Today’s thought “Counted worthy to suffer dishonour” (April 28)

Today’s thought

“Counted worthy to suffer dishonour”

(April 28)

We ponder the reactions of the disciples, now called Apostles, that we read about in Acts 5 today. Their success in preaching and in using the undoubted and obvious powers of the Holy Spirit to heal was having a wide impact;

“people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed” (verse 16).

As a result of this the religious leaders

“… filled with jealousy … arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison” (verses 17,18).

But an angel

“opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ‘Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life’” (verses 19,20).

The authorities got themselves all organised to silence the apostles; this included “the high priest … and … the council, all the senate …” (verse 21), but they were “greatly perplexed” (verse 24) when they found the prison empty. They eventually found them “standing in the temple and teaching” (verse 25)

“The captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned …” (verse 26).

There is a strange ‘trial’ and many “were enraged and wanted to kill them” (verse 33), but a wise Pharisee, Gamaliel,

“held in honour by all the people” (verse 34)

counselled caution,

“‘for if’ this ‘is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!’ So they took his advice” (verse 39).

So the disciples

“left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the name” (verse 41).

The coming chapters in Acts show more events in which the disciples and especially Paul after his conversion, were

“counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the name”.

In the Middle Ages, when God’s word was first available in English some dedicated believers were even burnt at the stake! This happened to Tyndale the first to effectively translate the Bible and see it published into English.

We ourselves await with complete awe, if we remain true believers in word and deed, the wonder of meeting such dedicated servants of God in his kingdom – and how soon will that be! But how traumatic and faith testing may events be before the kingdom is established.

Preceding articles

Today’s thought “They lifted up their voices … and said” (April 27)

Maintaining unity of Spirit in the bond of peace becoming one with God

Showing by the scriptures that …

Memorizing wonderfully 43 You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free

The Big conversation – Antagonists