Following Christ is a path that regularly encounters opposition. In fact, the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). If you are walking close with Christ, you know whereof Paul spoke. The world is not a friend to Jesus Christ nor his followers. Jesus prayed to the Father as it related to his disciples “the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14).
In Acts 5 we see a clear illustration of this truth. Following the death of Ananias and Sapphira (for lying to the Holy Spirit), Luke records “by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people…and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women” (Acts 5:12, 14). The spread of the gospel and the advance of Christianity met with fierce resistance by the Jewish leaders. “Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him…and were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison” (Acts 5:17-18).
The Jewish authorities thought to silence the witness of the apostles by putting them in prison. “But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life” (Acts 5:19-20). The following morning the high priest along with the council and senate were quite surprised to find the apostles not in prison, but preaching in the temple. They confronted the apostles “Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name [Jesus’ name]?… ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine” (Acts 5:28-29).
It was at this point that the narrative touches each of us as believers personally. We read “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, we ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). God had opened the door (of the prison) and given the command (speak these words in the temple). The apostles had no choice but to obey. Therein is the lesson for us today. God gives command through his word and He opens the door of opportunity. But it is our responsibility to go through that door in obedience.
Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers of his ministry in Asia, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries” (I Corinthians 16:9). For the Christian, every open door comes with opposition. Even so, we ought to obey God rather than men. What door has God opened for you? Will you obey?
From the Chaplain 