Acts 5:29-42: a reflection

29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. 32We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 33But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them. 34But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while. 35He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do. 36For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed and came to nothing. 37After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. 38Now I tell you, withdraw from these men and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown. 39But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!” 40They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name. 42Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.

The apostles, arrested and standing before the council, refuse to stop preaching about Jesus: We must obey God rather than men. The council, enraged, has them beaten and forbidden again to speak in Jesus' name. But notice how the apostles respond to this beating and prohibition: they leave the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus. And far from being silenced, they never stop, day after day, teaching and proclaiming Christ.

Notice the surprising joy of the apostles. They had been publicly beaten and threatened, treated with dishonor; and yet they left rejoicing, not that they had suffered, but that they had been counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. They regarded suffering for Christ not as a disgrace to be avoided, but as an honor, a privilege, something to rejoice in. And this joy, and their love for Christ, could not be beaten or forbidden out of them; they kept right on proclaiming him.

That is a striking perspective on suffering for Christ. We naturally shrink from suffering, and especially from dishonor and opposition for our faith; we see it as something to be avoided. But the apostles saw it differently: as an honor to be counted worthy of, a thing to rejoice in, that they should suffer for the name of the one they loved. When you face opposition, dishonor, or cost for following Christ, do not regard it only as a burden to be avoided. Consider that it is an honor to be counted worthy to suffer for his name, as the apostles did, and let even opposition become an occasion for joy rather than discouragement. And let no opposition silence your witness; like the apostles, keep proclaiming Christ, rejoicing to be counted worthy to suffer for his name.

Lord, when the apostles were beaten and forbidden to preach, they left the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus, and they never stopped proclaiming him. Give me that surprising perspective on suffering for Christ. I naturally shrink from suffering, and especially from dishonor and opposition for my faith; I see it as something to be avoided. But the apostles saw it as an honor to be counted worthy of, a thing to rejoice in, that they should suffer for the name of the one they loved. When I face opposition, dishonor, or cost for following you, keep me from regarding it only as a burden. Help me consider that it is an honor to be counted worthy to suffer for your name, and let even opposition become an occasion for joy rather than discouragement. And let no opposition silence my witness; like the apostles, help me keep proclaiming Christ, rejoicing to be counted worthy to suffer for his name.