When is the Right Time to Speak Up. (Acts 5: 12-42)

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Welcome:

Hello and welcome ! Today, we’re diving into an important topic that many of us struggle with: knowing the right time to speak up and share the gospel. We’ll be exploring Acts 5:12-42, a passage that offers valuable insights into seizing opportunities, facing opposition, and trusting in God’s timing.

Study Notes: When is the Right Time to Speak Up?

Introduction

• Theme: Understanding the right time to share the gospel.
• Scripture: Acts 5:12-42

Key Points

1. A Time of Opportunity (Acts 5:12-16)
   • Context: The apostles are performing miracles and gaining favor among the people at Solomon’s Colonnade.
   • Lesson: Seize the moment to share the gospel when opportunities arise.
   • Application: Look for moments in your daily life where you can share your faith without hindrance.
2. A Time of Opposition (Acts 5:17-24)
   • Context: The apostles face jealousy and opposition from the high priest and Sadducees, leading to their imprisonment.
   • Lesson: Be prepared to speak up even when faced with opposition.
   • Application: Trust in God’s directives and continue to witness for Christ, even when it involves risk.
3. A Time of Oppression (Acts 5:25-42)
   • Context: The apostles are re-arrested, beaten, and commanded not to preach in Jesus’ name but continue to do so.
   • Lesson: Persist in sharing the gospel regardless of the circumstances.
   • Application: Recognize that faithfulness in witness may involve suffering, but God’s support and deliverance will be present.

Practical Observations

• Look for Opportunities: Actively seek moments to share the gospel. Avoid waiting for a perfect time that may never come.
• Trust in God: Whether through supernatural means or everyday circumstances, God will support you as you share His word.
• Be Consistent: Preach the gospel both publicly and privately, during favorable times and in the face of opposition.

Final Thoughts

Sharing the gospel is a vital part of our Christian walk. Acts 5:12-42 teaches us that there is no perfect time to share the gospel—every moment is an opportunity. Whether facing opportunity, opposition, or oppression, we are called to be bold and faithful in our witness for Christ.

Thank you for joining us in this study. Let’s commit to being courageous and consistent in sharing our faith, trusting that God will work through us in every circumstance.

Transcript

When is the Right Time.  (Acts 5:12-42)

Transcript. 

As we all know, the Lord has given us a commission to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. But the simple truth is, we often don't follow through. You know that, and I know that.

One reason we might not fulfil this commission is that we rationalize our inaction. We tell ourselves that it's just not the right time, that maybe a better time will come along. We think, "I'll do it later." But does that opportunity to share the gospel ever really come if we keep waiting for the perfect moment?

This brings us to the question: When is the right time to share the gospel? Is there a right time? If so, what is it? 

In our study of the Book of Acts, we've come across a passage that I believe illustrates something about the timing issue in our witness for Christ. Today we turn to Acts chapter 5, where we'll pick up from where we left off last time. These stories are connected, and as we read, we'll see how they relate to the theme of timing in our witness. 

Now, admittedly, this is a long passage of scripture we are going to look at today. But what is presented here is basically simple. I would like for us today to walk through it and try and glean from it a couple of lessons we can use in our own personal walk with the Lord. And that’s the subject of today’s episode of TBPDP….

The story is straightforward. It begins with the apostles ministering to people in the area of the temple. Let's call this portion of the passage "A Time of Opportunity."

In verse 12-16, we read.

12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

So the apostles are in Solomon's Porch, performing many signs and wonders. They were healing people and performing miracles, and importantly, they had the freedom to do so without interference. The people value what they were doing, and many believers were added to the Lord.

This period of unmolested ministry was a significant opportunity for the apostles to share the gospel and demonstrate God's power. It reminds us that sometimes, the right time to share the gospel is simply when we have the opportunity. The apostles didn't wait for a better time; they seized the moment.

In our lives, we may encounter similar opportunities—moments when we can share our faith without hindrance. The challenge for us is to recognize these moments and take advantage of them. We must not fall into the trap of waiting for a perfect time that may never come. Instead, let's be bold and share the gospel whenever we have the chance, trusting that God will work through our efforts.

In the next part of the story, the apostles will face opposition from the high priest and the Sadducees. They are arrested and put in prison, but an angel of the Lord releases them and instructs them to continue teaching in the temple. Despite the risk, the apostles obey and return to the temple to preach. This demonstrates that sometimes, the right time to share the gospel is when God gives us a clear directive, even if it involves risk. 

Luke has already pointed that many believers were increasingly added to their number, both men and women.

They heard that message and believed it. In other words, they became believers; they became Christians as we would say. Evangelism was going on.

Luke says they brought out the sick into the streets (verse 15) and laid them on beds and couches. Now, when we hear the word 'couch', we might think of living room furniture, but this was probably more like a bed or a pallet.

Some suggest this indicates that both the rich and the poor were coming. Then it says in verse 15 that they hoped the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Now, that almost sounds like a superstitious kind of thing—hoping that Peter’s shadow would fall on them, and they would get some kind of healing from it. But it’s probably not that at all. 

At any rate, these opening verses (verses 12-16) simply tell us that the multitude gathered from all over the place, and great salvation and healing were taking place. This was a great opportunity for the apostles and the church, and as a result, they were expanding.

So before we move to the next section, let me just pause and point out that they had freedom, favour with the people, and the blessing of God. They used that opportunity, and as a result, many multitudes came to the Lord.

I’m going to call this next portion "A Time of Opposition." It sets in starting at verse 17 where we’re told .

17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” 21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

(Acts 5: 17-21)

The religious leaders of the day, and they didn’t like what was going on at all. The text says they were filled with jealousy. 

Here, the religious leaders are filled with jealously/indignation. These religious leaders are upset because of what the apostles are preaching. Others say these leaders were jealous of what was going on. I suggest it may be both: they were jealous of the apostles drawing attention and crowds, and they had already declared themselves against Jesus, so they were very upset.

So, the fall on the apostles and put them in the prison. So, the opposition is intensifying. In chapter 4, Peter and John were arrested; now, apparently, all the apostles are arrested. The religious leaders think they have to do something to stop this—they’re gaining too much attention, and too many people are being persuaded. So, they threw them in prison.

I’d like to point out that the situation changed rather dramatically. Just a short time before, they were enjoying the favour of the crowd, and now, suddenly, they find themselves in prison. 

But the story gets really interesting, because at night, an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out.'" Notice how the Lord did this—He sent an angel. There’s some humour here if you know some background: these religious leaders were the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection or the existence of angels. So, the Lord sends an angel to free the apostles.

21 When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. 22 But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So, they went back and reported, 23 “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” 24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

(Acts 5: 21-24)

The high priest then calls the council together, and they ask to have the apostles brought to them. But when the officers arrived, they found the prison shut securely, with the guards standing outside. So, they returned and reported they are now standing in the temple teaching the people.

Before I go on, let me just pause for a second. This is that period of opposition I mentioned earlier, and it's intensifying from the last chapter. 

They’ve gone from a period of freedom and favour to jealousy and jail. 

What I take from this is you never know what's going to happen next. If you're a pastor and the phone rings, you never know—it could be someone telling you they just had one of the greatest spiritual victories of their entire life, or it could be someone telling you that somebody they love just passed away or has been taken to the hospital. 

When it's a really interesting day, you get all three at the same time. Life is like that, isn’t it? It's no mistake that the terrain of the earth is made of mountains and valleys; to remind us that life is made of mountains and valleys. When I'm in the valley, I remember there's a mountain coming, and when I'm on the mountain, I remember there's a valley coming. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, just realistic. The simple reality is that's all of life. Get used to it.

If today and you're on top of the mountain, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there's a valley coming. And if you in a bit of a valley, I have great news for you: there's a mountain coming. 

That's just the way it is, spiritually and in our witness for Christ. Sometimes we get those times when people respond and it's great. Other times, we hit those patches where it's just all uphill and there's opposition. That’s what's going on here.

They had this period of opportunity, then this period of opposition, and now they're back out preaching again. The leaders are not going to stand for that, so it’s going to get worse. I'm going to call this third period a period of oppression. It’s really going to get blue.

24 On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.

25 Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” 26 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.

27 The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “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.”

(Acts 5: 24-28)

The text tells us they were re-arrested without violence, for fear of the people—that they might be stoned. Without violence and without resistance, they were hauled back into court. There are two basic charges against them. 

The authorities said to them, "Didn’t we tell you not to preach in this name?" That’s exactly what they told them in chapter 4, verse 12. Now they said, "You have filled Jerusalem with this doctrine and intend to bring this man’s blood on us. We don’t like what you’re doing at all. You’re filling Jerusalem with this doctrine that Jesus is the Christ, and you are constantly blaming us for killing Him. We’re not happy with you."

Put yourself in Peter’s shoes or one of the apostles'. Just a few hours before, they had this great opportunity where everybody was loving it, and those that didn’t buy it at least had high regard for them.

Now they're standing before people who are very, very angry. What do you do? Let me tell you what Peter did.

Look at verse 29: Peter and the other apostles answered and said,

29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

(Acts 5: 29-32)

There’s the accusation again, filling Jerusalem with this doctrine, "saying whom you murdered by hanging on a tree." Wow, talk about bold! But they went on to say, "God has exalted Him to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins." 

Peter is preaching the gospel, and he's doing it rather robustly. He points his finger at them and says, "You murdered Him." But don’t worry; God intended for Christ to die so that your sins could be forgiven. Beyond that, God raised Him from the dead to give repentance to Israel.

They said, "We are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit." Look at verse 32: "We are witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him." 

What I want you to notice is: If you’re at all interested in telling people about Christ, this is one of the most encouraging things I can tell you: you witness, and so does the Holy Spirit. What the Holy Spirit does is use what we say. 

33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honoured by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

(Acts 5: 33-39)

If the religious leaders have their way, they will cause these people to be beaten and thrown in jail. At this point, a Pharisee stands up and says, "Wait a minute." He tells two stories about people in Israel who got a following, but that following came to nothing. He argues in verse 39, "If it is of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest you be found to fight against God." 

They agreed with him, called the apostles, beat them, and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus before letting them go.

My point is this: God delivered them again, at least from jail, but He didn't do it supernaturally this time. The first time they got thrown in jail, He sent an angel who let them out. This time, He used an unregenerate Pharisee who decided to only beat them before letting them go. His logic wasn't exactly correct because he assumed that history always repeats itself. 

He brought up two historical cases and assumed that what happened with those two would happen with the apostles, which we know doesn't necessarily follow. 

He also argued that if something is of God, it will succeed, and if it is not of God, it will fail. That's not true either; there are plenty of things that are not of God that do succeed. He failed to consider the sinfulness of man and the presence of Satan in the world. False things do succeed on some occassions. 

Mark Twain said, "A lie runs around the earth while truth is still putting on its shoes."

Cults grow, though they are not preaching the truth. 

What test would they use to determine whether or not it was successful? What is success? No matter how you look at it, this wisdom is foolishness. His argument, if examined carefully, isn't accurate.

But the Lord used the foolishness of men to confound the wise, and they were let out of prison.

I called this oppression rather than just opposition because this time, as verse 40 tells us.

40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and let them go.

41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

They were beaten. A Jewish beating was different from a Roman beating. A Roman beating had no limit; a Jewish beating was 40 stripes minus one, so each of them got a lashing on their back with 39 stripes. 

You might think that experiencing that kind of physical pain would be a time to shut up or speak up. Here’s what they said in verse 41: "So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing." 

Rejoicing that they counted it an honour to suffer shame for His name. Did it stop them? No, it didn’t. Daily in the temple and in every house, they carried on teaching and preaching about Jesus as the Christ. They were faithful to do what God had told them to do.

By the way, I want to wrap this up in a second, but I just want to point out one thing here. Earlier in the passage, the angel of the Lord commanded them to go preach in the temple. 

That was a reminder that the Lord had commanded this previously, and they did it. That’s God's method of angels: putting His truth in people and having them go talk. 

Now let me sum up and make some observations that I think might help us. 

The sum of this passage, as I see it, is rather simple: the apostles preached the gospel regardless of the circumstances. 

They did it when they had favourable opportunities, they did it when they had unfavourable opposition, and they did it even when they faced worse oppression in the form of beatings. No matter what happened, they just decided they were going to preach.

This leads me to make a couple of observations:

We ought to look for opportunities to preach the gospel. I do think there are situations in which you ought to be very careful and maybe even silent for the moment. 

On many occasions, Jesus told people not to tell anyone about Him because it wasn't the right time. There’s a principle in that. There are some situations where it’s not the right time to talk about the gospel, such as at work on the boss’s time. 

In 1 Peter 3, Peter tells wives not to preach to their husbands who have already heard the gospel and tells them they will best win them over by their conduct. 

So, I concede that there are times when it’s wise not to talk about the gospel. But if you use that as an excuse too much, you’ll never talk about the gospel.

On the other hand, we need to look for opportunities, and this passage beautifully illustrates how the apostles did that. When they were commanded not to preach and teach in the name of Jesus, they did it anyway. 

When they were arrested and asked to give a defence, their defence was the gospel. They were looking for every opportunity to talk about the Lord, and we should do the same. 

We should be as faithful and consistent as they were. They were in season and out of season, during periods of opportunity, opposition, and even oppression, they were faithful to preach the gospel whether they were treated with the highest regard or beaten as common criminals. 

They proclaimed the gospel both publicly in the temple and privately in homes, looking for every opportunity to preach. Now, there's going to be opposition, and you've got to use wisdom because the reality is that there are times when those who are right with God are in trouble with the government, just as happened here. 

But in the midst of all that, you want to look for opportunities to talk about the Lord.

The second thing I would say is to trust the Lord. They did. 

As I pointed out, God delivered them supernaturally, and God delivered them naturally as well. 

So if you are wise as serpents and harmless as doves, talking to people about the Lord, He will take care of you. Trust Him to handle the consequences, and you focus on the command to preach the gospel.

I have one fianl suggestion from this passage. 

The first is to look for every opportunity to preach, which they did. The second is to trust the Lord, no matter the circumstances, which they also did. 

The third is to maintain a good attitude, no matter what happens. 

Notice what happened: they preached, they got arrested, they had a good attitude; they preached again, they got arrested, and then beaten. And the text says. "They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name." They had a good attitude, no matter what was happening.

I suggest to you that if we are really obeying the Lord by looking for opportunities to witness and if we are trusting the Lord, then we will also have a good attitude.

Your attitude may be doing more witnessing than your mouth, both positively and negatively. Just the fact that they were willing to rejoice was a great testimony to everyone around them. 

By the way, this applies to more than just evangelism. Could we have a better attitude next week? Could rejoice a little more in the Lord, trust the Lord a little more, and not be quite so negative? I think maybe so. This applies not just to witnessing and evangelism but to other areas of our lives as well.

I want to conclude by quoting someone who said it more eloquently than I can ever imagine. William Temple said.

"Christians are called to the hardest of tasks: to fight without hatred, to resist without bitterness, and in the end, if God grants it, to triumph without vindictiveness."

Isn't that great? Because, as we go through life, whether obeying the Lord's command to witness or in other ways, and we face opposition if we're not careful, we can becaomebitter. It can bubble up into anger and, at its worst, turn into vindictiveness. 

There's a progression there. So, let me repeat it one more time: As Christians are called to the hardest of tasks—to fight without hatred, to resist without bitterness, and, in the end, if God grants it, to triumph without great joy.