1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,640 Speaker 1: Let us pray and laid their hands on the apostles 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: and put them in the common prison. Acts five eighteen. 3 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit, strengthen me as I stand in the face 4 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: of persecution and ridicule. When I decide to reach out 5 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: and offer a hand to those in need, when I 6 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:26,600 Speaker 1: feel arrested and imprisoned by the isolation of others, I 7 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: will remember your sweet Spirit, and I will remember the 8 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 1: life of Jesus. Like his disciples, he endured because the 9 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:42,239 Speaker 1: sacrifice was worth the scars, the souls were worth the scrapes, 10 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: and their freedom was worth the fight. I will not 11 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 1: give up until your mission is fulfilled in my life. Lord, 12 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: I will remain relentless in my pursuit of your divine presence. Therefore, 13 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 1: with every fiber in my being, I say bring it on, 14 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: because I am a water walking, giant, slaying, lion killing, 15 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:15,880 Speaker 1: serpent crushing, jericho, crumbling, wall building, presence filled, anointed child 16 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:24,040 Speaker 1: of God, and I won't be stopped. In Jesus name. Amen, 17 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 1: thank you for making prayer a priority in your day. 18 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: To learn more about the Bible, stay tuned for today's story, 19 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,400 Speaker 1: brought to you by Bible In a year dot. 20 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 2: Com arrested and beaten, and our last story, Annanias and 21 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 2: Saffira were struck. 22 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 3: Down for their false sense of holiness and charity. They 23 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 3: feigned generosity to look holy and paid dearly for their deception. 24 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 3: Now we see the disciples following in the suffering of Jesus, 25 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 3: imprisoned and beaten, they maintain a hopeful joy that goes 26 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:13,399 Speaker 3: beyond comprehension, inspired by the Book of Acts. 27 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 4: We're so glad you joined us on the Bible into 28 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 4: your Podcast today. The Bible into Your Podcast is an 29 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 4: outreach of PowerPoint Ministries and can only come to you 30 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 4: each week through the support of listeners just like you. 31 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 4: Your support today is so important that we want to 32 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 4: thank you for your gift by giving you a copy 33 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 4: of my book called The Jesus Book. It is a 34 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 4: powerful guide that shows how every book of the Bible 35 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 4: points to Jesus and how his living word, the truth 36 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 4: of God's Word, will transform your life. So to get 37 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 4: a copy of The Jesus Book, simply go to Jack 38 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 4: Graham dot org slash Jesus. That's Jack Graham dot org 39 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 4: slash Jesus and thank you for your support. In our 40 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 4: last episode, we heard how God God dealt severely with 41 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 4: Anonias and Sapphira for their greed and deception. He was 42 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 4: showing the early Church and us that sin is a 43 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 4: serious subject and it is costly when God's children sin. Today, 44 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,519 Speaker 4: will hear how the disciples continue to preach the risen 45 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 4: Christ and the suffering that begins as a result of 46 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 4: proclaiming the Gospel. Despite the opposition and even imprisonment. These 47 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 4: faithful servants remain joyful in their suffering as they hope 48 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 4: and trust in the Lord. And we'll hear how God 49 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 4: uses their circumstances to bring the message of salvation to 50 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 4: more and more people listen to the word of God. 51 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 3: Now it was as cold as it was dark where 52 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 3: the disciples lay. The wet stone floors sucked the heat 53 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 3: right out of their bodies as they shivered in their 54 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 3: prison cells. The moonlight was barely peering out of cracks 55 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 3: in the coupled walls. The High Priest had arrested Peter 56 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 3: in the other and thrown them into prison out of fear. 57 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 3: Their movement was increasing at an unmanageable rate, and they 58 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 3: felt their power slipping through their fingers. John rested his 59 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 3: head against the stone wall and prayed with his brothers. 60 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:18,680 Speaker 3: Echoes of their songs to God filled the depressing hallways. 61 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 3: Their prayers and songs were interrupted by the creaking sound 62 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 3: of the metal doors opening. Peter looked and saw that 63 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 3: the prison doors had been opened. Peter looked to his 64 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 3: left and to his right and saw a figure standing 65 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 3: in the shadows. He emerged from the darkness and was 66 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 3: revealed to be an angel of the Lord. Leave this place, 67 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:44,559 Speaker 3: but do not run away, he said. The angel's voice 68 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 3: was deep and commanding. Go out and stand boldly in 69 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 3: the temple. Speak to people all the words of life. 70 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:55,720 Speaker 3: So the disciples escaped the prison just as the sun 71 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 3: was rising. They stood up in the temple courtyards and 72 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,679 Speaker 3: continued to preach the message of Jesus. The High Priest 73 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:05,559 Speaker 3: emerged from his quarters to see Peter in the middle 74 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 3: of the yard. Seize them, he yelled, and the temple 75 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 3: guards tackled the apostles to the ground. James and John 76 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:17,040 Speaker 3: had their faces shoved into the dirt. This was not 77 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 3: what they had in mind when they thought about following Jesus, 78 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 3: but it was better, filled with more excitement and purpose. 79 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 3: We warned you not to teach his name Caiaphas spat 80 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 3: Peter thought about fighting, but then remembered the words of Jesus. 81 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 3: Those who live by the sword will die by the sword. 82 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 3: Peter drew a deep breath and calmly replied, we obey 83 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 3: God before men. Priest Caiaphas bubbled over in rage and 84 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:49,480 Speaker 3: had the guards strike Peter in the jaw. Andrew jolted forward, 85 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 3: but was met with a quick kicked in the stomach. 86 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 3: Caiaphas leaned over to Andrew and said, I should kill you. 87 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 3: I should kill you all right. Before he was about 88 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 3: to give the word, a Pharisee by the name of 89 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:06,239 Speaker 3: Gameliel rose up. Stop. He shouted, We have had false 90 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 3: prophets rise up before these men, have we not? God 91 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 3: has a way of pruning those who do not speak 92 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,599 Speaker 3: the truth. If these men are fools, then we should 93 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 3: stay away from them. They will die eventually and their 94 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 3: movement will fade. But if these men speak the truth, 95 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 3: then it is us who are in danger if we 96 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 3: strike them down. Gomelliel was a voice of reason for 97 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 3: the Pharisees and was able to keep them from killing 98 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:33,840 Speaker 3: Peter and the others, but not without a swift beating. 99 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:37,280 Speaker 3: All the disciples were taken into the courtyard and beat 100 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 3: with clubs and whips. Then they were tossed by the 101 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 3: roadside to hobble home. The men lay on the ground, 102 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 3: sore and bleeding, but on each of their faces was 103 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 3: a smile. They were glad to suffer for the name 104 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 3: of Jesus. They were glad to suffer so that others 105 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 3: might thrive. It was their honor. So each day they 106 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 3: rose up again to go preach in each day they 107 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:04,719 Speaker 3: were either thrown in prison or beaten. This became the 108 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 3: rhythm of their life. No one had killed Christians at 109 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 3: this point until a man named Saul came. 110 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 4: Today's Bible passage begins inside a prison cell. Peter John 111 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 4: and the other apostles had not listened to the warnings 112 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 4: of the religious leaders, and they continued to preach Christ 113 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 4: and the Gospel all over Jerusalem. The high priest and 114 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 4: the Sadducees were jealous of the influence these men were 115 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 4: having on all the people, so they had them arrested 116 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 4: and thrown into prison again. But God sent an angel 117 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 4: in the night to open the gates of their cell. 118 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 4: The angel told them to leave and go teach in 119 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 4: the temple courts, so that people might hear all the 120 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 4: words of life. This was the driving force, the passion 121 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 4: of these men now to tell all who would hear 122 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 4: that Jesus's Lord, and that he would make a way 123 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 4: to free everyone who trusted it him from their sins 124 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 4: and to save them forever. This was the mission of Jesus, 125 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 4: the mission that he had given them, And now the 126 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 4: disciples were carrying out this work and witness of the Gospel. 127 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 4: The next morning, when the guard went to get the 128 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 4: men out of prison to bring them before the Council 129 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 4: of the People of Israel, they found only an empty cell, 130 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 4: and when they heard the report that the men were missing, 131 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 4: everyone was perplexed. How could they have escaped? Soon their 132 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:30,119 Speaker 4: questions were answered because the apostles had not run away. 133 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 4: They were right in the temple, courageously continuing to tell 134 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 4: people about Jesus. So they were taken from there to 135 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 4: the High Priest and the Council of Religious Leaders and 136 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 4: questioned interrogated. These religious leaders reminded the apostles that they 137 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 4: had been strictly warned and told to stop talking about 138 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 4: Jesus and proclaiming this message. But Peter reminded them once 139 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 4: again that they were to obey God and not men. 140 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 4: So they laid out the gospel, how Jesus had come 141 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 4: from God, and these very men had crucified him, but 142 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 4: he arose conquering death to bring grace and forgiveness to 143 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 4: all who would believe in him. What a change has 144 00:09:13,360 --> 00:09:16,559 Speaker 4: taken place in these men's lives. These men who had 145 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 4: fled in fear when Jesus was taken to the cross, 146 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,520 Speaker 4: and hid in terror after his death and burial, are 147 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 4: now standing without fear before the same men who had 148 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 4: sent Christ to his death. What was the difference? The 149 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 4: presence of Christ, the Holy Spirit, the promised helper that 150 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 4: Jesus had sent, filled them with the very power of God, 151 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 4: so that nothing any human ruler could do to them 152 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 4: would stop them from preaching the good news. It is 153 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 4: that same spirit to which we now have available to 154 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 4: us today in Christ. We can be filled with the 155 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 4: boldness and confidence to share our faith in Christ with 156 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 4: anyone and everyone and fulfill the mission and commission of Jesus. 157 00:09:59,679 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 4: Is that amazing God will use us to preach the gospel. 158 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 4: The Apostle's words stirred up deep anger, even hatred among 159 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 4: the council they wanted these men dead, but a lone 160 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,680 Speaker 4: voice of reason stood up to speak. A man named 161 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 4: Gamaliol reminded the council of others who had come before 162 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 4: and led movements, and eventually these movements went away. But 163 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 4: then Gamaleo spoke these words in Acts five thirty eight 164 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,440 Speaker 4: to thirty nine. So in the present case, I can 165 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,840 Speaker 4: tell you keep away from these men and let them alone. 166 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 4: For if this plan or this undertaking is of men, 167 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 4: it will fail. But if it is of God, you 168 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,680 Speaker 4: will not be able to overthrow them. You might even 169 00:10:42,760 --> 00:10:48,320 Speaker 4: find yourself opposing God. Well, his words were convincing, and 170 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 4: the council took his advice. They had no reason to 171 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 4: hold or imprison these men, so they released them. But 172 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 4: first they beat them and threatened them and warned them 173 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 4: never to speak in the name of Jesus again. Well, 174 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 4: did this stop Peter and John and the rest of 175 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 4: the apostles and the work of the church. Not at all. 176 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 4: And rather than leave that place licking their wounds and 177 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 4: lamenting their persecution, they rejoiced that they were counted worthy 178 00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:20,199 Speaker 4: to suffer in the name of the Lord Jesus. What 179 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 4: the council meant for intimidation was actually fuel for their fire. 180 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:27,679 Speaker 4: They went out every day teaching in the name of Jesus, 181 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 4: preaching and telling more and more people what Christ could 182 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:35,000 Speaker 4: do for them if they would put their faith in him. Soon, however, 183 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 4: the patience of the council would run out and a 184 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 4: new enemy of the Gospel would emerge, a zealous young 185 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 4: rabbi by the name of Saul. We'll hear about him 186 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 4: the next time. Dear God, we thank you for today's reading, 187 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 4: which reminds us that you can do great things through 188 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 4: us when we are yielded and surrendered to You. When 189 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 4: we tell people about Jesus and the power of the 190 00:11:56,880 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 4: Holy Spirit, we remember that witnessing is sharing Jesus in 191 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,440 Speaker 4: the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results 192 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:08,199 Speaker 4: to God. So may we boldly witness and tell our 193 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:11,320 Speaker 4: family and friends and people that we meet of the 194 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 4: love and the grace of our Lord Jesus, no matter 195 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 4: what kind of opposition or resistance we face. May we 196 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 4: be courageous in sharing Christ in Jesus's name. Amen, thank 197 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 4: you for listening to today's Bible into your podcast, And 198 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 4: before we go, I wanted to let you know that 199 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:32,080 Speaker 4: the Bible into Your podcast is an outreach of PowerPoint 200 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 4: Ministries and can only come to you each week through 201 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 4: the support of listeners like you. Your support today is 202 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:42,600 Speaker 4: so important that we want to thank you for your 203 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 4: gift by giving you a copy of my book called 204 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 4: The Jesus Book. This book is a powerful guide that 205 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:51,680 Speaker 4: shows how every book in the Bible points to Christ 206 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 4: and how you can better read and understand the Bible 207 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 4: and how God's Word transforms our lives. So to get 208 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 4: your copy of The Jesus Book, simply go to Jagram 209 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 4: dot org slash Jesus. That's Jagraham dot org slash Jesus 210 00:13:07,520 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 4: and thank you for your support.