Acts 5:25, commentary and pictures

An angel opened the prison by night, led the apostles past the guard and charged them to speak in the temple all the words of this life, which they obeyed at once early in the morning despite the rulers' contrary order, so that officers found the prison still securely shut and guarded with no one inside and were amazed to hear the men were standing in the temple teaching the people. What they taught there was a clear and bold testimony to Christ's work and mission, including His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, confirmed by signs and miracles so that believers were greatly increased. They were brought back before the council without violence because the officers feared the people would stone them, for their deliverance was a token of God's care and presence yet did not spare them examination and punishment, it being now their part to suffer for Jesus whom they preached. Imprisonment and opposition could not stop their public proclamation, for God's government is above human law and He intervenes to keep His truth preached, and it is right to hearken to God more than to men when preaching in the name of Jesus is forbidden. The same God who delivered then lives to deliver and requires the same obedience when a spurious Sunday sabbath is enforced by oppression and threats that none may buy or sell without keeping it.

Freed Prisoners Preaching Again

This moment comes at the close of the fifth chapter of Acts, after Ananias and Sapphira died for lying to the Holy Ghost and keeping back part of the price, and after many signs and wonders were done by the hands of the apostles so that multitudes were added to the Lord. By night an angel opened the prison doors and led the apostles through the guard, commanding them to go into the temple and speak all the words of this life. They obeyed at once early in the morning without consulting the magistrates, though the command was directly contrary to the order of the Jewish rulers.

When the council sent officers for the prisoners, the prison was still found securely shut and bolted with the keepers standing outside the doors, yet no man was inside. Then came word that the men put in prison were standing in the temple and teaching the people, and the report amazed the rulers. The high priest with the council and senate had assembled to examine the prisoners.

They had resolved to fix charges of insurrection and murder upon them, including murdering Ananias and Sapphira and conspiring to take away priestly authority and put the priests to death. They hoped to stir the mob against the apostles as had been done to Jesus. At the same time they knew many who did not believe in Christ were weary of their arbitrary rule and wanted change, and they feared that if such people accepted Jesus as Messiah the anger of the people would turn against the priests themselves for the murder of Christ.

What the freed men taught in the temple in Jerusalem was a clear, bold testimony given through the power of the Holy Spirit. Their words and works represented Jesus, setting forth Christ's work and mission including His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. Their ministry was accompanied by signs and miracles, and the number of believers increased, with hundreds joining faith in a crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour whom the priests had sought to silence by imprisonment. The captain with the officers then brought them back before the council without violence because they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.

Their miraculous deliverance was a token of God's care and an assurance of His presence, yet it did not save them from examination and punishment. In fulfillment of Christ's warning while He was with them that they would be delivered up to councils, it was now their part to suffer for the sake of Jesus whom they preached. The people had been so wrought upon by what they had seen and heard that the priests and rulers knew it was impossible to excite them or the mob against the apostles. Then the high priest charged them with disobeying the strict order not to teach in the name of Jesus, with filling Jerusalem with their doctrine, and with intending to bring the blood of Jesus upon the rulers.

Obeying God Above Men

Imprisonment and opposition could not stop public proclamation, for after an angel released them from prison the men put there were found standing in the temple and teaching the people in obedience to God's command despite the authorities' prohibition against preaching in Jesus' name. Their deliverance did not spare them from questioning or punishment, for they were still brought back before the council without violence because the officers feared the people, yet their preaching continued openly despite the danger and the rulers' attempt to silence them. God has a work to accomplish on earth in order that truth shall triumph and cannot be stopped by imprisonment or opposition.

God's government is above human law and He intervenes to keep His truth preached, sending His angel to free His servants from prison when the priests forbade preaching in the name of Jesus Christ and commanding them to go and make known God's words. Therefore when the officers came for the prisoners they were not in prison but were standing in the temple teaching the people. Preaching must continue despite official prohibition, for it is right to hearken to God more than to men, as they answered when brought without violence before the council and questioned and charged for teaching in that name.

The same God who lived and delivered then lives to deliver and requires the same obedience to God rather than men when the spurious Sunday sabbath is enforced by oppression and threats that none may buy or sell without keeping it. The close of the fifth chapter of Acts after the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira for lying to the Holy Ghost and keeping back part of the price and after many signs and wonders by the hands of the apostles with multitudes added to the Lord warns that deceptive work will just as surely bring the Lord's punishment and judgment upon the actors. That includes dealings in the Lord's work that are not straightforward but oppressive and unjust, using lawyers to take advantage, every hindrance, every exorbitant price exacted, every connivance of fraud, and diverting His means into a wrong channel.