Acts 5:12, 17-32 Easter
Pastor Ron Koehler
Grace—Tucson, AZ
April 27, 2025
WE HAVE A MEANINGFUL MISSION AND MESSAGE Have you ever seen the TV show The Carbonaro Effect? Michael Carbonaro is an illusionist and a master at causing the “Wait, what just happened?!” reaction in people, which he captures on hidden camera in some public setting. When the impossible seems to have happened, he gets the people to actually believe it, even though it makes no sense—for example, a fridge that fills itself with the products you pick from a screen on the front of it by downloading those items from the cloud. Look him up on YouTube; it’s hilarious! As we get a glimpse into the lives of Peter and the other apostles in the book of Acts this morning, we see something that was a “Wait, what just happened?!” moment for some people who confronted those men sent out by God on what was the most meaningful mission because they were carrying the most meaningful message—that of salvation through faith in Jesus. We’re reminded this morning that it wasn’t just Peter and the others who were sent out to talk to people about Jesus. We actually share their Mission and Message. Opposition After Jesus ascended into heaven, things were going pretty well for those who trusted in the risen Christ. There were the miracles of Pentecost—like the disciples preaching in all sorts of languages they didn’t actually know and the 3,000 who came to faith that day. The disciples were given the ability to heal people too. The crowds were bringing people to them and even just trying to place themselves in Peter’s shadow as he walkd by, hoping they would be healed. The apostles performed other signs and wonders too. Among the people, there was a unity of belief in Jesus and what he taught. And the Christians were meeting regularly at the temple—and not just on Sundays. It sounds like life was good for the believers in the fledgling New Testament Church! But…not everyone was happy with the apostles and the growing Christian community. The Sadducees were a small, religious/political group made up of wealthy Jewish priests who were loyal to the Roman government. The Romans actually chose the high priest from among the Sadducees, and often took bribes for it. The Sadducees had considerable power and authority over the Jewish people. As for their religious views, a couple notable things were that they did not believe in angels or the resurrection to eternal life. So, in the chapter before our reading, we hear that the high priest and the Sadducees were very upset with Peter and John. Why? Because they were preaching about Jesus and the resurrection of the dead—two things that group and the highest-ranking Jewish leader opposed! They were also afraid and envious of the effectiveness of their teaching and the growing number of Christians. So, jealous and zealous, they and other religious leaders then told the apostles in no uncertain terms that they were not speak or teach about Jesus at all.