Acts 5 - The Specter of Dread

Summary
In this week's episode, we discuss the "specter of dread" that seeps into the early church. We ask: Did God really strike down Ananias and Sapphira for not being generous enough? And who was this Gamaliel fellow whose wise words saved Peter and John from prison -- or death? Listen in as Pastor Gregg, Pastor Jeff, and Caryn Rivadeneira wade into the weird waters of Acts 5.

Today's Hosts
Gregg DeMey, Lead Pastor
Jeff Klein, Pastor of Outreach
Caryn Rivadeneira, Director of Care

Note: Wade in the Word is a weekly podcast designed to take a deep dive into scripture for the weekend message. Join our pastors, staff, and occasional special guests as we reflect together.

Wade in the Word podcast is a production of Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, located in Elmhurst, IL. Wade in the Word is produced and audio-engineered by Kyle Olson, Technical Director. For more information about Elmhurst CRC or to find out about other tools and resources to grow you and your family in faith visit elmhurstcrc.org.

Transcript

Pastor Gregg: 
Hey friends thanks for joining us for a Bible deep dive here on the Elmhurst CRC  Weekly podcast. I am sitting here with  Caryn Rivadeneira. 

Caryn: 
Hey good to back. Yeah, I'm great to me by the way allow me to introduce myself and pastor Jeff Klein. 

Pastor Jeff:
Yes I'm here. And I also have a beautiful cup of coffee. It's so great to sit around with God's word. And some refreshments at the same time. So if you're walking if you're driving or if. Like us, if you're sitting at a table with a... Like a warm drink. .. Should be a great time ahead. So last time we actually did not read the final verses of Acts chapter four so that's we're going to start.

 %HESITATION. A little bit in our defense. The end of extra before really hangs with the beginning of acts chapter five; and if you've never really thought about this before. The verses in the chapter numbers in the Bible. We're not given. By god; no. 
They came. Much later. In fact most of them.   only a thousand years ago through .. The monks of the Middle Ages to kind of keep track of how to refer to things; .. In the old days they're only scrolls even in Jesus time like a a book written on; thin   pieces of leather or vellum swear crazy expensive and few and far; between and only when that kind of book technology spread out through the monasteries did. It of feasible to like mark in turn pages. 
Otherwise he had to deal with like a thirty foot long scroll. 
My needs as a professor Wheaton said that the science behind this was like a guy riding a donkey with a, scroll and from an ever every time his pen fell down he just wrote a number. 
So little time Everytime  you bounce; everything there's the verses the verses got put in place that's a scientific it was nine. There's part there's parts that seem kind of random like that oftentimes. 
 there's definitely a purpose and method behind it. But if you're looking at a English Bible these days or even   and I feel like we're reading today. %HESITATION. You know   there's not only chapters and verses but there's kind of, headings and captions. And. 
Those were not part of the original compositional. Process in fact in the Greek language the week records   written down two thousand years ago. They were not even spaces between the words. All the letters, run together and occasionally that causes a little bit of a translation problem because. Sometimes it's ambiguous where the word break is and if you add two letters here it could be one word and if you add two letters to the previous word it could actually be a different two words side by side there's Hebrew with no files at all. 
And no punctuation. 
So having said, all that application. We are going to kick off with the end of. Acts chapter four tickets into a car. All right this begins adverse   thirty two all the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own but they shared. Everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the lord Jesus; in god's grace was so powerfully at work in.   in the mall. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them. Brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles feet and it was distributed to anyone who had made; Joseph a Levite from Cyprus on the apostles called Barnabas which means son of encouragement; so the. Field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles feet. 
Awesome. This is one of the really compelling pictures of what the early church was like; .. Extreme generosity a radical generosity think is a fair way of describing .. These practices of the early church and. Not just in terms of money and property in finance but .. Of generosity in terms of. 
I'd tie image sharing   community in opening up your; life and; .. Can it be a conduit for the spirit and the power of god again and again .. 
Can the power of the spirit is mentioned here their boldness in ..   testifying to the. Resurrection .. So just. 
I would, wonder if we can talk about that we're generosity; and how we see that word. .. Can being put into practice in manifesting itself in our own; community these ways certainly I would say about Elmhurst. CRC; and and th, financial generosity has been one of the hallmarks; of this community for decades and decades and decades in a beautiful way. 
Yeah I I mean. I've certainly been in churches where someone sells. A stock they own or a feel they owner property down and give the money to the church right so. 
 I've seen that kind of generosity for sure. The generous you have not as the seniors more difficult to find is like wait there's no needy persons among the .. Needy there's nobody needed because people are just taking their stuff don't deserve to be their own is giving it away if they need if somebody needs it they just give it away. That's. 
That's radical generosity. I mean we see some of that. I think. 
I think so I actually, backtracked even a little bit further about the you know that this opens with the believers were one in heart and mind and I'm even just thinking about like. That bit of generosity that. Man I'm sure that doesn't mean they agreed on every last thing and we know that as the church grew there were lots and lots of disagreements but. It was like. 
They were generous even in their spirit of just openness of saying no we're gonna do this together. Like that was something that they were convicted about but. I'm wondering if it was just the familial sense I guess of. 
You know coming together all these different people if they just immediately felt a sense of, responsibility for one another and that they were truly brothers and sisters in Christ and so this idea of. 
And they just obviously took that; very very seriously but it is a remarkable passage.   that this is %HESITATION. No one considered their possessions their own that's a Deuteronomy idea right that god owns it all. And he gives it to us as like as we're stewards of what he gives us on so therefore it's not really our stone it's it's ours to give away and. 
Yet there's lots of people in the   C. Or C. Community   that like get that principle that everything I, have is; a trust from god right that's like the. Core of stewardship and it; affects like everyday have a repressed, I have right for sure that. Comes from god in. Every financial resource. So. That's really struck me here .. Experiences. .. I think having a next level way when we lived in California, because we moved to a town. That probably as late as the nineteen eighties was just tiny little railroad staff just kind of. Armpit of a town, in the city of Sacramento was kinda   like growing out there so by the. 
Time we move there like in the late nineties it had gone for maybe five thousand people the thirty five thousand people and now it's a town of like ninety. Thousand. People. So, literally; no one hardly anybody was. Like a native daughter and son to that town. Like everyone who is in the church community almost everybody in our neighborhood had moved there from somewhere else. And. 
While it's a little bit lonely because everybody's   like dislocated from probably their family and like this is not; your you know native. Land .. It kind of forced everybody to be, together; in ways that I don't experience in Chicago all. Right in extremes in the town where I grew up where there are so many people who were; you know third or fourth or fifth generation in the same. In the same city. 
So I'm just wondering if there's   like something in that element in early Christian community that everybody is taking their first, steps in following Jesus. So even though it's unfamiliar and probably nervy and scary it like does put everybody on this common ground of like, alright   we're in this .. In this new thing all together. Yeah one the author I read. Years ago. He actually postulated that. After Pentecost many   these Jewish people to become Christians stayed in Jerusalem so they were sort of like out of their homes they decide to stay around because this thing happened and they just couldn't go back home so they stayed around that led to this; radical community of generosity because, people to put people up and; help them because they you know they had stayed from their jobs and whatever they were just you know but. Whether the I don't know I'm not sure if I can, say that's definitely a scholarly ideas is it. One of the guys I read years ago said that. 
It does make sense though because when you have a good support system and you have you know; if you have family money and for other people to support you I feel like it it can make us laugh. %HESITATION. Great job or whatever it is. It can make us; less generous I guess if we don't understand like, how people can feel you know sort of insecure   about that but when you are. Yeah thrown off for your new situation it does make you feel like. Hi. Yeah. There's nobody else to help me I need to help other people too. Yeah I mean. I've seen this in the African community refugees here and, in America Chicago the people I've gotten to know that it's unbelievable. Frankly how they literally   give each other money. It's crazy, like L. John Deere my frontal just drive up in a truck the A. Suddenly gotten like which would you get the money for this. .. I talk to my friends and they give me money   and and when they need money I give them money. And it's like this this. 
Whole thing they do as a community where they just take care of each other; and it's pretty was pretty wild. Really. Tough deserves watch. 
So. And I've also seen in Israel the kibbutz. The keyboard is another example where they. The saying is give what you can take what you need. And so people live in it comports. They have all these businesses running on the boats they have a cook who cooks the meals for everybody they have, everyone kind of has a house to live in but their shared cars in their shared. So like you know one of the guys I knew that that actually sounds amazing. Yeah it is his mom died in the states and they flew him home and they said we'll pay for your plenty you. Know this is you need this right now we're in a fight either; so they literally share everything they do all these businesses together pooled money together. I don't know exactly how it works but I've been on a kibbutz in it's pretty amazing to, to observe what they're doing. It's it's pretty devout last well like generationally like is that an ongoing thing or is it like the commune idea that sort of pops up   and falls away and knows what he's up. These are well established .. In fact this guy that I know was from   New Jersey or a group that's my wife and then we went visiting master Boise's tourists. Around is unbelievable was going on. 
They had him. So. So I think there's both. 
Continuity and discontinuity there like I I think for like young adults looks like an attractive thing. But, there's a little bit of a natural like half and starting a family. Or perhaps you're the kind of person who needs more quiet time our privacy. .. Like maybe after a few years that occurs to you. 
So. .. So interestingly later in the book of acts .. 
In Paul's missionary travels there will be. An   offering or a, collection that is being taken. From the gentile, churches for the mother church back in Jerusalem. And again some people theorized that. 
Maybe what happened in Jerusalem was that this outpouring of generosity as, beautiful as it is. 
Maybe wasn't a sustainable model. Because if you had all the core people like, liquidating all of their assets. That actually within. Even a generation.   needs in the mother; mother church. So. 
It's kind of a theory. .. I  , think quite frankly there's something to that. %HESITATION. 
And it's just to recognize or something awesome and spirit filled going on here. .. 
But maybe this isn't recommending like the best. Sustainable, you know two hundred year model. .. For a church and a you know I don't think the take away from the end. Of extra performers   like everybody should sell their house or you know take out a second mortgage and give all the money the church like that like   that that were coming from. Right so both radical generosity, but also; .. I mean we're not living with the idea that. Like we believe Jesus is going to return. But, like I'm not gonna be shocked if it's in a week. But I'm not gonna be shocked if it's in two thousand years. So are both trying to live with that openness but also be a good steward in .. Of. 
Long range sustainable. Kind of way. Yeah. But I think this does. 
He own. I guess jab at all of our hearts right in terms of are just. 
Yeah. Our resources we tend to think of them as ours. And you know we want to keep them and and we we need certain amounts of stuff and, what we're looking to be radically generous; your  ; Hybels used to talk about .. Challenging yourself giving away like more like snakes okay you got your mortgage maybe you really need this mortgage payment but god's. Now you become aware this need just give it away and. Watch god; replenish it or whatever now. Maybe that's crazy living but. 
It. And he had a lot of stories, about when you know, guy would replenish these things you give away in. A room; mate. Yeah I know I know. Yeah. To me sometimes some of that stuff gets a prosperity gospel because it is god's going to still meet your excessive needs I'm always more interested in the people who say well I've got this huge mortgage. Yeah I'm in a way downsized and; give away what I would have paid a mortgage or something like that I I I've always got a. Little nervous with the testing to keep my life I would just put it this way let it should initiate sharing stuff and doing stuff for other people is way more fun, than. 
Just by yourself one more thing. 
So even just like a simple coffee like. M.. If your coffee drinker or whatever what's your favorite restaurant; like. 
I would submit like; the examiners Starbucks search at chick fillet. If you. Invite a friend along and buy their sandwich or buy their coffee. Like doing. That will bring greater joy, than just going there by yourself and by yourself a coffee. Even if you love coffee or buying yourself, just a chick fillet sandwich. Because you really enjoyed chick fillet sandwich. So I. I think that principle is true like both and small basic levels in done on bigger levels. 
Jet generosity compelling when you see it. It it compels you to pay attention. Right. Mmhm. For sure. N.. I mean what I love about. That sometimes we feel like giving is because I got a stingy here like we have to give god is do like that the perversion of stewardship. We're really I think artists after maximum joy. 
For us like fullness of life. And when we. 
Yes share at the right time with the right people or the right cars for the right reasons it's actually like a better life than. 
Acquiring one more thing. 
In; a hundred percent yep. So this can easily go sideways and in acts chapter. Five a go sideways fast. 
So again   extreme generosity is a hallmark of the early church. Here's what happens next. Starting at X. Five verse one. Now a man named Ananias together with his wife's a fire up also sold the piece of property. Just like good old Barnabas. With his wife's full knowledge. 
In an I. S. Kept back part of the money for himself and brought the rest and put it at the apostles feet. 
And then. Peter said; Ananias. How is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit in at cap for your self. Some of the money received   for the. Land did not belong to you. Before it was sold. And after it was sold. Wasn't the money at your disposal. What made you think of doing such a thing. You have not lied just to human beings. But to god. And when Ananias heard this he fell down and died; and great fear seized all who heard what happened. And then some young men came forward wrapped up his body and carried him out and buried him. 
About three hours later. His wife came in, not knowing what happened. Peter asked her. Tell me; this is the price you and I S. Got for the land. 
Yes she said that's the price. Peter said her. How could you. Conspire, to test the spirit of the lord. Listen. The feet of the man who bury your husband are at the door and they will carry you out also. 
At that moment she fell down. At his feet and died. The young man came in and finding her dead, carried her out and; buried her beside her husband. Great fear sees the whole church and all who heard about these events. 
Great fear indeed this is one of the scary passes the entire. 
Bible in my opinion. And quite a contrast with the words just above about Barnabas. So it in the context of extreme generosity in the context of .. 
Seems like. Holy Spirit fill people being compelled to sell something and lay the proceeds at the feet of the apostles and kind of trust them; to meet. .. The needs of everybody in amazing ways. .. N. I. Essence of fira. 
Maybe in a spirit led moment are compelled to do the same thing. 
.. But then succumb to the temptation. To want all the credit for doing what, folks like Barnabas were doing. While also keeping back some. Of the proceeds. .. For themselves. 
So great at acting job. 
Later basically acting like they're doing the same the brunt of his dead. 
But they're really not. 
You know like, that's pretty. 
It's pretty slap in the face warning there like how often we try to act. This is spiritual somebody next to us because we see; the accolades they get. For their great active whatever but we really can't, maybe do the same thing when we try. To actually began. 
Sort of you know it's a little lights will will twist of the truth. 
Yep. No they want to things that seems to be, unhealthy one is like the spiritual spotlight. Yeah, right and one is. 
To have a little extra money and second save time. Yeah I mean if they, I'm assuming if they would have sold the land, and said Hey we're gonna sell the landing give you half like. 
If I'm sure plenty of people that are like that. I think Peter's words and things like that would happen view the. Full a lovely thing. But .. Like that they can, know that in conspire with the agency conspired with Satan but Satan Felder harden. But they did get trouble first testing the spare lords I don't know what bill Hybels would say about that. That sounds like. 
A. Card. Game. I like to the youth group carried them out and buried them. That's my favorite part they're waiting at the door you; know using all the users do today we play games or whatever have meetings these guys are waiting at the door to carry out the dead body that is; that is if. You with the young people. That is the, truth of that that you would not be able to duplicate in the modern day church. 
That is all it would be pretty compelling. 
Pretty much wake you up. 
Amazing. 
Yes so the for the phrase great fear is mentioned two times in this little passage both in verse five after an an I. S.. .. Falls and dies on the spot. And then that, .. First eleven at great fear seizes the entire church. .. Who heard about these events and like. No doubt. So what like what is got up to here. Like this doesn't seem like, typical. 
Divine gracious and merciful behavior are these extraordinary circumstances. .. Is there something in the heart of god in the early stages of the church that imply that. 
This would be needful are necessary like what is going on. This sounds book Leviticus to me. Does I mean so, I mean. I believe the sovereignty of god and I believe that god. Allow this but it doesn't say god, did that like it didn't say like and then god struck them dead so I feel like. 
I don't know. I did it so yet no this does not sound like something god with their stable and growing with the natural circumstances here. I don't know that maybe they were so convicted maybe they were old and diseased and that's why they keep it just isn't that doesn't say god struck him dead. To say that that's what happened. I don't know I. Certainly got allowed it and allowed it to be a fearful thing but; it. Does seem peculiar when there's other people. 
You know doing way more heinous things that. This is I don't know. Sure. This I guess there is right now it's the worst deed that a human being ever devised might just kind of compelling me to ask this question; so Klein mentioned the book of Leviticus. And .. In the early days of Israel. Couple of the sons of Erin. Going King James here. Yeah offered quote strange fire. 
.. In the tabernacle and. 
Yes similar fate to. An innocence of fire. It was the early days the tabernacle like was it just just have been set up and they offer this on authorized in sensors whatever fire and they get, immediately struck down. By god. Great. Indigo girls album by that title by the way strange fire. 
%HESITATION. No so I think that that's interesting parallel that in the early days of Israel coming together as a worshipping community. There was this. 
All. 
Like tough. Situation and again these are not obscure people like these are the sons of. 
Like Aaron the like the chosen priest for god's people right. And here I mean there's thousands of Christians already but just like an event like this in a smallish community. 
Like would have a massive. 
.. Impact; like personally I'm suspicious that it it's god. Caring so much for his community that it's pointing out that like, this is. 
Like a trajectory or a. 
Cancers kind of thing that like if this were to take root early on, and to like have a place as this new community grows up; like it's going to have a. A tragic and deadly implication. So it needs to be. 
Carnism wincing yes I've. Seen a little bit about a rough picture of god I guess. Because then I feel like that would happen. Routinely. You know we would see that and even, this day so the. Differences like developmentally it's how we. 
Protect our youngest children from things. Because if it, if they experienced, X. Wires Z. As a two year old. It has an impact on them that as a twelve year old there is a twenty year old. 
Rated doesn't have the same. So it's like the churches in its embryonic; stage here. 
Sure. I have two pastors just staring me down right now. No we're not. 
We're. We're so this is a hypothesis. That is not like a clearer and this is why it happened. Yeah this is definitely. A difficult passage right because it's it's in the new testament's book of axis is post Jesus resurrection. So of course we know Jesus being the grace and love. Guy and god being the grace and love god and; so all of a sudden wait a minute what's happening here. These people are dying because they seem to be connected to this ally they told this hypocrisy they've put on this mask they've pretended to be something. They really weren't. Thank god I just can't stand it so he just. Whatever he lets them die, Kerr if you rather have it that way. I'm just saying the lord will dieters ain't got ****. Well this is when I and I's heard the words he fell over and died. And and and the same thing. .. Peter actually says. The fee the Middlebury your husband so Peter knows that she's gonna die. It seems like god telling him the whole is Brazilian. So I I would put it this way just to flip it upside down. .. Like god's grace and mercy is so big; that like. We are getting spared from the consequences of. 
.. Lake. Our CNN mistakes all the time. And like god forbid that we would ever; reap the whirlwind of. 
Like. 
The junk that we are putting into the world to harm ourselves in the life of the world and life of others. 
.. Means sin leads to death. Right so. Right. But it's using an immediate death the Julius will. 
Rate the equation or what I, what I can say is like; taking all the spiritual spotlight for yourself. 
Leads to spiritual death. Leads to death. 
.. Looking at, everything that you have .. Touch just as your own and living her whole life in that way. Like these to spiritual death. And this is. 
For some inexplicable reason. A situation where. Leg bag; consequence to the action are connected immediately and again. Thank god. He, spares us, from those connections, you know befalling us in our lives. 
Yeah. Yeah I mean it's clear that the people who witnessed it connected those things and; and then saw that as a. It was a cause for whatever reason. I'm just saying the Bible does not say that got struck them down. That's where. 
I'd be great use to prevent. We will ask them and haven't else could have been a hard; else could. 
It .. So; that's why I'm bringing up. 
All right we're gonna turn the corner into some better news here starting at verse twelve. Of the apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people and all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's colonnade; where's that we'll talk about. That no one else dared to join them even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless more and more men and women believed in the lord and were added to their number. 
As a result; people brought the sick. Into the streets and laid them on beds and Matt so at least Peter shadow might fall and some of them as he passed by. Okay. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem bringing their second those tormented by impure spirits. And all of them, were healed. 
Absurd there's amazing momentum. That's growing in this early Christian community. Although there's also kind of a specter of to read. .. 
First thirteen says no one else dared join them; that's. Kind of curious. 
.. 
To want to, I guess get a clear picture here for a second so we're as Solomon's colonnade. We spoke of this briefly earlier; .. Context but can you say a word about that pastor Jeff. Well it's the outer outer courtyard of, the temple. So. It's you know when you first come in the temple. 
There's this whole section that just opened for the gentiles is where I think is where the money changers were, set up. When when Jesus turned over the money changers. Tables their own Solomon's colonnade area. Sometimes colder translated Solomon's porch Iraq there's been any number of .. Church plants that have gone by that name. In recent years because of this book of acts early Christian gathering. I see called a prayer meeting at a camp. For several times. Solomon's porch and said we're meeting at four o'clock summons portion and everyone knew, it was. I'm running my Peter Peter shadow is not the name of many churches that. Would I may may I be the only member. The question you don't want to defer to Jesus but. 
There's lots of Saint Peter Turchin Sam. .. So yeah on the temple grounds there were two; colonnades reporters one called the royal, porch or, colonnade and then I think on the east side; of .. Here it's temple; that was held up by a series of columns. So don't think like screened in porch or. 
But %HESITATION. Kind. Of a covered; area. And I think quite long and and narrow and these columns would have been. 
You know. Twenty some feet high it had kind of like the fancy Corinthian. 
.. Capital .. Like copper in, them to hold up the roof built by Herod here the great and he was a great builder. Right. So it took him. 
A long time the bill that I think was sixty six years was eighty six years, can't remember. 
It was a long time is by the sixty six years. Yep it got done just in time for the Romans. To destroy yours was there for four years the Romans chemistry the whole thing. 
%HESITATION. 
Yes. There's also some weird stuff going on here so folks are kind of scared or nervous to associate with the Christians but yet there's so much. 
Compelling stuff going on and a traction. And I mean healing is happening. Peter shadow. Like, what is going on. And word is spreading outside Jerusalem aged just like when Jesus was serving and promise that Hey you're gonna do. Even greater things in my name that seems to be happening. .. I was really struck by the last phrase in verse sixteen. So the sick are coming those who are tormented by impure spirits and not some of them were healed but all of them were healed. 
So again we use the phrase last podcast when we prayed for none none were healed. When we prayed for many. Some were healed. But this was a season in the life of the church where the spiritual energy was so; intense and the Holy Spirit was. So near that. 
All were healed according to Luke. 
Kind of bugs me really. 
It doesn't mean the matter to a surge of don't you feel like we're getting kinda. Ripped off sometimes like women like we're we're trying to be as faithful as as right in, and we we might see healing once every. I don't know. That we don't know about all the killings were having but we just don't, know any other hand here we sit as a circle of fat. Vaccinated people who in the area. That's true. And we're having right. 
Right I mean these people not only the spiritual energy I think just from the new Christians. And disciples but just imagine all these people carrying inotes second tormented in, coming they're just hoping for that glimpse of the shot I mean that's. There's a lot of energy I'm speaking like when you know I don't know if; you watch a parade come by or something just all that. The energy from the people in your; field of faith. That was gonna happen. You also realize that it was definitely an area where there was not matter matters. Right. There's a lots of people with lots of infirmities that were being treated. 
Right that weren't being taken care of there was not surgeries to fix this that. The other thing. Yeah I was just reflecting a little bit earlier. Like my brother Chris. Born in this area we're just been carried to a; temple gate and had a bag. 
Because there is no talking machines no therapist no modern technology no no motorized wheelchair. He just be left on the side of the road and. Lane they're not able to talk or. Processor. That would be his wife. 
So you can see the desperation for healing would've been even more great then maybe it is today when there's modern medicine. There's treatments for things and we. Kind ways to. I was actually reading interestingly; this week that apparently there was a huge suspicion of the medicine man. 
When in the Jewish world long before you know the New Testament times they didn't. The medicine men were considered be these kind of. 
On the dark side. And then the Jewish people slowly became like more warmed up to the idea that god could be using medicine to heal people and that this is all part of god's healing ministry in the world interesting. 
This. Is interesting. Yeah. 
For sure I think it's like, one of the firm whatever healing comes whenever health comes it's a gift from god. Whatever the medium is saying all all credit to god. But it's also true I think in our western world. Just because like the common grace of god's healing instruments are so prevalent. .. That we; may be shut off. The part; where, supernatural or extraordinary. 
Just gifts of the spirit or power from the spirit can come. And, like the experiences. I've had in. The non western world. Like the sensitivity and the openness and therefore, the fruits, of, supernatural extraordinary. .. Healings are much more prevalent. Yeah. 
I met a guy in. So I I wanna have a both ways. I don't know if enjoying all the common grace gifts, that we enjoy in the western world while also keeping that doorway just wide open that god still. Yeah that's good does it do. And certainly I think. It's part of. 
This, state in the part of the four forces of darkness agenda, to convince us that. 
Those whole uniquely Holy Spirit supernatural things like don't happen anymore or don't happen in our part of the world. So it takes extra effort to. Keep that part of our. 
Relationship with god wide open; and there are diseases that; even medicine. 
Can't touch. Don't know what to do right. Kill people. So that's when. We turn to prayer we turn the power of. God so he got only you can do something about this. Right there's nothing we can do. Right I mean even the all were healed and you mentioning your brother you know it because we. There are some things that you know we we think of healing a killing a broken later healing and disease but. .. Someone who has down syndrome for instance if you have something that is genetic you know and so you wondered. Of course it could be that the some of the things associated with syndromes or whatever. I don't know that the healing process reworked anyone's DNA; .. But I, mean that stuff is is interesting too of just what what, was it unlimited healing you know is it just. I mean it's it's compounding. No it. We don't know when to say he'll meet me and it made. 
The consequences go away. Right. Or does it mean that. Your eyes were opened to see how you can live your life, are like your men did enough to think. %HESITATION. Blake; this is why. Bear with us, or something in between. Those, but it's what I mean it's it's wonderful to think about I do keep going back to this idea of just that this is a centering on the generosity and the healing part like that's just. 
The mission of the church you know I mean that's just what they were doing and that's really powerful. Yeah. So she would people, would people think of coming to church. To get healing. 
In our modern world like they would think of going to the hospital. What has been set up by churches. 
But what. People actually think of, people that maybe aren't. Two new church when they think of coming to us. 
To receive healing prayer with eight with that be something that we were known for, right. 
I mean another whole angle on this is. 
Just speaking personally here but off and if I have physical symptoms. .. 
Sometimes it's just, whatever. I have a cold or something but often it's because like I get a cold because I've done a bad job of managing my energies or. Because I'm super, stressed, or worried about something and it. So I do want to go so far as to like, you know; blame somebody's cancer on. 
You know you haven't been living your life the obviously not that. Great but it's it's my instinct to be like .. I just have a cold. 
Not like. 
Sikh Christian community because, probably I've, been running myself into the ground and I need some help and guidance and support. Where is like I'm. I'm trying to like have that voice come up in my head. The lake it or at least let myself wonder; like am I experiencing. 
.. Whatever brokenness or tiredness or weakness. .. Because of something that's out of whack or out of balance in my life. 
.. So. 
Often times for me that like that's the case. 
Yeah I mean I get headaches and stuff. Very rarely is the heck I think just. Well just randomly you don't if you don't catch it. It's. Usually because I haven't been drinking water and; that's sleeping area stressed and so .. Sometimes right healing is it an invitation I think beyond just carrying the headache, with Abdullah diet coke my favorite care but it's .. 
You know maybe god reminding me Hey. The new book of acts. And they took Advil and a diet coke in the heady rise higher walked around. 
This was that Jesus religious; Jesus turned for mature audience. Yes, .. And. All .. Hi beautiful picture yeah. 
So; .. Just wanna recognize that again and again. Like there's healings that pop up it is on god's agenda to heal to mend. To put things back together. And; at the end of a global pandemic. .. Think if ever there was a time to be open and lean into this part of god's will for us. 
.. It's right now. And I'm becoming increasingly convicted just. Doing these podcasts and reading and re reading the book of acts. That, it's very clear. God wants his people to be ready to witness right here; right where he put us. And he wants us to be. 
.. Both ready to be healed and be ready to be his instrument of healing as he sends us out. 
So imagine if we can have more of both of those things. Dear brothers and sisters I play. I think that's what god has for us. Ready to witness center here. 
All right we're gonna read a long stretch of verses. .. From Max five seventeen all the way to the end of the chapter and verse forty two. 
All right here we go. 
Then the high priest all his associates who were members of the party the Sadducees were filled with jealousy. 
The rest of the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night. An angel of the lord. Open the doors of the jail and brought them out. 
Ghost in the temple courts he said. Intel all about this new life. At daybreak. They enter the temple courts as they have been told. Begin to teach the people. 
When the high priest and his associates arrived they called together the Sanhedrin the full assembly of the elders of Israel and sent to jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail the officers did not find them there so they went back and reported. We found the jail securely locked with the guards standing at the doors but when we opened and we found no one inside. On hearing this report. The captain. Of the temple guard, and the chief priests were at a loss. Wondering what this might lead to. 
And then someone came and said look. The many put in jail are now standing in the temple courts teaching the people; and that that the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force because they feared that the people with stone them. The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest, we gave you strict orders not to teach in this name he said. You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood. 
Eater and the other apostles replied. We must obey god rather than human beings. The god of our ancestors raise Jesus from the dead whom you killed by hanging him out across. God exalted him to his own right hand is prince and savior, that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things. And so is the Holy Spirit whom god has given to those. Who obey him. 
When they heard this. They were furious. I wanted to put them to death. But affairs named Emily L. A teacher of the law was honored by all the people stood up in the seat heater in order that the men be put outside for a little while. 
That he addressed the Sanhedrin men of Israel. Consider carefully what you intend to do these men sometime ago; through disappeared claiming to be somebody in about four hundred men rallied to him he was killed; all his followers were dispersed and it all came to nothing. 
After him. Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the senses. And what a band of people revolt. He too was killed in all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you; leave these men alone; let them go. 
The purpose or activity is of human origin it will fail. If it is from god. You will not be able to stop these manual only find yourselves fighting against god. 
In gmail you'll speech persuaded them so they called the apostles in and then. Had them flogged. Many ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus. And then let them go. 
The apostles left the same heater in, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the name. And day after day in the temple courts and from house to house. They never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the messiah. 
Cool quite a scene here. So we start out with a little bit of prison time. And a. Little. 
Break. 
.. In the middle of the night. And amazingly our. 
What are the positive just. 
Head straight back out to the temple and keep doing what they're doing they got him thrown into jail in the first place. 
We should maybe clarify that you know the Sanhedrin was in bed with the Romans. 
.. They were in partnership they were like .. You know had sold themselves out so the Romans and giving them their own temple. 
Battalion of soldiers to the soldiers are. Carrying out these did the bidding of the stand hearing guys these are soldiers that have been given to the temple to guard the temple Jewish temple guard Jewish temple guards and they then they give this job to guard the temple of the church in so this and you can order them around in these two these guards go out and. 
Do their bidding. That's a good idea would it be great if we had on her C. R. C.. .. Guards that the pastors could. Command around to do our bidding. Go get this guy arrest. 
Public jail. 
Yeah. It's not a good idea. But it's what was going on back in these days. Right it's it's all the same he drink up their power, they were; compromising with the Romans they were contracted with the Romans to control the people and they can keep their positions as long as they kept everything at peace under control. That was Roma's main goal right piece. They want to make sure there is no chaos. So the Jews were great at creating chaos. They were super chaotic, concealed the reserve rate added and Peter as a Jew has a singular gift for stirring. Things up. Yes. Right so when they're hauled back in before the Sanhedrin Peter gives us like a thumbnail sketch of the sermon that he's already given a few times which is basically pointing the finger at the. Address of; this guy yeah exactly. 
%HESITATION. But the god of our ancestors raise Jesus from the dead. Right whom you killed. 
I think this is the one place where Jesus called the prince. 
.. In the New Testament. So that's that's kinda interesting. 
.. And but the reaction. First thirty three is that when they heard this they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 
Yeah. Yeah I mean they were. Not only me it's embarrassing that they get out of jail right and that's a huge thing and the disobedience of worry of what that chaos is going to cause further but. 
Yeah. But the first verse gives us the motivation right there again. The word jealousies actually put in here so .. We talked about this. Our last podcast; the jealousies of the religious. Leader they were supposed to be the ones people are looking to for their religious; connection with god they respect the temple was like. Yeah I think I've said this but. The Sadducees was was a ray ban on Israel. He took us to houses that are right outside the Temple Mount and they were six thousand square feet with evidence of only a few people living in them. To the Sadducees were getting rich. The houses were six houses yes it does review. I mean they have like. It was unbelievable they had modern. Bathrooms this .. It was amazing. And the any shows that there's photos and National Geographic from maybe auntie months to two years ago .. And the excavations in Jerusalem of the Sadducees house; they're amazing they had, like Roman hot water plumbing and hot tubs. Yeah they had jobs like crazy. Mosaic floors beautiful music let me these. I have grounds for not wanting to let go. These guys are getting super rich on this whole temple that's what a pastor's housing alliance. To value people away. 
You should be living yes. Soul know. 
Yeah I think there's there's a huge thing going on here the stand here have a lot at stake right there .. Lifestyles and stake their whole grip on the people of Israel the whole country with the Romans. And so jealousy fills their hearts these wanna get rid of these guys. Get your story out so it has that contacts the super successful prominent people are just getting school the time and time again exactly by these somewhat role. Yeah. Begin with the backwoods accent, guys from Galilee Israel a garbage bag. That over here they're coming in and saying Hey you can't even talk I'm into prison for a night. 
Yeah; I know I mean is that like something discussed little bit justice. But there's angels out there who break people out of prison. Based in battle. I mean that's it these are fascinating; little moments of how that. In that they lock it back up after they go; and they said. Yes yes it's a. I just love that whole pictures like hold up he just turned. 
Well again it's interesting to me. Yeah we tend to not, read the supernatural. Out of the strip right. So if you really read action you focus the supernatural what you find is. My goodness there's like. All the invisible world is entering the visible world constantly. And there's a constant interaction going on. If this happened to somebody today we probably go I don't know how they got out but they got out somehow. We wouldn't go an angel about. 
We if they did tell us that we wouldn't believe people like. 
In July. Which, is this is why I like calling it the book of action rather than the book of acts. Because it's the supernatural power that is setting all of these things into motion like; obviously Peter and John are doing some stuff here Peters giving a sermon but the real action is. Like. Yes god's supernatural messenger showing up in the middle of the night.