After Peter and John’s first encounter with the Jewish leadership, the Holy Spirit cranked up His spiritual power. The apostles spread out onto the streets of Jerusalem and the temple ground and kept preaching Jesus as the Messiah. In the beginning of this second Gospel blitz, a few people were healed of their infirmities and the news spread like a wildfire. People came by the thousands from the surrounding areas seeking a miracle.

Lucifer ordered his minions to activate Caiaphas and he convened the Sanhedrin to deal with the followers of Jesus. All the apostles were arrested and imprisoned. Meanwhile, Jesus was directing the operation from heaven and He sent an angel to open the prison with a message for the apostles to get back on the proverbial horse the next day.

Caiaphas sent the captain of the temple guard to bring the prisoners to the Sanhedrin in the morning. Everyone was dumbfounded when the captain returned with the news that the prison was as it should be, but the apostles had vanished. Instead of reflecting upon this unusual situation and that something supernatural might have occurred, Caiaphas simply brushed it off. The Jewish leadership became enraged when word came that the apostles had been found on the temple ground preaching again.

Soldiers brought them to the council and the Holy Ghost moved upon the 12 men – which included Matthias – to accuse the Sanhedrin of colluding with the Romans to have Jesus crucified.  The gloves came off as Caiaphas and his ilk decided to execute the apostles but Gamaliel prevailed upon them to listen to the voice of reason. Two men had previously claimed to be the Messiah and died, but a true movement of God cannot be stopped when its leader rises from the dead and the followers are empowered to perform miracles.

Caiaphas and the members of the Sanhedrin decided to back off but vindictively gave the apostles a public scourging. Peter and the rest of the men left with the pain of their injuries, but also counted it an honor to suffer for the name of Jesus. They praised the Lord and thanked Him to be worthy to be shamed and beaten for His name.

This is a powerful story of the early church and how it was birthed in a cauldron. The good news is that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. There is nothing to stop the Holy Spirit today if we ask for Him to be part of our life.

Print out the sermon outline and let's examine the Scriptures together Sunday morning at 9:00 AM PST.

Yours in Christ,

Pastor John S. Torell