As they spoke to the people, priests and the captain of the temple, the Sadducees came upon them. Uh oh! The Sadducees were upset that Peter and John were teaching people about JC’s resurrection. So they grabbed them and held them until the next day. Many of the folks who heard the word believed, about five thousand men believed!
The next day the rulers, elders, scribes, Annas the high priest, Caisphas, John, Alexander, and the family of the Annas were gathered in Jerusalem. When they had the twelve in their midst they asked them “In who’s name, by what power are you doing this?”
Peter who was filled with the holy spirit answered “You rulers of the people, elders of Israel, if today we examined the good deed done to the helpless man, how is he made whole? I want all the people of Israel to know that he was healed in the name of JC of Nazareth, who you crucified, and God raised from the dead. He made this man whole. This s the stone that none of your builders wanted to use which became the cornerstone! There is no salvation in anyone else, because there is no other name under heaven that can save us.”
When they saw how bold Pete and John had become, knowing them to be unschooled and ignorant men, they marveled. They knew that they had been with JC. The saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
But they conferred amongst themselves outside of the council. They asked “What should we do with these men? I mean, it was a miracle, all of Jerusalem saw it, and we can’t deny that. So let’s not let this spread any further. Let’s flat out threaten them so they neve say this guy’s name again.” So they told everybody never to speak or teach in JC’s name again.
Peter and John told the “You judge whether you think we should listen to you rather than to God. We can’t help but talk about the things we have seen or heard.”
When they threatened them further, they ended up letting them go because they couldn’t find any reason to punish them, Because the people, all men glorified god for that which as done. The guy who had been healed had been over forty years old.
After they were let go they went back to the group and told them what the chief priest and elders had said. When the group heard this they lifted up this voices to God and say “Lord, God, who made heaven and earth and the sea and everything in them, who told your servant David to asked “Why the heathens rage and the people imagine vain things?”
Well, I’m sure the heathens are raging because they are being persecuted, or at least looked down on by you. And the people imagine vain things because, we are vain things. And look we still imagine vain things. I fantasize about have an excess of wealth and happiness on a regular bases and I’m sure I’m not alone in that. I also enjoy films about the high life.
The kings of the earth stood up… I like that, the kings of the earth! I mean it sounds like he’s talking about the whole planet but really he’s just talking about his little corner of the world. So the kings of the earth stood up and the rulers gathered against the Lord and his Christ. Herod, Pontius Pilate, the gentiles, and the people of Israel were gathered together to what the council had determined to be done.
Now Lord hear their treats, and grant us your servants who will boldly speak your word, and extend your hand to heal, and bring wonders done in the name of your holy child Jesus.
When they had prayed the place where they assembled started to shake, and they wee all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God boldy. And the big group of them were of one heart and soul, and they all wanted to share their possessions with one another for the common good. Along with the great power that was given to the apostles who witnessed the resurrection, was a great grace that was given to all of them.
Oh… they were communists!
No one lacked anything because a lot of the folk had sold their houses and land and brought the money and given it to the apostles who distributed according to every man’s need. The apostles gave Joses the surname Barnabas, which means the son of consolation. He was a Levite from Cyprus! He sold his land and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
I think it was nice of them to let Pete and John go. I might have made a false accusation against them and had them crucified, because how else can you get rid of these trouble makers? Just kidding.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that they all became communists, but communism doesn't usually support religions from my understanding of it.