The Disciples are Arrested for Healing and Preaching

And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. Acts 4:1-4

Steps: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12

Peter and John were arrested for preaching that Jesus, a state and Jewish criminal, was resurrected from the dead. The resurrection of the dead was a doctrine, or teaching, that the Jewish leadership, especially the Sadducees, did not accept as truth. They therefore were going to be sure that this doctrine was not taught while they were in power. This was another example of religious persecution in Israel. The Bible taught the resurrection of the dead, an Jesus had certainly displayed that resurrection could and would occur in His presence. Then when Peter and John displayed supernatural power in the healing of the crippled man the leadership grew frantic enough to persecute by arresting the disciples. None the less 5000 more people believed in what the disciples were preaching, and displaying, and they joined the new church, thus making a new church of 8000 people in 2-3 days. God was revealing Himself through His disciples and the people were responding to the message of recovery from sin through Jesus.

Prayer for Today: God help us to recognize Your movings, and Your teachings through whatever source You choose to reveal Yourself through. Grant us the gift of spiritual discernment that we may recognized Your voice, and spiritual courage to accept it fully and freely when it comes. Help us to want to have victory over our addictions and to receive it from You. Thank You for Your love.