An angel brought the Apostles out of their prison cell, unbeknownst to the ruling council of Jerusalem who are about to try them for speaking the Name of Jesus AGAIN. When they discover that the Apostles somehow once again preach to the people in the Temple, they order the captain of the guard to bring them back to trial. He does so without violence or strong-armed coercion. Gamaliel in ‘a word to the wise’ cautions the Sanhedrin against zeal in their haste to prevail.
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. – Acts 5:29 NKJV
And as Simon Peter now enrages some by his boldness of speech, an important leader of the Sanhedrin, Gamaliel, stands and orders the Apostles to be removed from their court before sentencing.
He is not the high priest or even a member of the majority leading party of Sadducees. But the Pharisee Gamaliel obviously holds a high position of accountability as a minority leader who is involved in these proceedings.
Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while.
Acts 5:34 NKJV
35 And he said to them: “Men of Israel, [becareful] take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men [referring to the outspoken Apostles Peter and John].
Why do enraged leaders who demand instant justice even listen to reason?
Gamaliel holds a reputation of wise council and teaching respected even by those with other beliefs. In addition to God’s providential intervention (as Luke has just shown us by the angel’s leading of the Apostles back to the temple), Gamaliel is a political VIP. Look at his resume (below).
His Name:
Γαμαλιήλ, ὁ, (גַּמְלִיאֵל recompense of God [God, the Avenger, Fürst]; Numbers 1:10; Numbers 2:20), indeclinable (source: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1059: Γαμαλιήλ)
Gamaliel (distinguished by the Jews from his grandson of the same name by the title הַזָּקֵן, the elder),
a Pharisee and doctor of the law,
son of R. Simeon, grandson of Hillel, and
teacher of the apostle Paul.
He is said to have had very great influence in the Sanhedrin, and to have died [~A.D. 52} eighteen years before the destruction of Jerusalem.
A man of permanent renown among the Jews: Acts 5:34; Acts 22:3.
Recall now in hearing this caution of Gamaliel to Jerusalem's leaders in about A.D. 33 that Luke records these ACTS for readers some thirty years later after A.D. 61.
And he said to them, “Men of Israel, be careful as to what you are about to do with these men.
ACTS 5:35 NASB – Caution to the leaders of Jerusalem by Rabbi Gamaliel
The renowned rabbi Gamaliel gives them solid examples WHY the other leaders ought to be careful before they make a rash judgment against the Apostles.
36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him.
[YET] He was killed,
all his followers were dispersed,
and it all came to nothing.
37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led [drew away] a band of people in revolt.
He too was killed,
and all his followers were scattered.
These revolts from various Jewish wars against their Roman masters likely remained familiar to the Jews at the time Luke wrote ACTS of the Apostles just a few years before the fall of Jerusalem.
Gamaliel advises them to cease and desist
38 And so in the present case, I say to you, stay away [ἀφίστημι] from these men and leave them alone..
[As the rabbi likely paused here.. and as Gamaliel would have done frequently with his disciples to let his teaching sink in.. those hearing this respected Pharisee awaited his reason for such advice..]
..for if the source of this plan or movement is men, it will be overthrown..
[Of course, every man must have thought..]
but if the source is God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”
Acts of the Apostles 5:39 – the caution of Gamaliel to religious rulers of Jerusalem
[Oh.. (and perhaps some would have thought of the Psalm of David)]
A Psalm of David.
Do not get upset because of evildoers,
Do not be envious of wrongdoers.
For they will wither quickly like the grass,
And decay like the green plants.
For the LORD loves justice And does not abandon His godly ones; They are protected forever, But the descendants of the wicked will be eliminated.
Psalm 37:28 NASB20
θεομάχος – Fighting against God
Therefore Gamaliel concludes:
But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”
Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Encouraging the persecuted church three decades later
PUBLISHED ~A.D. 61 + Acts of the Apostles + a History of Christ’s Church
Luke tells us in these early stories of the ACTS of the CHURCH and of the APOSTLES in JERUSALEM why the Gospel JESUS CHRIST will cause believers much suffering.
Gamaliel, now known as the Apostle Paul’s mentor, has also died by now. History will continue to prove him right as the Church grows in Jerusalem, BUT NOT without much suffering.
Therefore, the early readers of ACTS will be personally encouraged by the example of the Apostles Luke records at the end of this section about the Church in Jerusalem.
The Jewish War and the Destruction of Jerusalem
There is scarcely another period in history so full of vice, corruption, and disaster as the six years between the Neronian persecution and the destruction of Jerusalem. The prophetic description of the last days by our Lord began to be fulfilled before the generation to which he spoke had passed away, and the day of judgment seemed to be close at hand. So the Christians believed and had good reason to believe.
Under the last governors, Felix, Festus, Albinus, and Florus, moral corruption and the dissolution of all social ties, but at the same time the oppressiveness of the Roman yoke, increased every year.
At last, in the month of May, A.D. 66, under the last procurator, Gessius Florus (from 65 onward), a wicked and cruel tyrant who, as Josephus says, was placed as a hangman over evil-doers, an organized rebellion broke out against the Romans, but at the same time a terrible civil war also between different parties of the revolters themselves, especially between the Zealots, and the Moderates, or the Radicals and Conservatives.
Source: BibleHub.org – History of the Christian Church, Volume I — Philip Schaff
ACTS of the Apostles continued..
5:41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and preaching the good news of Jesus as the Christ.
So they arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out..
Acts of the Apostles 5:18-19a – CSB
ACTS of Arrests witnessed by the Apostles
Politically motivated religious leaders of Jerusalem now begin to develop a dossier of accusations against Peter, John and the Apostles, because as disciples of the Messiah Jesus they boldly proclaim the Lord’s resurrection from His horrific death on a cross.
As they once again imprison the Apostles, let’s look back briefly at what Annas, Caiaphas and the ruling council of Jerusalem have on them. Herod’s palace records also add evidence.
Simon, a Galilean fisherman, aka Peter, had been a disciple of John the Baptist.
John baptized disciples, even JEWS, to REPENT about three years ago.
Herod had John the Baptizer beheaded.
Pharisees report that Simon and John were part of Jesus’ inner circle of Apostles.
The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling to His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?”
Gospel of Luke 5:30 NASB20
Simon Peter identified near Jesus’ trial
Witnessed just three months ago just prior to the Passover feast by a servant of the High Priest:
Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.”
Gospel of Luke 22:55-56 NKJV
A Noteworthy Sermon from Solomon’s Portico
Just days ago the Sanhedrin, Jerusalem’s High Court, orders Peter NOT to say anything about Christ Jesus. Although Peter and John were arrested for preaching repentance, Jerusalem’s leaders released them from prison as a politically palatable concession to the crowds who had witnessed Peter healing a man lame from birth.
12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all together in Solomon’s portico…
And increasingly believers in the Lord, large numbers of men and women, were being added to their number, to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any of them. The people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together as well, bringing people who were sick or tormented with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed. But the high priest stood up, along with all his associates.. laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public prison.
Previously, the authorities brought Peter and John before the council, however on this occasion the Lord sends an angel to open their prison door!
and leading them out, he said,
“Go, stand and continue to speak to the people in the temple area all the words of the whole message of this Life.”
At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.
ACTS of the Apostles 5:21 NIV
(Of course, these same officials of Jerusalem’s political elite who had seized them believed that the Apostles were still imprisoned as before.)
Not just another day at the office
BIG political victory last evening. Those Apostles opposed to OUR LEADERSHIP of JEWISH JERUSALEM await OUR VERDICT of what to do with them.
(Or so they thought, as these religious officials arrived at work in a Jerusalem guarded by Roman centurions.)
ACTS 5:21b
Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported,
“We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.”
(REMEMBER their dilemma of JESUS’ EMPTY TOMB just a couple of months ago?)NOW what?
Who does this Galilean we arrested think he is?
Narrative of this private conversation is a speculative fiction behind the scenes in ACTS 5.
On that day when we arrested this Simon of Capernaum the first time what was it I said?
When we released him after he drew crowds to himself in the Portico of Solomon proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead, he challenged our very authority to hold or releasehim.
So when the others asked, “What are we to do with these men?”
I insisted, DO NOT release them to cause more trouble.
But when they couldn’t find cause to keep these men in prison I said, “You had better start a dossier on them, because we will just have to arrest them again.”
For this Simon Peter had confirmed my distrust when he answered:
“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
So I was all prepared to tell you, “I WARNED YOU about these men.”
But what’s this we hear now after having arrested these crowd-stirring Galileans again so soon? Listen to this new report as we assembled this morning:
The Captain of the Temple Guard’s Report
But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported,
“We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
ACTS of the Captain of the Temple Guard 5:22-23 NIV
Even though it seems impossible, these rabble-rousers must have escaped and run home to Galilee.
(Maybe not such a bad thing for us.)
NOW what do we do?
Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this.
25 But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple area and teaching the people!”
The Apostles Now have Thousands of Disciples
And Peter, John and the others are preaching boldly as the Angel has commanded them to continue with the words of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as they return to preach in the Temple.
IT IS YET ANOTHER SIGN, not to be taken lightly by those who had seized them the previous day, throwing the Apostles into Prison.
26 Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).
(A riot against the capitol police? Roman soldiers in Jerusalem would certainly never condone such RAGE by any Jewish crowd throwing stones at Jerusalem’s politicized religious police.)
Would you, the arrested, convict US?
27 After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and [Caiaphas, or possibly Annas] the high priest asked,
“Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name?
Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
[Peter had convicted them of their complicity in Jesus’ Sacrifice on the Cross; however the Apostle had also stated that God the Father had allowed it AND that JESUS had been raised from the grave!]
But Peter and the apostles answered,
“We must obey God rather than men.
30 The God [theos] of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince [archēgos] and a Savior [sōtēr], to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
GUILTY!
When they heard this, they were furious [diapriō – cut to the quick] and wanted to put them to death.
It is what we should have done the first time we jailed them.
WE know that these men have escaped, but HOW? Never-the-less, WE cannot allow them to continue to sway all of Jerusalem to become disciples of this JESUS we hung on a Roman cross just two months ago.
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.
Herod the Great left a temple to Jerusalem’s elite where MULTITUDES could enter stadium-sized courts rivaling Rome’s great temples. Jewish religious officials would continue their façade of political power in a city held captive to a tolerant Roman ‘peace.’
Jerusalem was all abuzz. Tongues of fire, Galileans preaching about the Messiah Jesus to men in their own languages, and now a well-known beggar lame from birth STANDING beside Peter and John as they walked to worship in the Temple. The public courts seem more packed than usual and everyone looks for explanations of all this from the Apostles. So multitudes follow Peter to Solomon’s portico.
Simon Peter replies: “Men of Israel,
why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?
The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One,
and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and youkilled the Author of life,
whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Do you have a question about the signs of God before your very eyes?
PETER preaches his response to the questions of the crowds who witness what has just happened. And the Apostle takes no credit for this miracle either by his personal power {dynamis} or piety, reverence or respect (eusebeia – often translated as godliness).
Amazed multitudes run to the Apostles, crowd in on them, look to them for an explanation in their response.
Peter replied to their amazement, yet with the same personal conviction AND compassion of his Lord Jesus who offered to those with ears to hear grace when He preached to the crowds.
Luke has already shown our Lord’s gracious encouragement though Jesus’ replies in his Gospel.
And Jesus answeredG611and said to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick.
And Jesus, answeringG611 them, said, “Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him,
And He answeredG611and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: people who were blind receive sight, people who limped walk, people with leprosy are cleansed and people who were deaf hear, dead people are raised up, and people who are poor have the gospel preached to them.
HOW MANY SIGNS OF THE MESSIAH DO YOU NEED?
Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe [literally, fear was occurring to every soul]; and many wonders and [confirming miracles]signs were taking place through the apostles.
Acts of the Apostles 2:43 NASB20
Luke now shows the Apostles preaching to men wondering about many SIGNS of the day in ACTS of the APOSTLES. Peter replies in effect that ‘JESUS has done this through faith as a sign to you.’
Strong’s Number G611 matches the Greek ἀποκρίνομαι (apokrinomai),
“And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Acts of the Apostles 3:16 NASB20
“And now, brothers,
He first addressed them as ‘men of Israel.’ Peter replied to their fear (or awe) more personally now as the Apostle of Jesus calls them brothers.
(Are any already convicted by the Holy Spirit by the signs they have just witnessed?)
Countenances diminish from amazement in their crowd curiosity to faces of men showing humility as they cling to Peter’s words:
“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.
Acts of the Apostles 3:17-18 ESV
Like his Lord and Master, Christ Jesus, the Apostle replies with great compassion, ‘I know that you didn’t know what you were doing’ (ignorance).
John had heard such forgiveness even from the foot of the Cross. Peter had experienced it from the risen Christ forgiving his ignorance and denials.
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
What does repentance mean once we are no longer ignorant?
“Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord GOD. “Repent and turn away from all your offenses, so that wrongdoing does not become a stumbling block to you.
Hurl away from you all your offenses which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why should you die, house of Israel?
For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repentand live!”
The Prophet Ezekiel 18:30-32 NASB20
Peter replied to their ignorance in familiar fashion from the preaching of the Prophets.
And Jesus responded and said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans just because they have suffered this fate?
No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse offenders than all the other people who live in Jerusalem?
“No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Gospel of Luke 13:3-5 – Jesus preaching on repentance
Peter replied much as Jesus had taught, as well as John the Baptizer had warned and others.
“Repent G3340, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent G3340, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Gospel of Matthew3:2; 4:17 NASB20 – Repent – Strong’s G3340
AND notice how frequently in the Bible REPENT follows ‘THEREFORE’
‘Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 3:19 NASB20
AND Return
Peter replied also with an implied action required of those with ears to hear his call of repentance. You must now return to God.
You know the LORD God [brothers] and you are not ignorant of God’s requirements in the LAW, the Commandments Moses gave you from the Lord our God.
19 “Therefore, make teshuva (repentance, turning from chet [sin] to G-d) and turn in order that your chatta’im, your averos (sins) may be removed, [TEHILLIM 51:1; YESHAYAH 43:25; 44:22]
to the love for the children (of God, your fellow brothers)
to love wisdom and righteousness (now that you are no longer ignorant of G-d’s Messiah, WHO IS our Savior.)
Peter then proceeds with an amazing invitation to those who not only have rejected their Messiah, but some in the crowd of the Temple gathering at Solomon’s Portico who may have been part of the shouting crowds calling for Jesus’ crucifixion at Jerusalem’s most recent festival.
Revival of the Spirit
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.. – Ephesians 2:1
Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. – Psalm 51:9
Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.. – ACTS 3:19 NASB
ἀνάψυξις anápsyxis, an-aps’-ook-sis; from G404; properly, a recovery of breath, i.e. (figuratively) revival:—revival.
“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus..
You denied the Holy and Righteous One.. You killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead..
that your sins may be blotted out,
in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
NO, brothers (and tell our sisters and children as well), we know that God will not and can not have any sinner in His Presence — NO sacrifice is sufficient to blot out our many sins.
and that He may send Jesus, the [Messiah, the anointed one] Christ appointed for you,
whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things,
The Christ, the One Who came to us in body and soul, Who Is now the presence of the Lord, will cover your sins by His Perfect Sacrifice – He has blotted out your sins so that you may in your living spirit be with Him until your body dead to sin is restored with all things.
about which God spoke by the mouths of His holy prophets from ancient times.
Peter replied pointing to Scripture
The Apostle includes Moses with God’s holy prophets, separated to speak the One truth of the Lord God.
For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
Of course every faithful Jew not only knew the Law of Moses, but also heard the Scripture of Moses WHEN rabbis chose to preach all of the truth of Scripture.
Therefore, many standing at Solomon’s Portico listening to Simon Peter preach knew these thingsSimon [שִׁמְעוֹן] Peter preaches..
“Moshe Rabbenu indeed said, “NAVI KAMOCHA [T. N. i.e., a prophet like Moses] for you Hashem Adonoi will raise up from your achim; to him you will give heed according to everything whatever he may speak to you.” [DEVARIM 18:15,18] ..
Gevurot 3:22 Orthodox Jewish Bible
How are you doing with 'hearing' all this in the native 'tongue' of your birth?
Peter replied to those God chose in the Temple to hear by the Spirit.
You will see shortly that Simon Peter's preaching truth from the Scripture of Moshe will not be received by all, in deference to the great sign Peter has just performed at the Beautiful Gate.
From the back of crowds temple officials begin to push their way to the front where Peter, the Apostles and a formerly lame beggar stand before Jerusalem's largest crowd praising God and the Messiah of Israel.
It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘ And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
Acts 3:25
.. God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
Acts of the Apostles 3:26 ESV – Simon Peter Replies to the jews at Solomon’s Porch by Preaching Christ Crucified & Risen
And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob” – Romans 11:26
“And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord. “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.” – Isaiah 59:20-21
[The true sons of Israel (Jacob) know the true Word of Scripture. – Roger@TalkofJESUS.com Let’s talk.]
You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. – Gospel of John 4:22 – The Messiah Jesus to a woman in Samaria
And why does Peter preach also to those at the Temple who will not be saved along with those who by the Spirit have been blessed with ears to hear?
So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat.. And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel—
.. But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart.
Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads..
If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.
But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.
Simon Peter preaches repentance in Jesus Christ to Spirit-called crowds. Yet while the Apostles proclaim the Good News of the MESSIAH from Solomon’s Porch..
authorities of Herod’s religious/political bedfellows of the Sanhedrin (their ‘Congress,’ so to speak) move to oppose the Gospel.
As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being greatly disturbed
because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
Christ, who IS risen, had been arrested by some of these same officials a few weeks back while Peter and the Apostles stood helpless.
And what would these men have just heard as Peter preached from Solomon’s Porch?
“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
.. “For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.‘ And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.
ACTS of the Apostles 3:22-23 NKJV
Peter replied differently than in Gethsemane
Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.”
The Apostle preached with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Peter is a rock now in the strength of the Word of the Lord. This is no cowering Disciple denying Jesus as he huddled up to a campfire within earshot of false testimonies.
