I can't help but notice the contradiction in paragraphs here. Verse 16 ends with the God moving in the church in powerful/miraculous/saving ways...only to find the enemy on the move, filling the religious Jewish leaders with anger and violence in return! Whoever thought that a powerful move of God would go unnoticed or unhindered is extremely naive and uninformed! No, God was on the move and His Kingdom was advancing...but, the enemy was also trying his hardest to hinder this move with everything he could! First, the religious leaders have the apostles put in prison. Now, none of us really want to spend a sleepless night away from our comfortable King size beds on a camping trip, much less spending a night or two on the hard, stinky floor of a prison cell for simply preaching the Gospel and healing the sick, right? But, this was part of following Jesus, wasn't it? Think of what the early disciples were willing to do to make Jesus known in their world...here we have a picture. What are you and i willing to fore go, what are we willing to endure, what are we willing to let go of for the sake of making Jesus known to the world around us (yes, even in a hostile environment like this one)? I have a friend who is serving in a land much like this one. Fervent, Religious and Hostile to the Gospel! But, he is there and he is preaching and God is moving in powerful ways as the gospel continues to go forth! But, the enemy is not taking it laying down! No, just like in this passage of scripture, believers are there are being imprisoned and forsaken by their families all for their faith in Jesus Christ! But I love how the Lord is with His men...they are not alone! V.19 says that God sent an angel to the imprisoned apostles who broke them out and commanded them to do nothing less than stand in middle of the temple and continue preaching the message of Jesus Christ! Wow! The word from God to his imprisoned workers isn't "Ok, go ahead and hunker down somewhere safe and wait for things to settle down." No, He commands them to go right back into the den of their imprisoners and speak more of the message that got them imprisoned in the first place! Talk about hardcore! And, that's exactly what we find the apostles doing in the next verse! They waste no time, entering the Temple early the next morning to start teaching! How God must have loved the faith and obedience of His sons! Well, this too doesn't go unnoticed! I guess word of an empty cell and a gospel filled temple started to get around! So, the religious leaders have the apostles arrested again, and brought before them. The high priest tries to get them to stop preaching Jesus, but Peter responds with words that should convict every one of us who find ourselves shrinking back from boldly proclaiming Jesus, "We ought to obey God rather than men!" Even though it was against the law of the land, and even though it landed them in prison, and even though it cost them their reputation among many, and even though it could cost them their lives...they still would preach Jesus in the face of their enemies! And, that is what Peter did...v.30-32 have him declaring the gospel to the high priest and all who have ears to hear." I have to say that this is not my current experience! God help me to see people how you see them! Help me to hear the words of the angel to the apostles and to speak the words of Jesus wherever i am. That i would build up the Body and seek to save the lost with the words of Christ today! Father, help my friends in hostile lands who are boldly sharing Christ in the face of persecution! Fill them with boldness and love! Continue to send your word to them to be bold and to not shrink back in fear! Help them to have conviction like Peter that they are to obey You and not men! And, open up doors for them to proclaim Jesus wherever they go!

Acts 5:1