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?” He told them they had “filled all Jerusalem” with their “doctrine”, and after “Peter and the other apostles” told them, “we ought to obey God rather than men”, the religious leaders were “cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them”. It was at that time, “a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space. And said unto them, … Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought. But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it; lest haply you be found even to fight against God”, and in chapter five and verse forty of the book of Acts Luke shared how the religious leaders, “agreed” with “Gamaliel” where we read:
And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them,
they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
The verse begins, “And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, ...” Luke began with the words, “and to him they agreed” which means “and to Gamaliel the other religious leaders were persuaded and induced to believe”: “and when they had called the apostles” or “and at the time and moment the religious leaders beckoned, bid and summoned Jesus' delegates, messengers and ones sent forth”, “and beaten them” which means “and thrashed, smote, flayed and scourged the apostles”. Luke shared how the religious leaders were persuaded by “Gamaliel's” words, so they “summoned the apostles, scourged them and did the following with them”.
The verse continues, “... they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.” Luke added the words, “they commanded” which means “the religious leaders ordered, charged and enjoined” “that they should not speak” or “that the apostles not utter a sound, use their tongues or articulate words” “in the name of Jesus” which means “by employing the name and everything the name covers including the thoughts or feelings which are aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering pertaining to Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”, “and let them go” or “and allowed and permitted the apostles to be released and set free”. Luke shared how the religious leaders “ordered” the apostles not to “utter anything” using “Jesus' name”, and they set them free.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how the “religious leaders” were persuaded by “Gamaliel's words” concerning the “counsel and work” of the apostles, so they “beat” the apostles, told them not to “speak in Jesus' name” and set them free. This persecution was according to the words of Jesus to His disciples which said, “they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.” (Luke 21:12), and now, the apostles were experiencing what He declared. When people yield themselves to Jesus to be their “Savior and Lord” it does not guarantee they will be exempt from difficult circumstances and situations. Jesus promised to be with His followers no matter what they encounter, and those who are wise yield themselves to Him and trust Him when difficult times arrive.
Next time Luke shares how the apostles, “departed from the presence of the council”, 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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