Day Twenty-Five

If you have 5 minutes!

Read Acts 5:27-42 & Proverbs 1:20-33

27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; 21 on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: 22 “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? 23 Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. 24 But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, 25 since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, 26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. 28 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, 29 since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD. 30 Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, 31 they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

We have already noted the wisdom of the apostles when faced with charges and accusations against them (see Day 17). Here, again it is wisdom that is their rescuer but this time from the mouth of a Pharisee called Gamaliel. His speech to the Sanhedrin is astonishing in both its insight and sheer pragmatism and it is effective, for, Luke notes, it “persuaded them.”

• Are there times in your life when you have seen a potentially volatile situation saved by the injection of some well-timed wisdom?
• Do you regularly pray for wisdom? If not, is this something you could start to pray for more often?!
• Are there other ways, praying aside, in which we can actively seek wisdom?

If you have a bit longer :-)

Luke notes that, following their flogging, the disciples rejoiced that they were able to suffer for Jesus’ name. As one who can feel aggrieved by even gentle ribbings about my faith, I am challenged by this!

• Can you recall times when you’ve suffered in some way for being a Christian or for something that you’ve done in response to God’s call? How did you respond to this? How did you feel about it?
• Do people in the Bible always rejoice when they face suffering? Can you think of any notable examples when this is not the case (Job and Jeremiah, for example, immediately spring to my mind!)?
• From the biblical record as a whole, it seems important to maintain a healthy tension incorporating both: being honest with God about our negative emotions and feelings in response to suffering (i.e. lamenting well); and promoting joy and gratitude despite our circumstances (i.e. praising well). How can we best walk in the midst of this tension both as individuals and as a church?