Devotion Acts 5:40-42 A Little More

Acts 5:40-42 – His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. 

Pastor Jon Courson (Pastor of Applegate Christian Fellowship in Oregon), in his New Testament Application Commentary wrote (concerning the above verses) “Winston Churchill once defined a fanatic as someone who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.  That’s what these guys did.  They wouldn’t their minds and they didn’t change the subject.  Knowing Jesus is the Lord, they kept talking about Him wherever they went.”  

I love this brief commentary of V’s 40-42 how the Apostles and in general, the early church, were not persuaded by anybody to do as Jesus had commanded in the “Great Commission” that Jesus gave to all His followers to take the Gospel throughout the world (Matthew 28:18-20).  Because they could not be kept silent the Gospel spread throughout the world and the world truly became a better place for all in the world.  The Gospel, a revelation of love, did not change everybody, but did change countless millions since the onset of the Church.  Yes, there have been many errors, many horrors by the church, but nevertheless God has used the church to bless the world.  The primary way is the sharing of the Gospel.  Nothing is more important than if a person will end up in Heaven or in Hell.  Let’s not be dissuaded!  Let’s not be shut up!  Let’s be, as the Apostles and first generation followers of Jesus were, fanatics.  Sounds great!  Praise God!