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The Apostles who Disappeared from Jail

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But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." (Acts 5:19~20)

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After Jesus went up to heaven, the disciples gained surprising power.

They told about Jesus everywhere, after they received the Holy Spirit and became courageous.

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The apostles worked surprising miracles with the power of the Holy Spirit. When they prayed the sick and demon-possessed, were healed. The number of people who believed Jesus increased a lot everyday.

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The people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.

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 The people heard that the apostles had power so they gathered from several villages around Jerusalem. They brought the sick and the demon-possessed people to the apostles and they were healed.

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The high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees were filled with jealousy. "I can't stand them anymore!"

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They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail for Peter and the disciples not to continue to preach the gospel. The apostles were arrested while preaching Jesus.

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However, a surprising thing occurred in jail at midnight. During the night, an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.

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The angel of the Lord said, "Go, stand in the temple courts, and tell the people the full message of this new life." The apostles went out of jail without the guards noticing.

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At daybreak, the apostles entered the temple courts, as they had been told.

They began to teach the people about the gospel there.

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The next morning, the high priest found out that the apostles had disappeared so he sent soldiers to arrest them again. The apostles were brought before the high priest.

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They said to the apostles. "We ordered you not to teach about Jesus anymore, yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching. You talk as if we killed Jesus?"

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Peter said bravely. "Which words do we obey, men or God? We must obey God rather than men! God raised Jesus from the dead whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree."

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At that the assembly tried to kill the apostles. But they thought that God was with them and gave them only a beating. Then they let them go.

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The apostles were pleased that they were beaten because of Jesus. They regarded it as an honor to get in trouble for Jesus. They kept eagerly telling others about Jesus wherever they went.

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God is pleased with the faithful people who testify about Jesus. God helps people preach Jesus when they are in trouble. When we preach Jesus, God is with us. I hope you preach Jesus wherever you are like the apostles.