Acts 5: 17-28 The Second Persecution, God's Word Does Not Return Empty

But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.  They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail  But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said,  “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.”  Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach.Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought.  But the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back, saying, “We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside.”  Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this.  But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them,  saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

The guards and the leaders did not even ask the apostles how they escaped.  I think they were afraid to know.  Why were the hearts of the leaders so hard against the disciples?  Because they were so filled with themselves that they considered emissaries of Jesus to be their enemies and therefore Satan was their leader, because he was the first to rebel.  Ultimately the disciples had to decide who to fear - man or God?  Jesus was doing a work in them that through them His Word would not come back empty.

Daily Prayer:  Lord Jesus, through the work of the Holy Spirit quench in us the need for self-importance.  Let us open our eyes so that our hearts too may be opened so that we may see with our eyes, hear with our ears and obey with our hearts.  In Jesus name I pray Amen.