Acts 4:14 "And beholding the (made whole) man which was healed standing with them, they ( the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees) could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. 17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. 22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed."There are several ;points to these passages:
- Everyone saw a man crippled for life stand upright (verse 14)
- Even the skeptics were convinced (verse 14)
- The skeptics self authorized the silencing of those who were magnifying Jesus (verse 16)
- The skeptics were convinced that a miracle occurred (verse 16).
- The skeptics knew that the people of Jerusalem saw it too. There was no way to deny that it happened. There were just too many witnesses to say otherwise (verse 16)
- They made a plan to conceal the miracle from spreading (verse 17).
- The plan expanded: that no man speak in Jesus name (verse 17).
- Those in power commanded that the disciples not speak Jesus' name nor even teach truth about Jesus.(verse 18).
- Peter and John declared that God's law was superior to the law of men (verse 19).
- Peter and John declared that they must speak the truth, meaning that concealing the truth is spreading a lie (verse 20).
- The skeptics and the authorities intimidated the disciples by threats (verse 21).
- Because they had done no wrong, the authorities were forced to release them (verse 21)
- Those who stood for truth were those who prevented further persecution (verse 21).
- Why? Because almost all the witnesses believed the truth and gave God the credit (verse 21).
- The proof was in the pudding: This old guy, crippled for 41 years was healed! Truth prevailed among those who witnessed it (verse 22)!
I'm not sure that a comparison needs to be made to the times right here as exists today; it's just too obvious! Maybe this sentence should conclude the comparison.
However, I'll proceed!
Everyone saw what happened then. Likewise, today, even when miracles are witnessed, science is given the credit. Skeptics then, at least were more honest than those today! The skeptics then made no attempt to credit fate, herbs nor the environment for the miracle. Today skeptics would find something else for the miracle. The first inclination of people, even Christians, today is to find any reason other than God for great things happening; those which are beyond explanation.
In this case, the work of God was undeniable. The miracle was done in Jesus' name and Jesus healed the man! Everybody saw it, and even the skeptics believed!
Can you imagine; some of the authorities went home that night and had this conversation: "Honey, I saw the most unbelievable thing today. A man crippled for life was healed. He didn't take any medicine nor food, no one treated him, but after being crippled for 41 years, he stood and walked as well as I do! The disciples worked wonders with power. They only had to call on their dead prophet Jesus. They said his name 'Jesu' and the man not only walked, but had an inexplicable joy!" To which his wife replies "So you believe what you saw?" He respomded :Yes, we all believe it was a miracle!" She asked "Then why are you attempting to silence what surely is of God?" His answer "Because it doesn't fit in with what I've always believed!"
Everyone believed what they saw. It could not be explained away! If we compare the skeptics of then to those now, at least then there was some integrity in espousing truth! Just think of now. Hillary Clinton and her spokesmen would "spin" what happened. It doesn't matter how obvious the truth would be; they can deceive even the elect (Christians) by the skill they have in deception!
Hillary would say "Fundamentalist Christians today advancing the cause of Republicans, staged a miracle to benefit their own right-wing beliefs. They found a man, previously cured by great doctors, had him continue a facade of being crippled for life, said Jesus' name, then claimed that Jesus did the healing! Because I'm not easily fooled and don't buy their deception, neither should you! You can't fool science! You can't fool educated people!"
It is to be noted that Peter and John were called "unlearned and ignorant" (verse 13), and most of the skeptics were surely educated. The skeptics took a superior attitude. These skeptics were much like the progressives of this day; we're not to be fooled by the facts! It's the narrative which is of utmost importance!
"Narrative" is a word assigned a new meaning. Today a "narrative" is the conversation which favors the initiative. Truth is not to interfere with the goal of the plan. For instance in the 2012 election the narrative was: 1) Obama as promised removed our troops from Iraq and there was no further need for them there, and 2) terrorism is contained. All his spokesmen were to follow this narrative regardless of what was happening. If they didn't the people would learn of their failures and vote Republican. No mention was to be made of truth and all were to further the lie. It worked. Obama won the election. His people took truth and changed it until lies became truth. That method of lying is called "spin", hence the need for O'Reilly's, The Factor, "No Spin Zone"!
In the case of the miracle, even the skeptics knew that "spin" would fail. There was no attempt to develop a narrative (see Hillary's above). They accepted the truth, but made an attempt to contain truth so it would do no further damage to their own theology. When truth fails, people turn to threats!
Even today, if people can't be silenced about God's truths, the authorities use threats! Today, it's fines and/or jail time. Recently, Rowan County, Kentucky clerk Kim Davis was jailed, not for a crime, but to silence her belief. Judge Bunning used the ultimate threat to silence her. She was jailed. The authorities didn't want her faith to cause others to do the same. Governor Beshear was the "captain of the temple" who colluded and Judge Bunning was the Sadducee who did the intimidation!
To society, to the people and to the authorities there is one name especially intimidating to them. It's the name of Jesus which repulses even the most tolerant of people. Tolerance stops with the speaking of Jesus' name! It doesn't bother society much at this time that people have faith in Jesus; they just don't want his name spoken in public nor taught!
The "wall of separation of church and state" is the biggest lie ever foisted upon the American people! Rather than preventing the use of God in government our Constitution guarantees the right to speak Jesus name anywhere, anytime and by anyone! Kim Davis was acting within her guaranteed rights!
Right now, threats work pretty well in silencing most people! Kim Davis has been hard to silence. By tricky maneuvers she has been quieted. The skeptics have threatened her: "You will go back to jail!"
Societies desire is to keep people ignorant of God. When Christians are silenced there is no threat to their own power nor vices. Weak Christians allow themselves to be silenced. Although society labels Christians "unlearned and ignorant" that's merely what they wish that we were!
Those "uneducated and ignorant" men of Acts wrote the most profound words ever written by any men! They spread the religion of the servant who would become the king who many worship and most have heard and have been influenced! As learned and educated men looked down their nose at those who simply believed truth, learned men today despise us simply because we believe in and call on Jesus! That's the truth!
Oh, by the way, Kim Davis claimed that God's Law has precedence over the laws of men. So did Peter and John!
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