Jesus. : Trusting Jesus First, Only, Now, and Alwaysعينة

As time passed, followers of Jesus continued to do His work (see Matthew 28:19-20). Even when they were warned by religious leaders to stop (see 4:18-20), the Twelve continued to do miracles that drew attention (v.12), and all of Jesus’s followers “spoke the word of God boldly” (4:31).

Although most people were afraid to join Jesus’s disciples in the very visible Solomon’s Colonnade (part of the Temple in Jerusalem) where they met, they were fascinated by what was taking place. Jesus’s disciples were representing Jesus faithfully, so people who watched had good things to say about them. Some were even convinced that the gospel of Jesus was true. They put their faith in Jesus and were saved.

Followers of Jesus didn’t let the fact that most people kept their distance, discourage them. They were more committed to Jesus than their own reputations or social comfort and that commitment paid off. The gospel of Jesus continued to spread.

The religious leaders got jealous of the attention the apostles were getting, so they had them arrested and put in jail. But that didn’t stop God. He sent an angel to let them out and tell them to keep preaching the gospel of Jesus. They did just what the angel told them to do, and the high priest was not happy about it. He confronted the apostles, but they didn’t back down.

Thankfully, one cool-headed priest told the others to let things play out. He said if the disciples were wrong, the whole movement would fizzle out, but if they were right, God was on the disciples’ side. The only way the religious leaders could make sure they didn’t make a huge mistake was to back off. The other priests agreed. They didn’t kill the apostles, but they did beat them up before letting them go (see Acts 5:17-33).

Instead of being upset about what had happened to them, the apostles rejoiced! They knew they wouldn’t have been punished if people hadn’t noticed the Holy Spirit at work in their lives. More than anything, they wanted people to associate them with Jesus. The beating they received proved that this had happened, so they were happy. No one craves pain, but those who love Jesus are willing to endure it for His sake. If suffering proves we have been faithful, we can even be encouraged by it.