“Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life. And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.” Acts 5:20-21
I read this passage a couple of weeks ago, and it has stayed with me. It won’t leave my conscience! This event occurred almost two thousand years ago and still has profound implications for us today.
Understand that prior to the quoted verses, Jesus’ apostles were arrested by the High Priest and the Sadducees, who denied bodily resurrection. They were, according to verse 18, in the Jerusalem public prison. The prison in a city all of them were familiar with, even if they all were not from the city. Then a miracle happens! An angel of the Lord sets them free and gives them the command found in verse 20.
Jesus did not send the angel in order to free those men to go home. The angel gave a command. The command was from Jesus. The command was to speak the words of this Life, with a capital “L,” to the people. And they did.
What are some implications of the statement “words of this Life”? Why were the apostles asked to speak it?
1. Only in Jesus Christ – the Word of God in the flesh (John 1:1-2) – is spiritual life possible. People are spiritually dead and need spiritual life to be reconciled to God. Therefore people need Jesus 
“So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.’” John 6:53
“Lord, you have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:68-69
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet he shall live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
2. A Christian is dead to sin and alive to God because Christ suffered for sin and then was raised to life. This is the basis of our justification (Romans 4:25). If Jesus had just died and not raised, our faith would be in vain (1 Cor 15:14) and we are of all people most to be pitied (1 Cor 15:19).
“We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4
“Now if we have died with Christ, we also believe that we will live with him. We know the Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death has no dominion over him. For the death he died he to sin, once and for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you must also consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:8-11
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on things that are on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also with appear with in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
3. A Christian’s hope is in Christ, their living Savior. Hope for divine retribution for all the injustice in the world, hope for victory in battles already won, hope in eternal life to enjoy Jesus! Rejoice in God’s marvelous, free grace!
“To them (the saints) God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”Galatians 2:20
“For they (churches in Macedonia and Achaia) themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers from the wrath to come.” 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5
Jesus is Life! Christians, read the Scriptures, pray for God to open doors for witnessing for Him, and speak to the people all the words of this Life!! If you are outside of Jesus Christ, reader, and have not come to him for mercy, you have no life in you. Unless you repent and cast yourself upon Christ alone by faith, you will perish. Jesus is Life!
All Scriptures from the English Standard Version – Copyright Crossway.
Discussion
No comments yet.