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Acts 5:12-20 (4/26) Apostle for the Sunday of Thomas, the Sunday of Antipascha

At Cross Purposes: Acts 5:12-20, especially vss. 17, 18, 19: "Then the high priest rose up, and
all those who were with him...and laid their hands on the Apostles and put them in the common
prison. But at night an Angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out...."

This passage from Acts invites you to consider the possibility of being either in the will of God
or of being at cross purposes with Him. St. Luke teaches how God accomplishes His purposes -
"...through the hands of the Apostles" (vs. 12). The Sadducees, as they "...laid their hands on..."
the Apostles, exemplify how to oppose God (vs. 18). The Angel who freed the Apostles, though
his hands are not mentioned, serves as another example of working with God's purposes (vs. 19).

God was carrying out His purpose "...through the hands..." of His Apostles (vs. 12) and by the
bodiless hand of His heavenly messenger (vs. 19). Ironically, on this same occasion, the Temple
authorities, who supposedly were God's servants, were putting "...their hands on..." the Apostles
to defeat the will of God (vs. 18). Consider prayerfully the potential to be at cross purposes with
God, and, then, beseech Him that you may always strive in His will.

The will of God remains constant and eternal, revealing His love and power "...through the hands
of the Apostles..." (vs. 12), His People, and His Angels. While the Evangelist mentions "...signs
and wonders..." (vs. 12), be careful not to confuse the means that God uses with His actual
purposes. The Lord has no desire to awe people "...through the hands..." of His servants - as
impressionists and magicians do with tricks and spectacles. Be attentive to all Scripture says: the
Apostles and the people who gathered with them were of "...one accord..." (vs. 12). God's
abiding purpose is to unite all people in mind, will, and emotions to Himself in His Church. This
is the Gospel that our Lord has put in the hands of the Church to proclaim.

Since men first stretched forth their hands to disobey God and fell into sin and death, the Lord in
His compassion and love has been working to rectify the tragedy created by our contrary desires.
St. Paul speaks of "...the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord..."
(Eph. 3:11) - the salvation of all who will repent and unite with the Church in the fellowship of
the Apostles. The Church, like her Lord, is in the business of restoring mankind - of healing the
sick (vs. 15), and freeing those possessed by demons (vs. 16). "...For this purpose the Son of God
was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (1 Jn. 3:8).

The Evangelist says that the high priest and his party were filled with "indignation" (with "zelos"
in the original). "Zelos" can mean strong feeling, for or against. In this case, they were intensely
jealous, spiteful, and envious of the Apostles. Why? Because these priests were having "their"
doctrine challenged in "their" Temple. Men they deemed ignorant were preaching Resurrection, a
idea they thought ridiculous. Having rid themselves of the leader of a movement, the priests now
faced His followers who were preaching His Resurrection. Worse, the people were following
them! The priests were afraid and tried every means to silence these "self-styled" preachers.
Opposition to God always is rooted in deficient theology, self-righteous morality, self-seeking,
and pride. Beware of such things in yourself, lest you be found opposing God.

The present passage from Acts teaches the futility of opposing God. In Proverbs it is declared
that "The Lord resists the proud; but He gives grace to the humble" (Prov. 3:34). St. Peter -
perhaps from this experience - later quoted this proverb (1 Pet. 5:5). Strive and pray for the
humility to correct yourself and for all "...who are in opposition, if God, perhaps, will grant ...
repentance, so that [all] may know the truth, and...come to their senses..." (2 Tim. 2:25, 26).

Lord, I have fled unto Thee: teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God.