What is the Origin of the Thing?
A proposition for discerning value
Luke 5:12-16 | Acts 5:12-42
As we go through Luke & Acts concurrently, are you seeing the similarities? It doesn’t need to be overstated - Jesus taught and healed his way through the land (Luke). The apostles taught and healed throughout the land (Acts). Both perturbed the religious authorities. Both prayed quite a lot. “God was with them.”
Gamaliel is a fascinating character in Acts. We’ll find out later that Paul studied the with him. As far as we know, he never came to accept Jesus as the messiah. But here in chapter 5, he presents some wisdom that likely saved the apostles’ lives for the time being (though they did not escape a beating!).
“If it’s just humanity, it will fail. If it is of God, it can’t be stopped.”
Cynics could find holes in such a proposition. But in general, Gamaliel’s notion has continued on to be true. The Church did continue to grow and still exists today.
How does his proposition work for you? Would it work for your life as you make decisions? Sometimes, following Jesus can lead to difficult situations. But, as we walk forward it is a belief-truth that God is with us no matter what. Ultimately, can we be stopped?
This isn’t a rally cry to be brutes. Jesus’ example to us today is to seek solitude to pray every day (like you are right now). And in those prayer times, may we find the unstoppable spirit of God and drink deeply.
Luke 5:12-16
Jesus was in one of the towns where there was also a man covered with a skin disease. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged, “Lord, if you want, you can make me clean.”
Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do want to. Be clean.” Instantly, the skin disease left him. Jesus ordered him not to tell anyone. “Instead,” Jesus said, “go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses instructed. This will be a testimony to them.” News of him spread even more and huge crowds gathered to listen and to be healed from their illnesses. But Jesus would withdraw to deserted places for prayer.
Acts 5:12-42
The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. They would come together regularly at Solomon’s Porch. No one from outside the church dared to join them, even though the people spoke highly of them. Indeed, more and more believers in the Lord, large numbers of both men and women, were added to the church. As a result, they would even bring the sick out into the main streets and lay them on cots and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow could fall on some of them as he passed by. Even large numbers of persons from towns around Jerusalem would gather, bringing the sick and those harassed by unclean spirits. Everyone was healed.
The high priest, together with his allies, the Sadducees, was overcome with jealousy. They seized the apostles and made a public show of putting them in prison. An angel from the Lord opened the prison doors during the night and led them out. The angel told them, “Go, take your place in the temple, and tell the people everything about this new life.” Early in the morning, they went into the temple as they had been told and began to teach.
When the high priest and his colleagues gathered, they convened the Jerusalem Council, that is, the full assembly of Israel’s elders. They sent word to the prison to have the apostles brought before them. However, the guards didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported, “We found the prison locked and well-secured, with guards standing at the doors, but when we opened the doors we found no one inside!” When they received this news, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were baffled and wondered what might be happening. Just then, someone arrived and announced, “Look! The people you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” Then the captain left with his guards and brought the apostles back. They didn’t use force because they were afraid the people would stone them.
The apostles were brought before the council where the high priest confronted them: “In no uncertain terms, we demanded that you not teach in this name. And look at you! You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. And you are determined to hold us responsible for this man’s death.”
Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than humans! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God has exalted Jesus to his right side as leader and savior so that he could enable Israel to change its heart and life and to find forgiveness for sins. We are witnesses of such things, as is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When the council members heard this, they became furious and wanted to kill the apostles. One council member, a Pharisee and teacher of the Law named Gamaliel, well-respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be taken outside for a few moments. He said, “Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you intend to do to these people. Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and some four hundred men joined him. After he was killed, all of his followers scattered, and nothing came of that. Afterward, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared and got some people to follow him in a revolt. He was killed too, and all his followers scattered far and wide. Here’s my recommendation in this case: Distance yourselves from these men. Let them go! If their plan or activity is of human origin, it will end in ruin. If it originates with God, you won’t be able to stop them. Instead, you would actually find yourselves fighting God!” The council was convinced by his reasoning. After calling the apostles back, they had them beaten. They ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, then let them go. The apostles left the council rejoicing because they had been regarded as worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of the name. Every day they continued to teach and proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Christ, both in the temple and in houses.
Prayer
God,
Sometimes I don’t have the words. Is it weird that my only prayer at the moment is for your help in even saying a prayer? That is my prayer right now.
I’d like continued connection with you: To understand you and your way. To know your power and wisdom. To live into the person of compassion I see in Jesus. To keep going, despite circumstances around me and in the world. To know your joy and victory.
So help me, God.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.