Luke the physician wrote how the apostles were healing people and sharing the gospel throughout Jerusalem, and “the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told, Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within. Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people. Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned”, and in chapter five and verse twenty-seven of the book of Acts Luke shared, “when they had brought them, they set them before the council” where we read:
And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
The verse begins, “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council:” Luke began with the words, “and when they had brought them” which means “and at the time and moment the governor and minister carried and brought the apostles to the place where the assembly of religious leaders were gathered”, “they set them” or “the governor and ministers put, placed and established the apostles” “before the council” which means “”in front and in the presence of the Sanhedrin. Luke shared how the governor and the ministers lead the apostles to the place where the religious leaders were meeting, and put them in the presence of the “Sanhedrin” and other religious leaders.
The verse goes on to say, “... and the high priest asked them, ...” Luke continued with the words, “and the high priest” which means “and the chief and principal priest” “asked them” or “questioned the apostles”. Luke shared how the “chief priest” began to question the “apostles” with the words in our next verse.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “governor and ministers” lead the “apostles” from the “temple in Jerusalem” to where the religious leaders were meeting, and when they arrived, they put the “apostles” in front of them. We can imagine the “indignation” and vitriol that was within these leaders now that the “apostles” had violated their command not to speak or teach in Jesus' name. The “high priest” began to ask the “apostles” a question which we shall discover in our next verse, but for now let us consider how these “apostles” felt and what they were thinking as they were before this “daunting” crowd. We know the “apostles” were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they had a boldness that was given by Jesus Christ to speak in His name regardless of the reaction of others to them. God loves people, and He desires to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus. Those who yield themselves to Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Let all who read these words imagine themselves in the “apostles” position and consider whether they would have been able to endure this religious inquisition as they.
Next time Luke shares, “did not we straightly command you that you should not teach in this name?”, 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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