THE SECOND TRIAL

When the council heard that Peter and John were teaching in the temple they sent guards to arrest the apostles. "So the officer went off with his men and brought the apostles back. They did not use force, however, because they were afraid that the people might stone them.SRme 1.1156

"They brought the apostles in, made them stand before the Council, and the High Priest questioned them.SRme 1.1157

"'We gave you strict orders not to teach in the name of this man [Jesus],' he said; 'but see what you have done! You have spread your teaching all over Jerusalem, and you want to make us responsible for His [Jesus] death!'" (Acts 5:26-28).SRme 1.1158

When Jesus was crucified, the Jewish leaders were willing to accept the blame. The leaders joined the mob shouting, "His death be on us and on our children." But now they were not willing to accept the blame.SRme 1.1159

Peter and the other apostles gave the same answer Peter had given at his earlier trial. They said, "'We must obey God, not men'" (Acts 5:29). The angel that delivered Peter and John from prison had commanded them to teach in the temple. By obeying the angel, they were obeying God. They must do what God said, no matter what might happen to them.SRme 1.1160

Peter continued, "'The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from death, after you had killed him by nailing him to a cross. God raised Him [Jesus] to His [God's] right side as Leader and Savior, to give the people of Israel the opportunity to repent and have their sins forgiven. We are witnesses to these things--we and the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to those who obey Him'" (Acts 5:30-32).SRme 1.1161

The Holy Spirit helped the apostles know how to answer. The apostles became the people who were accusing. They blamed the priests and rulers of the council for killing Jesus.SRme 1.1162

The council members became angry as they listened to what Peter said. They decided to stop the trial. Without permission from the Roman leaders, the council members decided to kill the prisoners. The council members already were guilty of Christ's death. Now they were eager to kill the apostles.SRme 1.1163

One educated man who had a high position realized that such violence would lead to terrible results. God used this man, Gamaliel, to stop the wicked plan. Gamaliel was a Pharisee and a doctor of the law. He was a man of great influence. He also was a careful thinker. Before speaking in favor of the prisoners he asked that they be taken from the room.SRme 1.1164

Gamaliel spoke with great care and calmness. "'Fellow Israelites, be careful what you do to these men. You remember that Theudas appeared some time ago, claiming to be somebody great, and about four hundred men joined him. But he was killed, all his followers were scattered, and his movement died out.SRme 1.1165

"'After that, Judas the Galilean appeared during the time of the census; he drew a crowd after him, but he also was killed, and all his followers were scattered.SRme 1.1166

"'And so in this case, I tell you, do not take any action against these men. Leave them alone! If what they have planned and done is of human origin, it will disappear, but if it comes from God, you cannot possibly defeat them. You could find yourselves fighting against God!'" (Acts 5:35-39).SRme 1.1167

The priests had to agree that what Gamaliel said was reasonable. With great unwillingness they freed the prisoners. But first they beat them with rods. The leaders commanded the apostles many times to stop preaching in the name of Jesus. The apostles were threatened with death if they were brave enough to disobey the council.SRme 1.1168

"As the apostles left the Council, they were happy, because God had considered them worthy to suffer disgrace for the sake of Jesus. And every day in the Temple and in people's homes they continued to teach and preach the Good News about Jesus the Messiah" (Acts 5:41, 42).SRme 1.1169

The people who were persecuting the apostles were troubled. They saw that they were unable to keep the apostles' from spreading the gospel. The apostles' faith and courage turned shame into glory. For the sake of their Master, who had suffered much for them, their pain became joy. The brave apostles continued to teach in public. They also taught secretly in homes when the people who lived there were afraid to openly admit their faith. The people living in those houses were afraid of what the Jewish leaders might do to them.SRme 1.1170