460 --> 00:30:41.000
 crying out

00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:41.380
 for their

00:30:41.380 --> 00:30:41.880
 vengeance,

00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:43.140
 vengeance,

00:30:43.140 --> 00:30:43.280
 for the

00:30:43.280 --> 00:30:43.660
 vengeance

00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:44.300
 against his

00:30:44.300 --> 00:30:44.620
 killers,

00:30:45.740 --> 00:30:46.620
 instead cries

00:30:46.620 --> 00:30:47.280
 out for

00:30:47.280 --> 00:30:47.640
 their

00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:48.380
 vindication,

00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.780
 their

00:30:49.780 --> 00:30:50.240
 forgiveness.

00:30:53.120 --> 00:30:54.040
 This is why

00:30:54.040 --> 00:30:54.500
 it says in

00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:55.120
 Hebrews 12,

00:30:55.200 --> 00:30:55.600
 24,

00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:56.420
 the sprinkled

00:30:56.420 --> 00:30:56.960
 blood of

00:30:56.960 --> 00:30:58.280
 Jesus speaks

00:30:58.280 --> 00:30:58.880
 a better

00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:00.220
 word than

00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:00.580
 the blood

00:31:00.580 --> 00:31:00.980
 of Abel.

00:31:02.060 --> 00:31:02.780
 The blood

00:31:02.780 --> 00:31:03.320
 of Abel

00:31:03.320 --> 00:31:03.820
 cried out

00:31:03.820 --> 00:31:04.480
 for justice,

00:31:04.800 --> 00:31:05.140
 but the

00:31:05.140 --> 00:31:05.540
 blood of

00:31:05.540 --> 00:31:06.240
 Jesus cries

00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:06.660
 out for

00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:07.020
 mercy.

00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:08.360
 The blood

00:31:08.360 --> 00:31:08.780
 of Abel

00:31:08.780 --> 00:31:09.220
 cried out

00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:10.120
 for condemnation,

00:31:10.119 --> 00:31:10.500
 but the

00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:10.839
 blood of

00:31:10.839 --> 00:31:11.559
 Jesus cries

00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:12.119
 out for

00:31:12.119 --> 00:31:12.659
 forgiveness.

00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:14.719
 The blood

00:31:14.719 --> 00:31:15.199
 of Abel

00:31:15.199 --> 00:31:15.759
 cried out

00:31:15.759 --> 00:31:16.679
 for retribution,

00:31:17.079 --> 00:31:17.339
 but the

00:31:17.339 --> 00:31:17.659
 blood of

00:31:17.659 --> 00:31:19.079
 Jesus cries

00:31:19.079 --> 00:31:19.539
 out for

00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:20.039
 repentance.

00:31:22.579 --> 00:31:23.339
 Instead of

00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:23.779
 death,

00:31:24.419 --> 00:31:24.739
 Jesus'

00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:25.919
 blood brings

00:31:25.919 --> 00:31:27.139
 life to

00:31:27.139 --> 00:31:27.379
 his

00:31:27.379 --> 00:31:27.979
 murderers.

00:31:29.859 --> 00:31:30.719
 And this is

00:31:30.719 --> 00:31:31.419
 because Jesus'

00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:31.959
 death and

00:31:31.959 --> 00:31:32.679
 resurrection was

00:31:32.679 --> 00:31:33.699
 part of God's

00:31:33.699 --> 00:31:36.219
 plan to bring

00:31:36.219 --> 00:31:37.119
 salvation for

00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:37.559
 sinners.

00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:37.619
 Jesus.

00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:41.500
 Peter uses an

00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.259
 interesting phrase

00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:42.879
 to describe

00:31:42.879 --> 00:31:43.240
 Jesus'

00:31:43.419 --> 00:31:43.799
 death in

00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:44.299
 verse 30.

00:31:44.419 --> 00:31:44.799
 Instead of

00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:45.240
 saying that

00:31:45.240 --> 00:31:45.679
 Jesus was

00:31:45.679 --> 00:31:46.179
 crucified,

00:31:46.419 --> 00:31:46.799
 he says,

00:31:47.240 --> 00:31:47.759
 you killed

00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:48.240
 him by

00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:49.159
 hanging him

00:31:49.159 --> 00:31:49.460
 on a

00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:49.720
 tree.

00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.179
 During that

00:31:52.179 --> 00:31:52.619
 period,

00:31:52.779 --> 00:31:53.359
 Jews used

00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:53.919
 the expression

00:31:53.919 --> 00:31:54.720
 hang on a

00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:55.519
 tree to

00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:55.960
 refer to

00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:56.879
 the crucifixion.

00:31:57.480 --> 00:31:57.720
 And this

00:31:57.720 --> 00:31:58.039
 was an

00:31:58.039 --> 00:31:58.619
 intentional

00:31:58.619 --> 00:31:59.379
 allusion to

00:31:59.379 --> 00:31:59.960
 Deuteronomy

00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:00.460
 21,

00:32:00.659 --> 00:32:01.240
 22 to

00:32:01.240 --> 00:32:01.720
 23,

00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:02.819
 which says

00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:03.079
 that a

00:32:03.079 --> 00:32:03.579
 person who

00:32:03.579 --> 00:32:04.159
 is killed

00:32:04.159 --> 00:32:04.899
 by being

00:32:04.899 --> 00:32:05.579
 hanged on

00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:06.679
 a tree is

00:32:06.680 --> 00:32:07.680
 cursed by

00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:08.060
 God.

00:32:10.180 --> 00:32:11.140
 Paul cites

00:32:11.140 --> 00:32:11.759
 that verse

00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:12.140
 and makes

00:32:12.140 --> 00:32:12.779
 an explicit

00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:13.380
 connection to

00:32:13.380 --> 00:32:13.680
 Jesus.

00:32:13.840 --> 00:32:14.360
 In Galatians

00:32:14.360 --> 00:32:14.620
 3,

00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:15.140
 13,

00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:15.620
 Christ

00:32:15.620 --> 00:32:16.539
 redeemed

00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:17.019
 us from

00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:17.660
 the curse

00:32:17.660 --> 00:32:17.980
 of the

00:32:17.980 --> 00:32:18.799
 law by

00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:19.460
 becoming a

00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:20.340
 curse for

00:32:20.340 --> 00:32:20.759
 us,

00:32:20.880 --> 00:32:21.539
 for it is

00:32:21.539 --> 00:32:21.900
 written,

00:32:22.380 --> 00:32:22.920
 cursed is

00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:23.539
 everyone who

00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.180
 is hanged

00:32:24.180 --> 00:32:24.539
 on a

00:32:24.539 --> 00:32:24.860
 tree.

00:32:26.380 --> 00:32:27.160
 This is

00:32:27.160 --> 00:32:27.960
 why Jesus

00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.600
 offers his

00:32:28.600 --> 00:32:29.060
 forgiveness

00:32:29.060 --> 00:32:29.840
 and mercy

00:32:29.840 --> 00:32:30.580
 rather than

00:32:30.580 --> 00:32:31.060
 vengeance

00:32:31.060 --> 00:32:31.720
 and justice.

00:32:32.600 --> 00:32:33.320
 This is

00:32:33.320 --> 00:32:33.779
 why the

00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:34.140
 blood of

00:32:34.140 --> 00:32:34.700
 Jesus does

00:32:34.700 --> 00:32:35.180
 not cry

00:32:35.180 --> 00:32:35.519
 out for

00:32:35.519 --> 00:32:35.880
 vengeance,

00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:36.660
 because he

00:32:36.660 --> 00:32:37.160
 was dying

00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:37.780
 for our

00:32:37.780 --> 00:32:39.280
 sins and

00:32:39.280 --> 00:32:40.240
 bearing our

00:32:40.240 --> 00:32:40.860
 curse on

00:32:40.860 --> 00:32:41.360
 the cross.

00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:44.000
 Modern

00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:44.660
 people living

00:32:44.660 --> 00:32:44.900
 in the

00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.360
 West don't

00:32:45.360 --> 00:32:46.320
 understand the

00:32:46.320 --> 00:32:46.920
 concept of

00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:47.520
 a curse,

00:32:48.080 --> 00:32:49.180
 but it's a

00:32:49.180 --> 00:32:49.880
 fearful thing

00:32:49.880 --> 00:32:50.320
 for people

00:32:50.320 --> 00:32:50.880
 who live

00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:51.880
 in cultures

00:32:51.880 --> 00:32:55.660
 that understand

00:32:55.660 --> 00:32:56.880
 and experience

00:32:56.880 --> 00:32:57.560
 and live in

00:32:57.560 --> 00:32:57.840
 the midst

00:32:57.840 --> 00:32:58.440
 of curses.

00:32:58.440 --> 00:32:58.539
 curse.

00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:03.360
 When someone

00:33:03.360 --> 00:33:04.100
 curses you

00:33:04.100 --> 00:33:04.480
 for a

00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:04.880
 wrong that

00:33:04.880 --> 00:33:05.340
 you do,

00:33:05.840 --> 00:33:06.519
 it follows

00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:06.820
 you,

00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:07.519
 it haunts

00:33:07.519 --> 00:33:07.799
 you,

00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:09.860
 it inflicts

00:33:09.860 --> 00:33:10.299
 harm and

00:33:10.299 --> 00:33:10.820
 injury on

00:33:10.820 --> 00:33:11.059
 you,

00:33:11.320 --> 00:33:12.680
 and you

00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:13.640
 can't get

00:33:13.640 --> 00:33:14.140
 away from

00:33:14.140 --> 00:33:14.980
 it until

00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:15.340
 you make

00:33:15.340 --> 00:33:15.980
 atonement

00:33:15.980 --> 00:33:18.820
 and that

00:33:18.820 --> 00:33:19.220
 curse is

00:33:19.220 --> 00:33:19.519
 lifted.

00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:24.480
 in those

00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.359
 cultures where

00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:26.619
 the curse

00:33:26.619 --> 00:33:27.460
 is a

00:33:27.460 --> 00:33:27.779
 common

00:33:27.779 --> 00:33:28.980
 experience

00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:29.519
 of life,

00:33:30.119 --> 00:33:30.859
 people pay

00:33:30.859 --> 00:33:31.720
 exorbitant

00:33:31.720 --> 00:33:32.379
 prices to

00:33:32.379 --> 00:33:33.440
 buy talismans

00:33:33.440 --> 00:33:34.220
 and amulets

00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:35.680
 and charms

00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:36.200
 to protect

00:33:36.200 --> 00:33:36.799
 themselves from

00:33:36.799 --> 00:33:37.059
 it because

00:33:37.059 --> 00:33:38.220
 they dread

00:33:38.220 --> 00:33:38.539
 it and

00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:39.139
 fear it.

00:33:43.299 --> 00:33:43.859
 In

00:33:43.859 --> 00:33:44.940
 Genesis 3.19,

00:33:45.059 --> 00:33:45.500
 the curse

00:33:45.500 --> 00:33:46.139
 of death

00:33:46.139 --> 00:33:47.099
 came upon

00:33:47.099 --> 00:33:47.599
 humanity

00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:48.219
 because of

00:33:48.219 --> 00:33:48.740
 Adam's

00:33:48.740 --> 00:33:48.959
 sin.

00:33:50.039 --> 00:33:50.500
 If you

00:33:50.500 --> 00:33:51.099
 have lost

00:33:51.099 --> 00:33:51.839
 loved ones

00:33:51.839 --> 00:33:52.439
 to death,

00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:53.000
 you have

00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:53.639
 experienced

00:33:53.639 --> 00:33:54.240
 the painful

00:33:54.240 --> 00:33:55.099
 toll of

00:33:55.099 --> 00:33:55.939
 this curse.

00:33:58.179 --> 00:33:58.899
 Every

00:33:58.899 --> 00:33:59.839
 generation of

00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:00.679
 humanity has

00:34:00.679 --> 00:34:01.319
 died ever

00:34:01.319 --> 00:34:01.779
 since,

00:34:02.139 --> 00:34:02.819
 and every

00:34:02.819 --> 00:34:03.319
 man and

00:34:03.319 --> 00:34:04.000
 woman is

00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:04.740
 surrounded

00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:05.659
 and hounded

00:34:05.659 --> 00:34:06.859
 by death

00:34:06.859 --> 00:34:08.299
 every single

00:34:08.299 --> 00:34:09.059
 day.

00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:10.699
 Do we try

00:34:10.699 --> 00:34:11.619
 all kinds of

00:34:11.619 --> 00:34:11.980
 remedies,

00:34:12.319 --> 00:34:12.819
 medicines,

00:34:13.339 --> 00:34:14.239
 dietary supplements

00:34:14.239 --> 00:34:15.319
 and exercises

00:34:15.319 --> 00:34:16.219
 to stave off

00:34:16.219 --> 00:34:16.579
 death?

00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:17.779
 every human

00:34:17.779 --> 00:34:18.639
 being dies.

00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:21.059
 That's the

00:34:21.059 --> 00:34:21.480
 curse.

00:34:24.840 --> 00:34:25.619
 But Jesus

00:34:25.619 --> 00:34:26.159
 is the one

00:34:26.159 --> 00:34:26.659
 person who

00:34:26.659 --> 00:34:26.920
 is not

00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:27.579
 subject to

00:34:27.579 --> 00:34:28.099
 that curse.

00:34:31.000 --> 00:34:31.639
 He was

00:34:31.639 --> 00:34:32.019
 born of

00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:32.480
 the Virgin

00:34:32.480 --> 00:34:32.880
 Mary,

00:34:33.779 --> 00:34:34.099
 conceived

00:34:34.099 --> 00:34:34.739
 by the

00:34:34.739 --> 00:34:35.400
 Holy Spirit.

00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:38.239
 If you

00:34:38.239 --> 00:34:38.559
 look at

00:34:38.559 --> 00:34:39.019
 the way,

00:34:39.179 --> 00:34:39.420
 if you

00:34:39.420 --> 00:34:39.719
 look at

00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:40.000
 the Old

00:34:40.000 --> 00:34:40.360
 Testament,

00:34:41.819 --> 00:34:42.279
 it's the

00:34:42.279 --> 00:34:43.279
 sins of

00:34:43.279 --> 00:34:43.940
 the fathers

00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:44.960
 that are

00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:45.639
 visited upon

00:34:45.639 --> 00:34:46.340
 their children.

00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:51.880
 that's the

00:34:51.880 --> 00:34:52.360
 way God

00:34:52.360 --> 00:34:53.039
 designed it,

00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:54.059
 the man's

00:34:54.059 --> 00:34:54.779
 headship in

00:34:54.779 --> 00:34:55.279
 marriage to

00:34:55.279 --> 00:34:55.559
 work.

00:34:57.079 --> 00:34:57.819
 So in

00:34:57.819 --> 00:34:58.559
 Romans 5,

00:34:58.779 --> 00:34:59.400
 we find that

00:34:59.400 --> 00:34:59.799
 even though it

00:34:59.799 --> 00:35:00.460
 was Eve who

00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:01.159
 sinned first,

00:35:01.719 --> 00:35:02.860
 it's Adam's

00:35:02.860 --> 00:35:03.920
 sin that

00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:04.599
 brings the

00:35:04.599 --> 00:35:05.239
 curse to

00:35:05.239 --> 00:35:05.500
 all of

00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:05.920
 humanity.

00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:06.920
 God's

00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:07.119
 sin.

00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:07.920
 God's

00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:08.119
 sin.

00:35:08.119 --> 00:35:09.079
 God's

00:35:09.079 --> 00:35:09.119
 sin.

00:35:09.119 --> 00:35:09.800
 God's

00:35:09.800 --> 00:35:10.119
 sin.

00:35:10.119 --> 00:35:10.440
 And because

00:35:10.440 --> 00:35:11.180
 Jesus didn't

00:35:11.180 --> 00:35:11.579
 have a

00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:12.360
 human father,

00:35:13.260 --> 00:35:13.740
 he's the

00:35:13.740 --> 00:35:14.639
 first and

00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:15.340
 only human

00:35:15.340 --> 00:35:15.780
 being in

00:35:15.780 --> 00:35:17.059
 which that

00:35:17.059 --> 00:35:17.440
 line,

00:35:17.900 --> 00:35:18.440
 that curse,

00:35:18.700 --> 00:35:19.260
 is broken.

00:35:19.260 --> 00:35:19.360
 sin.

00:35:24.360 --> 00:35:25.360
 And yet,

00:35:25.640 --> 00:35:26.660
 Jesus who

00:35:26.660 --> 00:35:27.380
 alone does

00:35:27.380 --> 00:35:27.880
 not have a

00:35:27.880 --> 00:35:28.420
 sin nature

00:35:28.420 --> 00:35:28.740
 and who

00:35:28.740 --> 00:35:29.360
 alone does

00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:30.120
 not sin in

00:35:30.120 --> 00:35:30.620
 his life,

00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:33.120
 bears our

00:35:33.120 --> 00:35:33.960
 curse.

00:35:37.080 --> 00:35:38.040
 So if we

00:35:38.040 --> 00:35:38.680
 repent of

00:35:38.680 --> 00:35:39.340
 our sins and

00:35:39.340 --> 00:35:40.060
 trust in

00:35:40.060 --> 00:35:40.380
 him,

00:35:41.340 --> 00:35:42.280
 we can be

00:35:42.280 --> 00:35:42.660
 forgiven.

00:35:42.659 --> 00:35:42.799
 forgiven.

00:35:44.139 --> 00:35:45.119
 The curse

00:35:45.119 --> 00:35:45.460
 can be

00:35:45.460 --> 00:35:45.779
 lifted.

00:35:46.579 --> 00:35:46.739
 And we

00:35:46.739 --> 00:35:47.000
 can be

00:35:47.000 --> 00:35:47.899
 forgiven of

00:35:47.899 --> 00:35:48.960
 every last

00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:49.359
 sin,

00:35:49.940 --> 00:35:50.399
 not in

00:35:50.399 --> 00:35:50.779
 part,

00:35:51.299 --> 00:35:51.719
 but the

00:35:51.719 --> 00:35:52.000
 whole.

00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:53.920
 All your

00:35:53.920 --> 00:35:54.599
 guilt gone.

00:35:55.279 --> 00:35:56.139
 All your

00:35:56.139 --> 00:35:57.179
 shame gone.

00:35:57.299 --> 00:35:57.619
 All

00:35:57.619 --> 00:35:59.000
 condemnation

00:35:59.000 --> 00:35:59.440
 gone.

00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:05.719
 We don't

00:36:05.719 --> 00:36:06.559
 have to

00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:07.299
 figure things

00:36:07.299 --> 00:36:07.719
 out on our

00:36:07.719 --> 00:36:08.219
 own because

00:36:08.219 --> 00:36:09.019
 Jesus is the

00:36:09.019 --> 00:36:09.559
 leader who

00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:10.420
 has already

00:36:10.420 --> 00:36:10.960
 paved the

00:36:10.960 --> 00:36:11.579
 way for us.

00:36:11.579 --> 00:36:12.679
 we don't

00:36:12.679 --> 00:36:13.340
 have to

00:36:13.340 --> 00:36:14.960
 feel like we

00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:15.539
 have to save

00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:15.900
 ourselves,

00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:16.559
 to redeem

00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:17.079
 ourselves,

00:36:17.159 --> 00:36:17.819
 to justify

00:36:17.819 --> 00:36:18.559
 ourselves because

00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:19.360
 in Christ we

00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:19.799
 have a

00:36:19.799 --> 00:36:20.079
 Savior.

00:36:20.920 --> 00:36:21.460
 And if you

00:36:21.460 --> 00:36:22.239
 entrust yourself

00:36:22.239 --> 00:36:22.779
 to him,

00:36:23.659 --> 00:36:24.519
 you repent of

00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:25.119
 your sins and

00:36:25.119 --> 00:36:25.579
 follow him,

00:36:25.639 --> 00:36:25.819
 you have

00:36:25.819 --> 00:36:27.000
 forgiveness and

00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:27.860
 the Holy Spirit

00:36:27.860 --> 00:36:28.599
 indwells you and

00:36:28.599 --> 00:36:28.880
 gives you

00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:30.099
 assurance of

00:36:30.099 --> 00:36:30.739
 these truths.

00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:37.099
 But the

00:36:37.099 --> 00:36:37.639
 Sanhedrin

00:36:37.639 --> 00:36:38.440
 unfortunately does

00:36:38.440 --> 00:36:39.099
 not turn to

00:36:39.099 --> 00:36:39.579
 Jesus for

00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:39.980
 mercy.

00:36:40.699 --> 00:36:41.319
 It says in

00:36:41.320 --> 00:36:41.960
 verse 33,

00:36:42.220 --> 00:36:42.640
 when they

00:36:42.640 --> 00:36:43.200
 heard this,

00:36:43.260 --> 00:36:43.500
 they were

00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:44.519
 enraged and

00:36:44.519 --> 00:36:45.059
 wanted to

00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:45.539
 kill them.

00:36:46.580 --> 00:36:47.000
 Notice the

00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:47.900
 contrast between

00:36:47.900 --> 00:36:48.900
 their response

00:36:48.900 --> 00:36:49.140
 and the

00:36:49.140 --> 00:36:49.460
 apostles'

00:36:49.680 --> 00:36:50.400
 response to

00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:50.820
 the word of

00:36:50.820 --> 00:36:51.340
 the Lord in

00:36:51.340 --> 00:36:52.000
 verse 21.

00:36:52.740 --> 00:36:53.140
 And when

00:36:53.140 --> 00:36:53.740
 they heard

00:36:53.740 --> 00:36:54.120
 this,

00:36:54.360 --> 00:36:54.800
 they entered

00:36:54.800 --> 00:36:55.360
 the temple at

00:36:55.360 --> 00:36:55.880
 daybreak and

00:36:55.880 --> 00:36:56.360
 began to

00:36:56.360 --> 00:36:56.740
 teach.

00:36:57.280 --> 00:36:57.559
 But in

00:36:57.559 --> 00:36:58.120
 verse 33,

00:36:58.220 --> 00:36:58.720
 when they

00:36:58.720 --> 00:36:59.360
 heard this,

00:36:59.420 --> 00:36:59.680
 they were

00:36:59.680 --> 00:37:00.519
 enraged and

00:37:00.519 --> 00:37:00.860
 wanted to

00:37:00.860 --> 00:37:01.300
 kill them.

00:37:01.980 --> 00:37:02.539
 When the

00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:03.280
 apostles hear

00:37:03.280 --> 00:37:03.740
 the word of

00:37:03.740 --> 00:37:04.039
 the Lord,

00:37:04.120 --> 00:37:04.660
 they promptly

00:37:04.660 --> 00:37:05.019
 obey,

00:37:05.100 --> 00:37:05.580
 even at the

00:37:05.580 --> 00:37:06.240
 risk of

00:37:06.240 --> 00:37:06.940
 being killed.

00:37:07.320 --> 00:37:07.700
 But these

00:37:07.700 --> 00:37:08.320
 Jewish leaders,

00:37:08.420 --> 00:37:08.800
 when they

00:37:08.800 --> 00:37:09.340
 hear the word

00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:09.820
 of the Lord,

00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:10.280
 instead of

00:37:10.280 --> 00:37:10.760
 obeying,

00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:11.480
 they try to

00:37:11.480 --> 00:37:12.060
 kill the

00:37:12.060 --> 00:37:12.780
 messengers of

00:37:12.780 --> 00:37:13.100
 God.

00:37:14.360 --> 00:37:15.140
 But thankfully,

00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:15.640
 there is a

00:37:15.640 --> 00:37:16.380
 somewhat sensible

00:37:16.380 --> 00:37:16.980
 man named

00:37:16.980 --> 00:37:17.480
 Gamaliel.

00:37:18.540 --> 00:37:19.200
 Most of the

00:37:19.200 --> 00:37:19.700
 members of the

00:37:19.700 --> 00:37:20.300
 Sanhedrin were

00:37:20.300 --> 00:37:21.080
 Sadducees, but

00:37:21.080 --> 00:37:21.700
 Gamaliel is

00:37:21.700 --> 00:37:22.420
 distinguished here

00:37:22.420 --> 00:37:23.380
 as a Pharisee.

00:37:24.040 --> 00:37:24.660
 And Luke notes

00:37:24.660 --> 00:37:25.660
 that he was a

00:37:25.660 --> 00:37:26.519
 teacher of the

00:37:26.519 --> 00:37:27.160
 law held in

00:37:27.160 --> 00:37:27.920
 honor by all

00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:28.380
 the people.

00:37:29.260 --> 00:37:30.019
 Gamaliel was a

00:37:30.019 --> 00:37:30.960
 revered figure at

00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:31.640
 the time.

00:37:31.740 --> 00:37:32.560
 He was either the

00:37:32.560 --> 00:37:33.120
 son or a

00:37:33.120 --> 00:37:34.100
 grandson of the

00:37:34.100 --> 00:37:35.060
 renowned Rabbi

00:37:35.060 --> 00:37:36.540
 Hillel, and he

00:37:36.540 --> 00:37:37.640
 was the teacher of

00:37:37.640 --> 00:37:38.480
 Paul, according to

00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:39.659
 Acts 22, verse

00:37:39.659 --> 00:37:39.980
 3.

00:37:40.800 --> 00:37:41.860
 Gamaliel was so

00:37:41.860 --> 00:37:43.280
 prominent that in

00:37:43.280 --> 00:37:44.179
 the Mishnah, which

00:37:44.179 --> 00:37:44.900
 is the official

00:37:44.900 --> 00:37:45.760
 collection of

00:37:45.760 --> 00:37:46.719
 rabbinic commentary

00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:47.659
 on the Jewish

00:37:47.659 --> 00:37:49.039
 Torah, he says,

00:37:49.380 --> 00:37:49.900
 when Rabban

00:37:49.900 --> 00:37:50.699
 Gamaliel the

00:37:50.699 --> 00:37:51.619
 elder died, the

00:37:51.619 --> 00:37:52.360
 glory of the

00:37:52.360 --> 00:37:53.420
 law seized, and

00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:54.019
 purity and

00:37:54.019 --> 00:37:55.079
 abstinence died.

00:37:56.900 --> 00:37:57.980
 This is quite the

00:37:57.980 --> 00:37:58.920
 hyperbole, but it

00:37:58.920 --> 00:37:59.960
 shows how highly

00:37:59.960 --> 00:38:00.920
 regarded this man

00:38:00.920 --> 00:38:01.300
 was.

00:38:02.360 --> 00:38:03.260
 Gamaliel says in

00:38:03.260 --> 00:38:04.119
 verses 35 to

00:38:04.119 --> 00:38:05.159
 39, men of

00:38:05.159 --> 00:38:06.139
 Israel, take care

00:38:06.139 --> 00:38:07.139
 what you are about

00:38:07.139 --> 00:38:07.819
 to do with these

00:38:07.819 --> 00:38:08.159
 men.

00:38:08.579 --> 00:38:09.420
 For before these

00:38:09.420 --> 00:38:10.719
 days, Deodas rose

00:38:10.719 --> 00:38:11.500
 up, claiming to

00:38:11.500 --> 00:38:12.819
 be somebody, and a

00:38:12.819 --> 00:38:13.539
 number of men, about

00:38:13.539 --> 00:38:14.539
 400, joined him.

00:38:14.579 --> 00:38:15.279
 He was killed, and

00:38:15.279 --> 00:38:16.000
 all who followed him

00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:16.679
 were dispersed and

00:38:16.679 --> 00:38:17.339
 came to nothing.

00:38:18.119 --> 00:38:19.279
 After him, Judas the

00:38:19.279 --> 00:38:20.460
 Galilean rose up in the

00:38:20.460 --> 00:38:21.500
 days of the census and

00:38:21.500 --> 00:38:22.359
 drew away some of the

00:38:22.359 --> 00:38:23.219
 people after him.

00:38:23.639 --> 00:38:24.900
 He too perished, and

00:38:24.900 --> 00:38:25.739
 all who followed him

00:38:25.739 --> 00:38:26.400
 were scattered.

00:38:26.980 --> 00:38:27.699
 So in the present

00:38:27.699 --> 00:38:29.420
 case, I tell you, keep

00:38:29.420 --> 00:38:30.539
 away from these men

00:38:30.539 --> 00:38:31.679
 and let them alone.

00:38:32.679 --> 00:38:34.059
 For if this plan or

00:38:34.059 --> 00:38:35.579
 this undertaking is of

00:38:35.579 --> 00:38:37.199
 man, it will fail.

00:38:37.639 --> 00:38:39.759
 But if it is of God, you

00:38:39.759 --> 00:38:40.920
 will not be able to

00:38:40.920 --> 00:38:41.599
 overthrow them.

00:38:41.980 --> 00:38:42.840
 You might even be

00:38:42.840 --> 00:38:44.639
 found opposing God.

00:38:47.179 --> 00:38:48.039
 We don't know

00:38:48.039 --> 00:38:49.159
 Gamaliel's motives.

00:38:50.139 --> 00:38:51.400
 We know that he's not

00:38:51.400 --> 00:38:52.259
 a believer because he

00:38:52.259 --> 00:38:53.019
 doesn't know whether

00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:54.639
 Jesus' movement is of

00:38:54.639 --> 00:38:55.219
 God or not.

00:38:55.980 --> 00:38:57.099
 It's possible that he's

00:38:57.099 --> 00:38:58.420
 simply playing politics,

00:38:58.980 --> 00:39:00.259
 trying to protect the

00:39:00.259 --> 00:39:01.319
 Sanhedrin from acting

00:39:01.319 --> 00:39:02.699
 rashly and drawing the

00:39:02.699 --> 00:39:03.480
 ire of the public.

00:39:03.480 --> 00:39:05.400
 It's also possible that

00:39:05.400 --> 00:39:06.320
 as a Pharisee who

00:39:06.320 --> 00:39:06.860
 believes in the

00:39:06.860 --> 00:39:07.519
 resurrection of the

00:39:07.519 --> 00:39:08.800
 dead, he's trying to

00:39:08.800 --> 00:39:09.780
 undermine the rival

00:39:09.780 --> 00:39:10.860
 Sadducees by letting

00:39:10.860 --> 00:39:11.820
 the apostles go on

00:39:11.820 --> 00:39:12.579
 speaking about the

00:39:12.579 --> 00:39:12.960
 resurrection.

00:39:13.880 --> 00:39:15.500
 We can't ascertain his

00:39:15.500 --> 00:39:16.699
 motives, but the main

00:39:16.699 --> 00:39:17.619
 point he makes is

00:39:17.619 --> 00:39:18.519
 largely true.

00:39:19.420 --> 00:39:21.119
 While it's not true that

00:39:21.119 --> 00:39:22.740
 every religious movement

00:39:22.740 --> 00:39:23.740
 that is not of God

00:39:23.740 --> 00:39:26.659
 fails, consider heresies

00:39:26.659 --> 00:39:28.820
 like Islam or Jehovah's

00:39:28.820 --> 00:39:30.740
 Witnesses or Mormonism,

00:39:30.739 --> 00:39:34.379
 but it is true that

00:39:34.379 --> 00:39:35.879
 every true movement of

00:39:35.879 --> 00:39:37.119
 God is unstoppable.

00:39:39.459 --> 00:39:40.579
 And therefore, it is

00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:42.059
 futile to oppose God.

00:39:44.319 --> 00:39:45.679
 As Jesus said in Matthew

00:39:45.679 --> 00:39:46.519
 16, 18,

00:39:46.659 --> 00:39:47.679
 And I tell you, you are

00:39:47.679 --> 00:39:49.719
 Peter, and on this rock I

00:39:49.719 --> 00:39:50.919
 will build my church, and

00:39:50.919 --> 00:39:52.739
 the gates of Hades shall

00:39:52.739 --> 00:39:54.699
 not prevail against it.

00:39:54.699 --> 00:39:58.460
 Theodos and Judas the

00:39:58.460 --> 00:39:59.699
 Galilean were both Jewish

00:39:59.699 --> 00:40:01.019
 religious revolutionaries,

00:40:01.199 --> 00:40:02.299
 and they had failed.

00:40:02.419 --> 00:40:03.339
 And using their examples,

00:40:03.460 --> 00:40:04.839
 Gamaliel argues for a

00:40:04.839 --> 00:40:06.039
 wait-and-see approach.

00:40:06.799 --> 00:40:08.199
 He's saying, well, Jesus,

00:40:08.379 --> 00:40:09.579
 their leader, was killed

00:40:09.579 --> 00:40:10.919
 not long ago, so let's

00:40:10.919 --> 00:40:11.939
 just wait and see.

00:40:12.579 --> 00:40:14.219
 This Jesus movement, like

00:40:14.219 --> 00:40:15.319
 the movements of the past,

00:40:15.419 --> 00:40:16.460
 might just fizzle away.

00:40:18.699 --> 00:40:19.919
 For if this plan or

00:40:19.919 --> 00:40:21.500
 undertaking is of man, it

00:40:21.500 --> 00:40:22.699
 will fail, but if it is of

00:40:22.699 --> 00:40:24.099
 God, you will not be able

00:40:24.099 --> 00:40:24.880
 to overthrow them.

00:40:25.759 --> 00:40:27.559
 The phrase opposing God

00:40:27.559 --> 00:40:29.339
 is literally God fighters.

00:40:30.980 --> 00:40:33.239
 It's fatal and foolish to

00:40:33.239 --> 00:40:34.039
 fight against God.

00:40:37.980 --> 00:40:39.599
 This contrast between what

00:40:39.599 --> 00:40:41.059
 is of man and what is of

00:40:41.059 --> 00:40:42.219
 God and this idea of

00:40:42.219 --> 00:40:44.799
 opposing God highlight the

00:40:44.799 --> 00:40:46.179
 recurring contrast between

00:40:46.179 --> 00:40:47.119
 God and man in this

00:40:47.119 --> 00:40:47.579
 passage.

00:40:48.400 --> 00:40:49.980
 The Jewish leaders put the

00:40:49.980 --> 00:40:51.900
 apostles in prison, but God

00:40:51.900 --> 00:40:53.019
 breaks them out of prison.

00:40:53.019 --> 00:40:54.380
 The Jewish leaders strictly

00:40:54.380 --> 00:40:55.659
 charge the apostles not to

00:40:55.659 --> 00:40:56.679
 teach in the name of Jesus,

00:40:56.840 --> 00:40:58.579
 but God commands them to

00:40:58.579 --> 00:40:59.840
 teach in the name of Jesus.

00:41:00.239 --> 00:41:01.460
 The Jewish leaders kill

00:41:01.460 --> 00:41:02.679
 Jesus by hanging him on a

00:41:02.679 --> 00:41:04.800
 tree, but God raised Jesus

00:41:04.800 --> 00:41:05.840
 and exalted him at the

00:41:05.840 --> 00:41:06.980
 right hand as leader and

00:41:06.980 --> 00:41:07.259
 savior.

00:41:07.759 --> 00:41:09.480
 And in verse 29, all of that

00:41:09.480 --> 00:41:10.679
 contrast comes to a

00:41:10.679 --> 00:41:12.440
 climactic declaration when

00:41:12.440 --> 00:41:13.739
 Peter says, we must obey

00:41:13.739 --> 00:41:15.239
 God rather than men.

00:41:15.239 --> 00:41:19.859
 Are you obeying God or men in

00:41:19.859 --> 00:41:20.319
 your life?

00:41:24.719 --> 00:41:26.279
 If we are seeking the

00:41:26.279 --> 00:41:28.899
 approval of men, if we are

00:41:28.899 --> 00:41:30.859
 trying to please men, we are

00:41:30.859 --> 00:41:32.959
 not servants of Christ.

00:41:36.579 --> 00:41:38.419
 Are you afraid to speak in the

00:41:38.419 --> 00:41:39.819
 name of Jesus because you're

00:41:39.819 --> 00:41:43.059
 afraid of what your peers might

00:41:43.059 --> 00:41:43.960
 think or say?

00:41:47.039 --> 00:41:48.960
 Are you ashamed of the word

00:41:48.960 --> 00:41:50.059
 of God because it goes

00:41:50.059 --> 00:41:51.360
 against the grain of our

00:41:51.360 --> 00:41:52.960
 culture and you want to be

00:41:52.960 --> 00:41:54.039
 accepted?

00:41:58.539 --> 00:42:00.340
 Are you living primarily to

00:42:00.340 --> 00:42:01.239
 please yourself?

00:42:03.199 --> 00:42:05.820
 To do what you want in life?

00:42:05.820 --> 00:42:08.920
 To have what you want in life?

00:42:09.300 --> 00:42:10.840
 A comfortable retirement?

00:42:12.539 --> 00:42:14.019
 Wealth and luxury?

00:42:14.820 --> 00:42:16.460
 A successful career?

00:42:16.680 --> 00:42:17.680
 A long life?

00:42:17.940 --> 00:42:19.360
 A healthy family?

00:42:21.559 --> 00:42:23.240
 If you are concerned with

00:42:23.240 --> 00:42:25.720
 pleasing yourself, if you are

00:42:25.720 --> 00:42:28.400
 concerned with obeying men, you

00:42:28.400 --> 00:42:30.580
 cannot obey God because often

00:42:30.580 --> 00:42:33.440
 God commands the very things that

00:42:33.440 --> 00:42:35.160
 sinful humans don't want to do.

00:42:35.820 --> 00:42:36.980
 And don't want you to do.

00:42:43.820 --> 00:42:45.420
 Jesus said that if they

00:42:45.420 --> 00:42:46.440
 persecuted him, they'll

00:42:46.440 --> 00:42:47.559
 persecute us also.

00:42:47.960 --> 00:42:49.320
 Are you ready to suffer and

00:42:49.320 --> 00:42:50.140
 die for Christ?

00:42:53.720 --> 00:42:55.519
 The Sanhedrin is persuaded by

00:42:55.519 --> 00:42:57.059
 Gamaliel and decided to let the

00:42:57.059 --> 00:42:59.400
 apostles go, but not before they

00:42:59.400 --> 00:43:02.980
 beat them and charge them not to

00:43:02.980 --> 00:43:04.000
 speak in the name of Jesus.

00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:06.900
 Isn't this interesting?

00:43:07.360 --> 00:43:08.920
 Just yesterday, God delivered the

00:43:08.920 --> 00:43:10.780
 apostles miraculously from prison.

00:43:10.880 --> 00:43:12.019
 Couldn't he deliver them this

00:43:12.019 --> 00:43:12.360
 time?

00:43:13.639 --> 00:43:17.199
 Of course he could, but he didn't.

00:43:20.320 --> 00:43:22.739
 Two more times, in Acts 12 and

00:43:22.739 --> 00:43:24.139
 Acts 16, God will deliver his

00:43:24.139 --> 00:43:26.079
 people from prison, but in other

00:43:26.079 --> 00:43:27.840
 times, in his sovereign will, God

00:43:27.840 --> 00:43:29.599
 does not deliver his people from

00:43:29.599 --> 00:43:29.940
 prison.

00:43:29.940 --> 00:43:32.440
 When Paul is imprisoned in Jerusalem

00:43:32.440 --> 00:43:34.039
 in chapter 23, when he's

00:43:34.039 --> 00:43:35.960
 imprisoned in Caesarea in chapter

00:43:35.960 --> 00:43:37.720
 23, when he's imprisoned in Rome in

00:43:37.720 --> 00:43:39.880
 chapter 28, God does not miraculously

00:43:39.880 --> 00:43:41.220
 deliver Paul from prison.

00:43:44.940 --> 00:43:46.460
 God could have delivered the

00:43:46.460 --> 00:43:47.700
 apostles from the Sanhedrin's

00:43:47.700 --> 00:43:49.780
 beating, but he didn't.

00:43:50.780 --> 00:43:51.760
 So they were whipped.

00:43:51.760 --> 00:43:55.200
 And not only is being whipped like

00:43:55.200 --> 00:43:57.120
 this painful, it's also

00:43:57.120 --> 00:43:57.880
 humiliating.

00:43:59.280 --> 00:44:00.940
 Verse 41 describes it as

00:44:00.940 --> 00:44:01.760
 suffering dishonor.

00:44:03.240 --> 00:44:05.060
 And humiliation is especially

00:44:05.060 --> 00:44:07.160
 grievous in an honor and shame

00:44:07.160 --> 00:44:08.480
 culture like Israel.

00:44:10.680 --> 00:44:13.600
 The Sanhedrin, the highest

00:44:13.600 --> 00:44:16.420
 authority, just declared me a

00:44:16.420 --> 00:44:18.180
 religious deviant and a rabble

00:44:18.180 --> 00:44:20.300
 rouser and beat me in public and

00:44:20.300 --> 00:44:22.120
 now I have to work up the nerves

00:44:22.120 --> 00:44:24.600
 to go back and preach the same

00:44:24.600 --> 00:44:29.880
 message to the same people who saw

00:44:29.880 --> 00:44:31.280
 me get humiliated.

00:44:37.920 --> 00:44:39.780
 But look at the apostles' response

00:44:39.780 --> 00:44:42.060
 in verses 41 and 42.

00:44:42.800 --> 00:44:44.680
 Then they left the presence of the

00:44:44.680 --> 00:44:48.580
 council rejoicing that they were

00:44:48.579 --> 00:44:51.819
 counted worthy to suffer dishonor for

00:44:51.819 --> 00:44:52.239
 the name.

00:44:53.000 --> 00:44:56.319
 And every day in the temple and from

00:44:56.319 --> 00:44:58.980
 house to house, they did not cease

00:44:58.980 --> 00:45:00.579
 teaching and preaching that the

00:45:00.579 --> 00:45:01.920
 Christ is Jesus.

00:45:04.099 --> 00:45:06.159
 It's a counterintuitive response.

00:45:07.000 --> 00:45:09.360
 They count the dishonor that they

00:45:09.360 --> 00:45:11.759
 suffered in honor, saying that they

00:45:11.759 --> 00:45:14.299
 were counted worthy to suffer dishonor

00:45:14.299 --> 00:45:14.799
 for the name.

00:45:15.400 --> 00:45:17.099
 Instead of crying about what happened

00:45:17.099 --> 00:45:19.519
 to them and complaining, they leave

00:45:19.519 --> 00:45:20.319
 rejoicing.

00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:23.860
 Because as Jesus said to them in Luke

00:45:23.860 --> 00:45:27.159
 6, when we are persecuted for Jesus'

00:45:27.420 --> 00:45:31.400
 name's sake, we have great reward in

00:45:31.400 --> 00:45:34.440
 heaven and we are heirs to the

00:45:34.440 --> 00:45:37.460
 prophets that preceded us who are also

00:45:37.460 --> 00:45:39.059
 persecuted in the same way.

00:45:39.059 --> 00:45:46.199
 We endure suffering all for the sake of the

00:45:46.199 --> 00:45:47.320
 name of Jesus.

00:45:47.539 --> 00:45:49.659
 The name of Jesus is repeated three times

00:45:49.659 --> 00:45:51.000
 in verses 40 to 42.

00:45:54.119 --> 00:45:56.199
 The disciples go back to the same

00:45:56.199 --> 00:45:58.159
 precinct, the temple precinct that they

00:45:58.159 --> 00:45:59.480
 were arrested and beaten in on.

00:45:59.719 --> 00:46:01.019
 Yes, the day before.

00:46:01.480 --> 00:46:03.440
 They go there every day to preach the

00:46:03.440 --> 00:46:04.380
 name of Jesus.

00:46:04.380 --> 00:46:08.300
 To preach literally means to preach the

00:46:08.300 --> 00:46:09.180
 good news.

00:46:11.800 --> 00:46:14.300
 Because there is salvation for no one

00:46:14.300 --> 00:46:16.780
 else but in the name of Jesus.

00:46:18.480 --> 00:46:20.099
 Because it's that good news.

00:46:22.280 --> 00:46:24.680
 Because Jesus suffered for their sake.

00:46:25.760 --> 00:46:28.160
 Because Jesus gave up his heavenly glory

00:46:28.160 --> 00:46:29.140
 and died for them.

00:46:29.139 --> 00:46:32.460
 Because Jesus faced rejection and

00:46:32.460 --> 00:46:33.559
 suffering for their sake.

00:46:33.980 --> 00:46:37.199
 Because Jesus carried his cross for

00:46:37.199 --> 00:46:37.779
 their sake.

00:46:42.460 --> 00:46:44.859
 Will we also bear our own cross daily

00:46:44.859 --> 00:46:46.679
 to follow Jesus?

00:46:48.960 --> 00:46:51.059
 Rejoice in suffering for his sake.

00:46:55.859 --> 00:46:56.960
 Let's pray for that.

00:46:59.139 --> 00:47:06.619
 God.

00:47:09.119 --> 00:47:11.319
 We wish sometimes that you would

00:47:11.319 --> 00:47:13.440
 deliver us from all suffering.

00:47:15.019 --> 00:47:16.440
 From all sickness.

00:47:17.199 --> 00:47:18.639
 From all persecution.

00:47:21.079 --> 00:47:22.379
 From all hardship.

00:47:25.259 --> 00:47:26.079
 But Lord.

00:47:26.079 --> 00:47:26.179
 Lord.

00:47:27.179 --> 00:47:28.900
 We understand that we do not

00:47:28.900 --> 00:47:29.619
 understand.

00:47:30.759 --> 00:47:31.880
 Your sovereign will.

00:47:35.380 --> 00:47:36.900
 There are aspects of your

00:47:36.900 --> 00:47:37.940
 sovereign will that are

00:47:37.940 --> 00:47:39.059
 mysterious to us.

00:47:39.819 --> 00:47:41.799
 But we surrender ourselves.

00:47:43.619 --> 00:47:44.659
 To your will.

00:47:44.659 --> 00:47:54.759
 in your sovereign will.

00:47:54.759 --> 00:47:56.759
 You ordain suffering and persecution

00:47:56.759 --> 00:47:58.379
 for your beloved people.

00:48:00.779 --> 00:48:02.019
 And you have ordained

00:48:02.019 --> 00:48:05.859
 that the blood of the martyrs

00:48:05.859 --> 00:48:07.980
 would be the seeds of the church.

00:48:07.980 --> 00:48:19.460
 So Lord help us

00:48:19.460 --> 00:48:24.460
 not to oppose God.

00:48:25.360 --> 00:48:26.920
 Not to oppose you.

00:48:28.199 --> 00:48:29.500
 Not to seek to

00:48:29.500 --> 00:48:32.400
 make you.

00:48:32.400 --> 00:48:35.300
 To join our side.

00:48:36.420 --> 00:48:38.280
 To fight our battles.

00:48:39.920 --> 00:48:41.179
 But Lord instead

00:48:41.179 --> 00:48:42.099
 make us

00:48:42.099 --> 00:48:43.639
 surrender

00:48:43.639 --> 00:48:44.679
 submitted to you.

00:48:47.719 --> 00:48:49.519
 To be suffering witnesses

00:48:49.519 --> 00:48:53.940
 of the name of Jesus.

00:48:57.759 --> 00:48:59.500
 It's in his precious name we pray.

00:49:00.500 --> 00:49:00.840
 Amen.

00:49:00.840 --> 00:49:00.940
 Amen.