Check out all the previous Acts readings here.
Acts Reading Plan | Week 5 | Day 3
Prayer
Pause. Breathe in and then very slowly out. Do that three times. This helps your mind become more present. In John 10, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.” As you pause to spend time with Jesus, ask Him to guide you like a shepherd.
Bible Reading: Acts 5:25-32
Read these verses three times slowly.
Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 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.
The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “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.”
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Reflection & Questions
What an amazing thing the apostles were accused of: “You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching.” That’s pretty cool! What if we were accused of filling our homes, our neighborhoods, our towns, our social media page, with the gospel!
What was motivating the apostles? “We must obey God rather than human beings!”, they said. They pushed through their fears, doubts, struggles, persecutions, and even those who said “you can’t teach about Jesus” – because they loved and obeyed God first. Their priorities were in order. We should do the same. Stop letting our fears, doubts or those around us, prevent us from putting our love and obedience of God first. Let’s commit with the apostles and say, “We must obey God rather than human beings!”
- How can you be more bold in your talking with others about Jesus?
- Can you echo the priority of the apostles? Why or why not?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
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Questions?
Ed Applegate
