Worthy to Suffer for Jesus: Acts 5:40-42
“40) They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. 41) So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42) And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” Acts 5:40-42
What does it take to silence you? At what point do you shrink back from sharing the gospel or talking about Jesus? Do you fear ridicule, rejection or public rebuke? All of these things can be numbing.
Though the council accepted the advice of Gamaliel not to slay the apostles, they nevertheless flogged them. This was a whipping of 39 lashes. It was meant for both pain and public shame. But it had an unexpected affect on the apostles.
They went their way rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for Jesus. The punishment poured fuel on their resolve and added credibility to their message. Instead of being a deterrent, it had the opposite affect. They experienced the fulfillment of 1 Peter 4:14. They were blessed because the Spirit of glory and of God rested upon them. It amounted to a fresh unction and anointing.
They undoubtedly remembered the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:10-12 He spoke of the blessing on those who suffer for His sake. It is a tangible blessing unknown by cowards.
The chapter closes with them keeping their resolve to obey God rather than men. “42) And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” They kept preaching Jesus both publicly and privately. They signed their resolve with their own blood.
There is no greater validation of the resurrection of Jesus than the fact that all of the apostles were martyred for their faith except John. He suffered and endured much for the cause of the gospel, but he died of natural causes accompanying old age.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
