The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Acts 5:28,38-39,
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name”… “in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
The second half of chapter five in Acts could be called, 'A Tale of a Fool and a Wise Man'. Here we have the disciples indwelled with the Holy Spirit performing miraculous acts of healings, deliverances from demons, etc. and are called before the religious elites of the day, the Sanhedrin, because of their activities and for teaching the people.
Luke tells us the Sanhedrin was filled with jealousy and had them jailed. The following day the high priest, 'the Fool', recalls the strict orders the Sanhedrin had given the disciples not to teach in the name of Jesus Christ. Having the apostles removed from their presence, Gamaliel, 'the Wise Man' reminded the Sanhedrin that if the activities of the disciples were from God, the Sanhedrin would only find itself fighting against God.
If anything, this 'Tale of a Fool and a Wise Man' points to the insanity of placing oneself in opposition to God. The online Jewish Encyclopedia recognizes Gamaliel as having a leading position in the Sanhedrin in first century Jerusalem. In this account, Gamaliel brings someone into the discussion that seems to have escaped the consideration of the high priest: God. Rather than giving vent to their jealousy, wouldn’t it behoove the Sanhedrin to consider the possibility that this movement might be from God, and if so, what would the prospect be of finding themselves as fighting against God?
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Psalm 14:1. Although many may not verbalize such, through their actions, attitudes and decisions such an outlook is often manifested.
In my own life there have been those times when it seems my actions, attitudes and decisions reflected “the fool”.
What an outlook of insanity it is to not fear the Lord and allow that posture to influence my actions, attitudes and decisions! “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10.
The second half of chapter five in Acts could be called, 'A Tale of a Fool and a Wise Man'. Here we have the disciples indwelled with the Holy Spirit performing miraculous acts of healings, deliverances from demons, etc. and are called before the religious elites of the day, the Sanhedrin, because of their activities and for teaching the people.
Luke tells us the Sanhedrin was filled with jealousy and had them jailed. The following day the high priest, 'the Fool', recalls the strict orders the Sanhedrin had given the disciples not to teach in the name of Jesus Christ. Having the apostles removed from their presence, Gamaliel, 'the Wise Man' reminded the Sanhedrin that if the activities of the disciples were from God, the Sanhedrin would only find itself fighting against God.
If anything, this 'Tale of a Fool and a Wise Man' points to the insanity of placing oneself in opposition to God. The online Jewish Encyclopedia recognizes Gamaliel as having a leading position in the Sanhedrin in first century Jerusalem. In this account, Gamaliel brings someone into the discussion that seems to have escaped the consideration of the high priest: God. Rather than giving vent to their jealousy, wouldn’t it behoove the Sanhedrin to consider the possibility that this movement might be from God, and if so, what would the prospect be of finding themselves as fighting against God?
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” Psalm 14:1. Although many may not verbalize such, through their actions, attitudes and decisions such an outlook is often manifested.
In my own life there have been those times when it seems my actions, attitudes and decisions reflected “the fool”.
What an outlook of insanity it is to not fear the Lord and allow that posture to influence my actions, attitudes and decisions! “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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