Infuriated council members

The apostles, standing before the Sanhedrin, replied, “We must obey God rather than men.” Hearing the apostles’ bold testimony, the members of the council became infuriated. “They became infuriated and nearly decided to execute them.” (1) The council members became infuriated because the apostles testified as follows: (a)They declared that the responsibility for Jesus’ death lay with the Sanhedrin. (b) They powerfully testified about Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension. (c) Furthermore, they declared that the numerous miracles occurring were the work of Jesus who had ascended. (d) They testified that this Jesus will give Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. (e) They are witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, and the Holy Spirit also bears witness to these events. (2) Let’s take a close look at the verb “infuriated.” (a) In Greek, the verb is “diaprio.” (b) NASB1995 renders it as “cut to the quick.” (c) This word conveys a nuance of the heart being torn apart or being stabbed in the heart. (d) In Acts 2:37, people’s hearts were cut because of a sense of guilt: “Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what are we to do?’” The people responded to Peter’s message with repentance. (e) Here, the council members’ hearts were cut by anger. The leaders responded with anger and hostility. (3) The “nearly decided to execute them,” but this would be a violation of the Law. (a) The central question of the interrogation in Acts chapter 4 was, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” (Acts 4:7). The council was investigating whether the apostles’ healing acts were powered by demonic forces, which, if true, would result in stoning. (b) In contrast, the sin being accused in Acts chapter 5 is disobedience to the authority of the Sanhedrin, which is not a capital offense. Nevertheless, they began plotting to execute them, despite lacking legal justification. Persecution was well within the apostles’ expectation. They remembered the words of warning from the Lord Jesus (Matt. 23:34-35). Jesus had prophesied not only His own Passion but also the suffering of His disciples. The messengers sent by Jesus would face the same kind of suffering as He did. We, too, must be prepared for the persecution and suffering that we will face for our faith. The Lord Jesus will be with us even in suffering.