Obeying God Rather Than Men

When God Opens Doors No One Can Shut - Acts 5:17-26

Dear Friends, the apostles were causing quite a stir in Jerusalem. People were being healed, crowds were gathering, and the news about Jesus was spreading fast. The high priest and the Sadducees were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.

But during the night, an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

At daybreak the apostles were back in the temple courts, boldly teaching about Jesus. Meanwhile the Sanhedrin gathered, sent for the prisoners, and were astonished to find the jail securely locked with the guards standing outside — but the cell empty.

The officers reported, “We found the jail locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” The captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were baffled.

Then someone came and told them, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.”

The officials brought the apostles back — but without force, because they feared the people might stone them. Standing before the council, the apostles were told, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than human beings!”

Point to Ponder: When God opens a door, no human lock can keep it shut. The same power that opened the prison doors is still at work today — calling us to speak “all the words of this Life.”

Verse to Remember: “But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.” (Acts 5:19 ESV)

Question to Consider: Is there a situation in your life right now where you feel “locked in” or silenced? What would it look like this week to obey God rather than fear people — and trust Him to open the right doors?

Article written by Shaun Fereday, Leader @SFGH Church