Acts 5:40-42 ESV

40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

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40 Sila'y napaniwala niya. Nang maipatawag nila ang mga apostol, hinagupit sila at inutusang huwag nang magsalita sa pangalan ni Jesus, at sila'y pinalaya. 41 Sa kanilang pag-alis sa Sanhedrin, nagalak sila na ituring na karapat-dapat magtiis ng kahihiyan alang-alang sa Pangalan. 42 Araw-araw, sa templo at sa mga bahay-bahay, hindi sila tumigil sa pagtuturo at pangangaral na si Jesus ang Cristo.


PERSECUTED YET REJOICING

Having been convinced by Gamaliel, they held back their thought of killing the apostles and their companions. They flogged them instead before releasing them. During their interaction, the council ordered Peter and John to stop preaching in Jesus' name. However, all the apostles have disobeyed their order. Hence, the Sanhedrin can now legally justify their strong action.

Their response was quite remarkable. They were flogged yet rejoicing as they left the presence of the council. Why? They were joyful that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus. Their Christianity wasn’t a way for them to obtain comfort or convenience in life. Conversely, the popular ‘health and wealth’ teachings today had either clouded or distorted the pursuit of glorifying Christ with pursuing personal comfort and convenience.

Perhaps, the apostles were reminded to what Jesus had taught with His sermon at the mount. That is, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Mat 5:11–12). Later, Jesus even warned, "Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues" (Mat 10:17).

Later, Peter wrote to encourage us in reflection to this experience. He said, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.” [1 Pet 4:12-16]

Notedly, they became bold to reach others with Jesus' message of reconciliation to God when they received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit made the difference. They were timid and fearful previously, were they not? Their courage became contagious. For every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.[v.42] Thus, the gospel became unstoppable and viral.

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