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- Why was God’s reaction so severe?
- Does thus mean that every time we lie, we’re going to die?
- What are three ways that this chapter applies to our lives and/or the life of the church today?
- Should the Gospel be preached to the Unclean Gentiles?
- Can the Unclean Gentiles be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit?
- Why are Gentiles not required to follow the same rules as the Jews?
- Why cant you still answer such easy questions?
RichardAnna Boyce
4 etc ……. Acts 5:31-33
5:31. Peter relates the post-Ascension work of the Lord to Israel specifically. Not only had the God of their fathers raised up Jesus, He also “exalted Him to His right hand as Prince (cf. Acts 3:15; Heb 2:10; 12:2) and Savior” to their benefit. The right hand designates the place of royal privilege next to God the Father. Prince identifies Him as the Pacesetter or exemplary Leader or Captain whose career of suffering on the way to glory believers ought to follow (cf. Heb 2:10; 12:2). Savior relates to His work of delivering those who belong to Him as they pursue the same path to glory that He Himself trod before them. To give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins specifies the national repentance of Israel that would result in forgiveness of sins regarding their guilt as a nation. As in Peter’s speech on the Day of Pentecost the forgiveness here identifies the unfettered fellowship that the nation would enjoy with their God.
5:32. Peter then specifies the role of the Twelve—“we are His witnesses to these things.” They played a principal role in communicating these truths to Israel and thus they spoke officially for God. But they did not speak on their own. “The Holy Spirit” testified along with them (by granting them the ability to work confirmatory miracles and by enabling them to speak boldly and precisely about the Lord Jesus). Peter specifies that God had given the Holy Spirit “to those who obey Him.” With this Peter implies that these religious leaders had not obeyed the Lord. They had not believed in the Messiah for eternal life, and also they had fought against Him.
5:33. The response of the leaders differs significantly from that of the hearers on the Day of Pentecost. Killing the Twelve would not rid them of all believers, but it would silence the primary witnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Their response betrays their guilt and identifies them as those who do not obey Him (cf. 5:32). Their murderous intentions later escalate to the actual murder of Stephen.