The Apostles Not Found in the Prison - Acts 5:22

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”, and in chapter five and verse twenty-two of the book of Acts Luke shared how, “the officers came, and found them not in the prison” where we read:

But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,

The verse begins, “But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, ...” Luke began with the words, “but when the officers came” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover at the time and moment the ministers and servants arose and appeared”, “and found them not” or “and did not discover, recognize, detect, obtain or procure the apostles” “in the prison” which means “within the jail, public guard, sentinel and place where captives are kept”. Luke shared at the time and moment the “servants and ministers” of the religious leaders appeared, they did not “find” the apostles within it.

The verse continues, “... they returned, and told, ...” Luke added the words, “they returned” which means “the servants and ministers came back to the religious leaders”, “and told” or “and spoke, uttered, declared and proclaimed” the words in the following verse. Luke shared how the “servants” of the religious leaders went back to them and shared how they did not find the apostles in the prison.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we can imagine the shock these “servants of the religious leaders” must have experienced when they did not find the apostles in the public jail like they supposed. They had the responsibility to retrieve them, but they were not there. The “religious leaders” and their assembly had met to “interrogate” these apostles, but they would be unable to do so. Oh the power and majesty of God Almighty to orchestrate this event! God loves people, and His “good news” of salvation for mankind through His Son Jesus would not be stopped. Anyone who yields to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Those who are wise will understand these apostles and God's message was to continue, and it is available throughout the world today. Let all who read these words surrender to Jesus Christ who brings “good news” to everyone.

Next time Luke shares how the officers say, “the prison truly we found such with all safety”, 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".