Shamed for His name [Acts 5:38-42]

Act 5:38 And now I say to you, Withdraw from these men and let them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will come to nothing.
Act 5:39 But if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God.
Act 5:40 And they obeyed him. And calling the apostles, beating them, they commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Act 5:41 Then indeed they departed from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be shamed for His name.
Act 5:42 And every day in the temple, and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching the gospel: Jesus Christ.

We see here part of the story of the apostles teaching the message of Jesus Christ. The apostles were preaching the message of Jesus without reservation and proclaiming His name in the streets. Well, the high priests were not happy about this. They had the apostles arrested and put into prison. We all know how the apostles were, like prison would stop them! Yeah right! That same night an angel of the Lord came and opened the doors to the prison and told the apostles to “Go! Stand and speak all the words of this Life to the people in the temple.” (Acts 5:20).

When the high priests came to the prison the next morning they found the cells empty. The high priests then had the apostles brought to them and asked them “Did we not strictly command you that you not teach in this name? And behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this man's blood on us.” (Acts 5:28). We see God speaking directly through Peter with his response, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” God told the apostles to preach the message and men were not going to stand in their way. With this response the high priests determined to have the apostles killed, until Gamaliel stood up and spoke.
Gamaliel told them that they needed to let the apostles go. Why was this? He knew that if the apostle’s message was not from God that it would eventually fade away, but if it was from God they could not fight it.

Well, the apostles were beaten by the high priests and then they were ordered not to preach the gospel anymore. Now, this is where we see faith exercised by what is said about the apostles after being beaten, “Then indeed they departed from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be shamed for His name.” They were excited because they were found worthy to be beaten for Christ.

I know many times when I am faced with opposition in my faith, I get down and discouraged. Why am I being opposed? What did I do? This verse is very refreshing to see knowing that we need to count opposition as a joy. God counted us worthy to shamed for His name.

Aaron Taylor