Acts 5:22-32
The high priest’s speaking: We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. (v. 28) You know what’s strange here – two phrases: “this name” and “this man’s blood”. The high priest is not willing to speak Jesus’ Name!! I wonder why. Guilt? Fear? Pride? All the above? He has been told by Peter and John that there is power in that Name; maybe he fears a negative outcome if he is the one who is speaking the Name!! Curious! And frankly (maybe only to me), somewhat amusing…!
To me today’s scenario is also amusing. The Jewish leaders have gathered the entire Council together, “all the Senate of the people of Israel” (v. 21b), and asked that the prisoners be brought before them. Then the officers come to report that there are no prisoners!! Then someone else comes and says that the “prisoners” are teaching in the temple!! Imagine the high priest’s embarrassment…! I expect that he is furious!! His judgment would be immediate death to them all (in spite of his/their fear of being stoned by the people). But unfortunately for him, that murder would not be allowed by the Roman authorities. Only the Romans could condemn and execute. So here we see the beginning of the protection that is afforded the early Christians by the Roman rule of law. The Gospel spreads in large measure due to “Pax Romana”. The heathen protectors. GLORY!
We will see in tomorrow’s reading that the Jewish leaders are enraged at Peter’s response – which we are reading today. I just wanted to point out that their rage is based on what they deem blasphemous in Peter’s speech – “God exalted Him”; “Leader”; “Savior”; “Holy Spirit”. Peter is attributing Deity to Jesus – blasphemy to these Jewish leaders.
Slava Bohu!