The Second Sunday after Christmas (NTA)

Acts 5:17-26

¹⁷ But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy ¹⁸ they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” ²¹ And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. ²² But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, ²³ “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” ²⁴ Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. ²⁵ And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” ²⁶ Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

Just as Jesus was lost in the temple for three days, his disciples were placed behind locked doors and lost only to be found in the temple teaching. Jesus provided the elders or teachers with wisdom well beyond his years. Now the high priest and his party are filled with jealousy and cannot stomach this thought anymore.

There are many so-called wise men of this generation that cannot stand the simple folk teaching them anything. I often love the illustration of the book smart people who do not have what others call common sense. Some people have their intelligence blind them to simple solutions. God reminds us that he will use the foolish of this world to shame the wise.

He uses a group of simple fishermen to teach his people the fulfillment of the Old Testament or Holy Scriptures. These teachers of the law are no longer amazed or astonished, but now are ready to put down, kill, or destroy these foolish men. But God will continue to proclaim his word through simple people, and through simple words on a page.

It is there in the word of God, He proclaims your salvation and forgiveness. He promises you a life everlasting. He promises you forgiveness and redemption.