Jerusalem is in turmoil. A new religion has come forth and is threatening to bring down the wrath of the Roman government on the heads of the Jewish hierarchy who have been allowed to hold onto a modicum of power because they could control the people. Now a significant number of the Jewish population is ignoring them, and in some cases confronting them. The loss of status and power is more than the priests, Pharisees and Sadducees can tolerate. And what if the Caesar-worshiping Romans decides to clamp down on the nation because of the mob’s infatuation with the dead carpenter? Something has to be done.

Verses seventeen and eighteen: The problem for the Jewish leaders was two-fold. Having a large number of Jews worshiping a dead, though supposedly living, God was cause for concern. However, this problem was manageable over the long term as the religion would eventually fade away and life would return to normal. The second problem, however, was not so easily solved. The miracles being performed by the Carpenter’s apostles were keeping Him front and center in the minds of the people and making His apostles even more popular than the Jewish leadership itself. Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, the nation’s high priest–the ultimate power in the church/state–rose up and, along with the Pharisees and Sadducees, expressed their indignation by laying their hands on the apostles and putting them in prison.

At this point let us take note of the parallel found in today’s church system. As happened anciently, when someone dares to speak God’s Biblical Truth to the religious establishment, the reaction is the same now as it was then–rejection of the messenger, the Word and the Lord (see ch. 7). Social law, and only social law, prevents the church from killing God’s messengers today. This will change. The Book of Revelation reveals that a time is soon coming when anyone who disagrees with the dictates of the Global Church will be killed. Many will be decapitated for doing so during the first two and a half years of the Great Tribulation when the False Prophet (Second Beast), having the power of the Antichrist and his government (First Beast) behind him, will exercise dictatorial power over the entire world. During this time only God’s true saints will be protected by Him. See Revelation and the Mysteries.

Verses nineteen through twenty-six: No sooner had the high priest placed the apostles in prison than they were released by the angel of the Lord who told them to go into the Temple and speak to the people “ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LIFE.” Note that they (and we) were to speak ONLY GOD’S WORDS–not church doctrine, denominational creeds, etc. Notice also that one must obey “THE WORDS” throughout “THIS LIFE”–“ALL” of them. When the high priest sent for them the following day, they found the prison shut, the doors closed and locked and the guards standing at their stations. But there was a problem as reported by those sent to get them: “But when we opened the doors we found no men inside.” Understandably, this sent a spiritual chill throughout the religious hierarchy. Added to this came the news that the men they had thrown into prison the day before were at that moment in the Temple teaching the people. Once again the apostles were arrested and brought before the rulers, this time with a gentler hand for the people held the apostles in high regard. L.J.