Luke Wartgow | Carson Valley Bible Church
In the early days of Christianity, a powerful movement was sweeping through Jerusalem. The Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, were preaching the good news of Jesus Christ with boldness and performing miraculous healings. People were flocking to hear their message, and “more than ever, believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (Acts 5:14).
This gospel movement, however, faced fierce opposition from the religious leaders of the day. The High Priest and his associates, members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They couldn’t stand to see their authority challenged. In their zeal to maintain control, they had the Apostles arrested and thrown into prison.
But God had other plans.
In the dead of night, an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought the apostles out. The heavenly messenger gave them clear instructions: “Go, stand in the temple courts, and tell the people all about this new life” (Acts 5:20). Without hesitation, the Apostles obeyed, returning to the very place they had been forbidden to preach.
This angelic jailbreak serves as a powerful reminder that God is always aware of our circumstances. He is not distant or uninvolved but actively working to advance His purposes. When we face opposition or persecution for our faith, we can take comfort in knowing that God is for us and for His mission.
Peter then seized the opportunity to once again proclaim the core of the gospel message:
“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 Leader 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.” (Acts 5:30-32)
In these few sentences, we find the essence of the good news: Jesus’ death on the cross, His resurrection, His exaltation, and the gift of repentance and forgiveness. This message remains just as powerful and needed today as it was two thousand years ago.
Ultimately, the Apostles were beaten for their testimony but remained joyful despite the cost. The early church’s example challenges us to examine our own faith and commitment. They remind us that true joy doesn’t come from comfortable circumstances but from a life lived in obedience to Christ. They show us that the message of the gospel is worth any cost or sacrifice.
As we go about our daily lives – in our workplaces, our neighborhoods, our families – may we carry with us the same courage, joy, and unwavering faith that characterized those early believers. May we, like the Apostles, be found faithful in proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
In a world that often seems hostile to the message of Christ, let us take heart. If God is for us, who can be against us? May we be found faithful in our generation, just as they were in theirs.
Luke Wartgow is lead pastor at Carson Valley Bible Church