Summary Acts 5:17-25

Peter and John were put in prison by the high priest and a sect of the Sadducees for preaching the truth of the gospel of Christ to the people and for healing people in the name and power of Jesus Christ. But that night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said to them, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” But the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard that the apostles were standing in the temple teaching the people.

Acts 5:26-32 NKJV

Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”

29But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Called of God to Make Disciples

We who are followers (disciples) of Jesus Christ are called of God to make disciples of Christ of the people of the world, teaching them to obey our Lord’s commands. We are to be his witnesses in taking the message of the gospel to the ends of the earth. For we are to proclaim the excellencies of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light. And we are to speak the truth in love to one another so none of us are led astray by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming to believe the lies.

We are also to be teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, addressing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. And we are to be exhorting one another daily so that none of us may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. And we are to not neglect meeting together, but we are to be encouraging one another, stirring up one another to love and good works. And those caught in sin we are to restore back to a right relationship with the Lord. And all this we are to do in the power of God within us.

[Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 28:18-20; John 4:31-38; John 13:13-17; John 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 26:18; Romans 10:14-15; Galatians 6:1: Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 5:11-21; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25; James 5:19-20; 1 Peter 2:9,21; 1 John 2:6]

We will Be Persecuted

If truly we are doing what our Lord has called us to do, and if we are spreading the good news of the gospel of Christ to the people of the world, and if we are ministering to the body of Christ for their encouragement and spiritual growth and maturity of faith, and if we are teaching everyone that we must, as followers of Christ, obey our Lord’s commands, and put sin to death in our lives, then we may be hated, rejected, ridiculed, mocked, and forsaken, even by pastors, elders, and other professing Christians.

And we may be told that we must not teach the truth of the gospel as Jesus taught it, because it might offend people, and it might turn people away from wanting to attend the “church” services. Or they might try to convince us to accept an altered gospel that is more appealing to human flesh and to share that, instead. Or they might try to get us to hold off from presenting the message of the gospel until we have built a relationship with someone for at least two years. So either they will silence us or try to redirect us.

But we need to respond back respectfully, in the power of the Spirit of God, and tell them, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” And then we need to share with them the truth of the gospel, that Jesus taught that if we are to come after him that we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, and we do not obey our Lord and his commands, in practice, we will not have salvation from sin nor eternal life with God in heaven.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

Should I Not Preach Jesus

Based off 1 Corinthians 9:16-10:13
An Original Work / July 4, 2013
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Woe to me should I not preach Jesus.
I’m compelled to preach the full gospel.
I make myself a slave to ev’ryone
To win their hearts to Christ.
All this I do for my Lord Jesus,
And for the sake of His Name;
Do it for the sake of His gospel,
So that I, its blessings gain.

Scripture notates the sins of others;
Written down for us as examples
To keep us from setting our hearts
On evil as did those of old.
Do not worship other gods of man;
Do not give your hearts to them;
Not partake in immorality.
Do not test your Lord and King.

So, be careful if you think you are
Standing firm in your faith in Jesus.
God has given his word to warn us,
So through faith we will not fall.
No temptation has o’ertaken you
Except what is commonplace.
God is faithful to not let you be
Tempted past what you can bear.
He gives the way of escape.

We Must Obey God
An Original Work / May 23, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love