Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. I. THE BITTER ANTAGONISM OF WICKED MEN TO THE TRUTH, AS SEEN IN THEIR DESPERATE ATTEMPTS TO ARREST ITS PROGRESS IN THE WORLD. The history of truth has ever been one of trial and conflict. He who was "The Truth" had to contend with the antagonism of men; and the noble army of martyrs shows how desperate and determined have been the attempts of cruel, wicked men to arrest the course of truth. Arrayed against the apostles was — 1. Social status. The Founder of Christianity was of humble origin, the apostles were of the common people; and of course the high priest and the rulers could not consent to be taught by them. So for ages persons of social rank and great worldly wealth have not favoured Christianity, but rather hindered it. 2. Legal might. The judges and the lawyers, who ought to have defended them, sided against them; and for centuries history repeated itself in this particular, and the strong arm of the law, instead of being extended to defend the truth, has drawn the sword to persecute and destroy. 3. Mental power. At the council there was the elite of the intelligence of the Jewish nation. And from that time until now there have been men of brilliant powers arrayed against the truth — powers worthy of a nobler employment and end. Polished and poisoned have been the arrows that have been shot at the army of the Cross. 4. Sympathy of numbers. Many believed, but many did not believe. Truth has always been in the minority, so far as numbers are concerned. Error has usually gained the show of hands. Men with high and holy purposes must expect comparative loneliness. It was so with the Master, largely so with the apostles, and has been so more or less with all intellectual giants and true moral reformers. 5. Antiquity. They were Nonconformists, and the Jews would feel the utmost disdain for those who dared to dissent from their national establishment. Those who opposed the apostles venerated Abraham and Moses; but Christ they regarded as an innovator and a sower of sedition. Error has still pretext for pleading that antiquity is on its side; for sin is as old as Eden. All these things were arrayed against the truth, and yet it won its way. And if these things could not impede it when it was a streamlet, shall they succeed now that it is a mighty river? If alien and hardy hands could not uproot the truth when it was a newly-planted sapling, shall any hands be able to lift it now it is a deep-rooted mighty tree? God is on the side of truth, and its early victories are a pattern and pledge of its constant and complete triumph over all antagonistic forces. II. THE SUBLIME HEROISM OF HOLY MEN FOR THE TRUTH, AS SEEN IN THEIR DETERMINED LABOURS TO ACCELERATE ITS PROGRESS IN THE WORLD. Notice — 1. Its nature. (1) They could endure pain. They were not Stoics, but sensitive, generous men; and yet they endured torture even joyfully. (2) They could endure shame. Christ had endured the Cross and shame for them, and for Him they could endure. (3) They could brave dangers. It was no use for the council to threaten them. They were prepared to lose their liberty, and even life, rather than deny the name which to them was above every name. 2. Its secret. They were not fanatics, but calm, cool, and common-sense men. (1) They were witnesses of the facts they attested to. They knew they had "not followed cunningly devised fables," they had "seen," and "heard" and "felt" the things they proclaimed; and the council might as well have tried to argue them out of their own existence as out of their belief in the Lord Jesus. (2) They were filled with the Holy Ghost. Natural courage, physical pluck, would not have been enough to lead them to endure and hold out as they did; they required supernatural courage, and they had it. They were strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (3) They were inspired by a mighty name. Oh the power of a name! Poets, patriots, warriors, etc., have been stimulated and inspired by great and illustrious names; but here is "a name that is above every name," that has been more uplifting among men than any other lever name in the world. (F. W. Brown.) Parallel Verses KJV: And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. |
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