Exodus 20:5-6

“I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

John 15:20

“If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”

John 16:2

“They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.”

English martyr Hugh Latimer,
“Whenever you see persecution, there is more than a probability that truth is on the persecuted side.”

I. Truth Under Attack (5:17–28)
  A. The high priest arrested the Apostles (vv. 17–18)
      1. They were to be placed on trial
     2. The religious leaders were jealous!

Acts 13:45

“But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.”

I. Truth Under Attack (5:17–28)
  A. The high priest arrested the Apostles (vv. 17–18)
      1. They were to be placed on trial
     2. The religious leaders were jealous!
     3. The Apostles did not resist

Acts 23:8a

“Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit.”

Hebrews 1:14

Speaking of angels said… “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”

I. Truth Under Attack (5:17–28)
  B. Surprise! (vv. 22–28)
     1. The guards and leaders were in shock! (vv. 22–24)
    2. The Apostles & Sadducees were polar opposites!
    3. The council was desperate (vv. 25–26)

Psalm 76:10a

“Surely the wrath of man shall praise You.”

II. Truth Affirmed (5:29–32)
  A. The Apostles did not change their convictions
     1. Peter & John’s earlier declaration

Acts 4:19–20

“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

II. Truth Affirmed (5:29–32)
  A. The Apostles did not change their convictions
     1. Peter & John’s earlier declaration

    2. They did not change their message!

    3. At the right hand of God (v. 31)

Psalm 110:1

“The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

II. Truth Affirmed (5:29–32)
  B. “The Prince of life”
     1. Peter gave Jesus this title in his second sermon (Acts 3:15)
    2. The title Savior was not new
    3. Peter called the nation to repentance

Acts 17:30–31

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness.”

III. Avoiding the Truth (5:33–39)
   A. The Pharisee Gamaliel
      1. He was a highly esteemed scholar

When Gamaliel died,
“The glory of the Law ceased and purity & abstinence died.”

III. Avoiding the Truth (5:33–39)
   A. The Pharisee Gamaliel
      1. He was a highly esteemed scholar
     2. Gamaliel rejected the evidence

Gamaliel,
“These Galileans will hang themselves, and you’ll never hear of Jesus of Nazareth again.”

III. Avoiding the Truth (5:33–39)
   A. The Pharisee Gamaliel
      1. He was a highly esteemed scholar
     2. Gamaliel rejected the evidence
     3. The facts do not lie!

Mark Twain said,
“A lie runs around the world while truth is still putting on her shoes.”

Matthew 12:30

“He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”

1 Kings 18:21 NIV

“How long will you waver between two opinions?”