They Know

Acts 5:26-29 At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. 27 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!”
 
THE apostles voluntarily went with the temple guards. They could have called to the crowd for support. Confidently they submitted to the guards.
   Why would they be concerned? Day after day they had seen God’s power affect great change among thousands of lives. A messenger from heaven had just brought them out of jail.  The apostles had complete confidence that as they obeyed the Lord’s commands, he was fulfilling his command and promise: Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Indeed, Jesus’ was with them through the Spirit and angels, protecting them and teaching them what to say. Mark 13:11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
   But the Sanhedrin didn’t know what to say. Despite all the evidence around them, they continued to deny Jesus’ Lordship. Refusing to submit to the Lord’s power, they strived to remain in power.
   But they were losing control. The apostles had rejected their orders to stop preaching the name (Notice the Sanhedrin refused to speak Jesus’ name.) The apostles, too, were determined to name the Sanhedrin as guilty of this man’s blood. The guilty wanted no part of their guilt. Their only defense was an attempt to silence the truth.
      That’s sin’s method. Silence the truth. Do not allow the facts to determine a just response. Keep power at all costs. From Cain’s sin to today’s unjust leaders, that has been the world’s way to power and control. Jesus’ came to overthrow that with his eternal truth. When the accusers want to silence the church, let’s be sure we model the apostles’ response. Know the truth. Faithfully tell the truth. Proclaim Jesus’ name as the name above all names. Trust he will give us what to say. Know we stand as his warriors against his accusers.