Acts 5:17-26 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,… I. THE APOSTLES' ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT. The new attack was occasioned by the things described in vers. 12-16. Note — 1. The feeling of the persecutors — "Indignation." 2. Their conduct. They laid hands upon the apostles and put them into the common prison, of all places the most revolting and disreputable. Thus, as ever, bigotry shows the weakness of its opinion and the malignity of its aims, by substituting force for argument, might for right. II. THEIR DELIVERANCE AND COMMISSION. 1. Their deliverance. On the former occasion they were released by the timid and apprehensive policy of their oppressors; here by a direct messenger from heaven. Prison walls, iron gates, massive chains are nothing to an angel. 2. Their commission. (1) Its subject. "The words of this life." The gospel is a record of "words" that generate, nurture, develop, and perfect the true life of humanity. (2) Its sphere — "the temple," the most public place, when the greatest numbers could be reached. (3) Its expedition. They set themselves to work at once "early in the morning." 3. This deliverance and commission had a twofold effect upon their enemies. (1) It confounded them with disappointment. The wicked work in the dark, and Providence makes them the victims of their own plots. (2) It filled them with apprehension. "They doubted whereunto this would grow." Well might they fear. III. THEIR ARRAIGNMENT AND DEFENCE. 1. Their arraignment (ver. 28). The language expresses — (1) Their mortification at the disregard of their authority. (2) An assumed contempt for Christ. (3) Their reluctant testimony to the progress of Christianity. (4) The foreboding of a terrible retribution.To "bring blood on the head" is a Hebrew idiom for having to answer for the death of another. They had cried, "His blood be upon us," now they deprecated that as the direst of judgments. 2. Their defence (vers. 29-32). We have here — (1) One of the grandest of principles (ver. 29). (2) One of the most wonderful of facts. "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus." (3) One of the most appalling of crimes. "Whom ye slew," etc. (4) One of the most glorious of communications (ver. 31). Here observe — (a) That Christ is exalted to the highest dignity — "the right hand of God." (b) That He is so exalted for the sublimest functions — "to be a Prince and a Saviour." (c) That in these functions He has to communicate to the world the greatest of blessings — repentance and forgiveness. (5) The most exalted of missions (ver. 32). They were fellow-workers with the great Spirit Himself. (6) The most intense exasperation (ver. 33). (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, |
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