Passage of the Day - November 8, 2010

Acts 5:17-32 

¹⁷But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.

 ¹⁸They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail.

 ¹⁹But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said,

 ²⁰"Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life."

 ²¹Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought.

 ²²But the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back,

 ²³saying, "We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside."

 ²⁴Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this.

 ²⁵But someone came and reported to them, "The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!"

 ²⁶Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

 ²⁷When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them,

 ²⁸saying, "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us."

 ²⁹But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.

 ³⁰"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.

 ³¹"He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

 ³²"And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."

God did not free Peter and John to live a quiet Christian life.  He freed them to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sins found through Him alone.  God did not place us in the freest of all countries to live quiet Christian lives.  We are called to be salt and light and to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sins found through Him alone.