The physician Luke wrote how the apostles were put in prison for teaching and preaching, and after an angel freed them, they were teaching and preaching again when the high priest confronted them and asked, “Did not we straightly command you that you should not teach in this name? and, behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew and hanged on a tree. Him has God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey him”, and in chapter five and verse thirty-three of the book of Acts Luke shared how the religious leaders, “were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them” where we read:
When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
The verse begins, “When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, ...” Luke began with the words, “when they heard that” which means “and at the time and moment the high priest and the other religious leaders were endowed with the faculty of hearing, perceiving and understanding that they were responsible for the death of Jesus”, “they were cut” or “the high priest and the religious leaders were sawn through mentally and rent with vexation” “to the heart” which means “within their minds and souls”. Luke shared how the “high priest” and the other religious leaders were “convicted” or “torn apart mentally” after “Peter and the apostles” blamed them for Jesus' death.
The verse goes on to say, “... and took counsel to slay them.” Luke continued with the words, “and took counsel” which means “the high priest and religious leaders deliberated and resolved” “to slay them” or “to abolish, put out of the way and kill Peter and the other apostles”. Luke shared how the “high priest” and other religious leaders decided to “kill” “Peter and the other apostles”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how the “high priest” and the other religious leaders were vexed and troubled in their souls when “Peter and the other apostles” told them they had killed Jesus, and they concluded that they must “kill” these “apostles” of Jesus if they were to stop them from spreading these teachings. Jesus never promised His disciples they would not suffer “persecution” for serving Him. In fact, He told them, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (See John 16:33), and now they were experiencing what He said. God's “gospel” or “good news of salvation” cost Jesus His life on earth, and because God raised Him from the dead, every person who believes and trusts in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be “saved” from the penalty of sin which is death. Jesus suffered, and so did His disciples. Though the cost of the “gospel” of God is great, those who suffer for sharing it like Jesus “apostles” will be rewarded greatly in Heaven for all they endure.
Next time Luke shares how a man named, “Gamaliel” speaks, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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