Deut. 27:10: Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day. I hope you are trying to commit this to memory. It is the last of our memory verses for this month on the characteristic of obedience.

Our study today is from Acts 5:17-33. The apostles have been arrested and brought to trial before the high priest and Sadducees. It was their second arrest in as many days. They had been commanded already to cease preaching Christ. But God sent an angel to release them and command them to go preach again “to the people all the words of this life” (Acts 5:20).  The apostles obeyed. Let’s think about some lessons.

1. The apostles obeyed knowing that the consequences might not be pleasant. Sometimes people obey without realizing that it might bring persecution. When they realized obeying God brings unpleasant consequences, they quit obeying. These Christians have the heart with stones.  Jesus said when persecution or tribulation arise because of the word, such Christians are offended and fall away (Mt. 13:21). We, like the apostles, must obey whatever the results.
2. The apostles obeyed God when there was a conflict between the demands of God and the civil authorities. We are, of course, to obey the laws of the land. But that changes if the laws of the land demand us to do anything which conflicts with God’s law. Peter and the apostles said, “We ought to obey God rather than man” (Acts 5:29).
3. The apostles spoke boldly about their intention to continue teaching the truth. They did not slink away as though whipped and then sneak back to teach. Their boldness got them beaten by men, but obviously commended by God as he continued to support their work. May we have the courage to boldly proclaim and stand for the truth wherever we are.
4. The apostles rejoiced. A beating with rod or whip is not pleasant. Certainly not something one would rejoice about. But the apostles, having just been beaten (5:40), rejoiced. They did not rejoice about the beating, but that, in standing for the truth, they showed themselves worthy to suffer for the Christ. Paul said that one of his goals was to have fellowship with Christ in his sufferings (Phil. 3:10). Peter said we should rejoice to be partakers of Christ’s sufferings (1 Pet. 4:13). All that live godly shall suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). Such is a good criteria by which to judge how Christ-like we have lived our lives.

I hope these lessons are helpful.