Acts 4:6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family.
When was the last time your family got together for a special event? How was it? For some families, these kinds of get togethers are nothing but an invitation for continuing the fight that has been going on for years, Round 37.
I wonder how people feel before these kinds of family get togethers? I imagine there is a lot of dread and regret, wishing it would be different, but realizing that things never seem to change in the family.
The disciples have a history with this high priestly family. This family had been instrumental in railroading Jesus to the Cross. The last time Scripture speaks of Annas and Caiaphas getting together was the morning of Jesus’ trail before Pilate and His crucifixion. It was not a good gathering.
So now our story picks up with the disciples. They have been empowered by the Holy Spirit and are continuing the ministry of Jesus. They are doing good. Miracles are happening. The leaders are once again out of control.
You see, Jesus has been eliminated, at least in their minds. But then He rises from the dead, creating a whole new set of witnesses to His power. His disciples have gathered and God’s wind-sound has overtaken the city of Jerusalem. Three thousand declare their faith in Jesus. Things are out of control.
Now the disciples are out and about in the Temple area.They see a beggar and healing flows. Again, word spreads and Jesus is more alive than ever before. Instead of just having one person disrupting the status quo, now there are hundreds declaring the power of Jesus to change lives.
So the religious leaders have to do something; they are desperate. Arrest them. That worked so well in the past! Won’t they ever learn? Arresting God at work, never works.
But Peter and John have been kept in prison for the night. Can you imagine waking up in prison the next morning and having to face the very same leaders who had just conspired to kill Jesus? They are going to be overseeing your trial. How do you feel about that?
But this is exactly what happens. They are brought before Annas and Caiaphas, along with the rest of the family. No chance of a fair hearing exists in this family. They work for the railroad!
The trail begins. “By what power or what name did you do this?” Seems all innocent, doesn’t it. But when you have the history they have just been through with Jesus, it would be tough to trust God in that moment.
But trust God is just what happens. Peter allows the Holy Spirit to be in the lead. Peter submits to the Holy Spirit’s leading and speaks boldly, powerfully. He starts with the reality; an act of kindness was done to a man. How could they object to that. Peter points out such an obvious error in their judgment. Do they really want to persecute over something like this?
This wasn’t an act of defiance. They were just walking into the Temple area as usual. The beggar was doing what beggars do. They responded and gave what they had. They had a new relationship with the Creator, and they allowed the power of God to flow through them. The man was healed.
If only we would be accused of an act of kindness like this! If only we would yield to the Spirit as Peter and John did. Are we a healing presence, or just another voice pushing a message in a divisive way?
The Arnold Journey 