The CommunionFire Commentary On The Book Of ACTS Chapter Five Part Two

ACTS FIVE PART TWO The Angel said, "Go Stand Speak"

Acts 5:17-21 Part Two New American Standard Bible Jailed again, an angel of the Lord comes to release them and says “GO; STAND; SPEAK!” The Revival Continues at Solomon’s Porch.
 
17 But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail (persecution). 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 20 “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” 21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach.
 
KEY to the Nature of Evil Persecuting Jesus and His Followers: “Filled with Jealousy” was the toxic drink of those that caused the Christ followers to be placed in jail. Led by the High Priest, the Sanhedrin was filled to the brim with volcanic jealousy. It was a seething jealousy that imprisoned their hearts and minds. It was a human induced communion of intoxicating self-righteousness, hatred, variance, anger and rebellion that flooded their ability to reason. This was a clear sign that persecution is rooted in hatred for God’s glory. 
 
John 11:40 “Only believe and you will see the glory of God!” When the glory of God shows up, believing eyes are opened to see Jesus and to hear His voice. That is what Lucifer rebelled against. He hates God and wants to rob Him of glory. A moment later Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Some say that when Jesus said, “Lazarus, Come forth!” that He had to say ‘Lazarus’ or all the dead would have come forth! The power of God demonstrates the glory of God. His glory is the target of all persecution to this day and becomes the cause of evil to persecute to the death.
 
Jealousy is the root of the hatred, rebellious behavior, persecution and ultimately death of the martyrs. It was the reverse mirror image of passion and fire for sharing God’s love in the Gospel. The glory of God is the “fire” in CommunionFire. It is filled with the language and message of heaven. It reveals the eternal presence of Jesus and transforms lives from glory to glory. Jealousy is the exact and complete opposite – opposing and challenging God like Ananias & Sapphira.
 
In the Greek, the word is zḗlos (an omamopoeic term that mimics the sound of water bubbling over from heat and perhaps derived from 2204 /zéō, "to boil") – properly, burning emotion (inner feeling boiling over, "boiling from heat," J. Thayer); (figuratively) something very fervent ("red-hot") as with Spirit-fueled zeal to serve the Lord. This root (zē-) is used both negatively ("jealousy") and positively ("zeal") depending on the context. [The root (zē-, "zeal") literally means "hot enough to boil." It is metaphorically used of "burning anger, love, zeal" (A-S) – i.e. to burn (in spirit). It can refer to "boiling anger, love, zeal, for what is good or bad" (J. Thayer).]
 
King David knew this mindset and no doubt when events like this happened in the early church they would sing Psalm 27! Put yourself in the shoes of those you read about in the book of Acts. In this situation, thrown in jail again for the same crime of declaring the Good News, healing the lame man and as Jesus was lifted up He kept adding to His royal domain. They hated this and looked for every opportunity to express their hatred. So read this as you think of those that were persecuted face to face:
 
Psalm 27 A Psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? 2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident. 4 One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple. 5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. 6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice, and be gracious to me and answer me. 8 When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.” (Peter preached this on the day of Pentecost). 9 Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger; you have been my help; do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation! 10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me up. 11 Teach me Your way, O LORD (Teach comes from the word “Didache” the Foundations of Faith for New Believers in The Early Church – see Appendix One at the end of the commentary or use link http://www.paracletepress.com/didache.html), and lead me in a level path because of my foes. 12 Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. 13 I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD. 
 
Just as Jesus said, “Go wait for the Promise of My Father in the Upper Room so that you may receive power to become my (first hand) witnesses!
 
Why this is so important to understand. The book of Acts reveals the ongoing ever present ministry of Jesus in the midst of the believers. The Table of the Lord is where there is ongoing encounters and experiences that take place in the glory of the presence of Jesus. He is the bread and wine of the believers’ new life.
 
Through their life the glory they encounter is seen and heard by others when they walk in concourse among those who are believers and non-believers. When non-believers are aligned with evil by the power of sin and deception of Satan they share Satan’s mission to persecute the righteous in their lifestyle, conversation and behavior. When possessed by this evil they may go so far as to call evil good and good evil. It is as blatant and passionate as the evangelization of the world by the believers. It is ‘reverse evangelism’ and it shows up in politics, social behavior and as corruption releasing its poisonous stream into all the world.
 
So how does heaven respond to the attempt of jealousy to imprison the believers? 
 
During the night the angel of the Lord (apparently only one was needed)

1. Opened the gates of the prison.
2. Took them out
3. And told them to “GO”
4. “STAND and SPEAK to the people in the temple the whole message of this life”
5. Hearing this they went to the temple at daybreak and began to teach!

 
The angel that set the Apostles free said Stand & Speak to The People in the Temple: “The Whole Message of this Life”. The Holy Spirit is involved here. There is a message delivered to the Apostles by an angel. Straight from the Thrones in heaven the encouragement is to GO, STAND and SPEAK to The People of the Temple – THE WHOLE MESSAGE OF THIS LIFE!
 
GO 
(Poreúomai - from poros, "passageway" ‘portal” walk from here to there in The Way of Life while you die to self; hence it may cost you ‘your’ life) travel journey, go, die ie., the life of a ‘martus’/’martyr’ (Acts 1:8 “power” = martus thus we are given power from the Holy Spirit to walk away from our life to walk in the path of eternal life, as if, led by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said the same thing in Mark 16. Like some parts of the church today Jesus first confronted their stubbornness for resisting what was given by faith.

9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.

12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.

Jesus wants us to believe quickly as well. whatever is not of faith is sin; or separates us (blinds us, makes us deaf and leads to self-reliance instead of dependency on the Holy Spirit). the cure to sin always is turning back to the Lord's goodness. then our sorrow for our separation is turned into joy. Godly sorrow that works repentance is not being sorry for screwing up so much as it is opening our hearts to receiving communion and the Holy Spirit through the doors of faith (Psalm 22-24). Notice how Mary came to those who were sorrowful and crying and still they did not believe. So weeping and being sorry is not Godly sorrow. Godly sorrow recognizes the unbelief and re-opens the doors of faith by doing what faith dictates. First to recognize Jesus is alive and then to believe. Jesus says believers who GO, STAND and SPEAK would have signs from heaven to confirm their witness.

15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

STAND 
(Histemi: Take a stand and hold your ground) to make to stand ‘in the midst’ of others. (“In the Midst” is a study all its own. Jesus in the midst of 2 or 3 and the Holy Spirit in the midst of us we stand in the midst of those to whom Jesus wants to make Himself known. (By virtue of Communion elements Jesus is also ‘in the midst of us’ just as He was for nine months ‘in the midst’ of His Holy Mother Mary in her womb. Womb = Belly = Mercy from the living water/river of Life: Jesus said if you asked of Me I would have given you drink/mercy that would cause a fountain of life to spring up from the belly/womb (same word in Greek) with rivers of living water. In other words you become a spring like those that fed Jacob’s well where He met Rachel. Remove the stone (law/dead rock) from the mouth of your well and out of it shall the lambs and the sheep be watered. Out from it you will have an unlimited supply of the currency of God’s love to spend any way you wish! TO STAND – Means to establish, claim and stand your ground as a well of mercy flowing from the river of life as a spring that becomes a fountain pouring out on all who are thirsty! “Occupy until I return” ~ Jesus and when you’ve done all to STAND, STAND therefore!
 
Ephesians 6:10-19 10 finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God (as in “The Sign of the Cross” generally seen among our Catholic friends – and for 2 Millennia has meant you are putting on the whole armor of God!
 
In Christian Tradition: Crossing Yourself is accepting or acknowledging the Armor of the Spirit

‘In the name of The Father (3 fingers on forehead-helmet of salvation),
And The Son (3 fingers on the heart-breastplate of righteousness) and
The Holy Spirit. (Three fingers from left shoulder to right shoulder – Roman Catholic method or right shoulder to left shoulder – Eastern Orthodox Catholics for the rest of the armor: belt of truth, sword of the Spirit, Shield of Faith and shoes of the Gospel of peace). 2 Corinthians 6:7 "By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,"
 
The Seventh piece of Armor is
to pray in the Spirit (in tongues)  
in heaven’s language – an instant gift to all who are baptized in the gift of the Holy Spirit by Jesus!  when Jesus baptizes you in the Holy Spirit the first thing He does is to give us His language in exchange for our own. We think in "English, Spanish, Italian, French, German, Mandarin, Swahili" Jesus language is the  tongues of angels. By giving us the simple, supernatural ability to speak, pray, sing and prophesy in tongues the most outrageous member of our body learns to speak the language that is from above; pure, holy, lovely, full of grace and truth, full of His virtue with power to confound the unbeliever. He does not control us but allows us the ownership to pray, sing and speak at will. With tongues our mind is unfruitful because it thinks in human language but we are building up our most holy faith. It is the language of the Early Church and today. it is the language of Communion. It is the language of the Holy Spirit. It is the language of the Church and the angels.

Note that Verse 18 is a continuation of the description of the whole Armor of God. 
 
Amen.” that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 wherefore take up the whole armor of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword (short sword or dagger) of the Spirit (pneuma = anointed, powerful, Spirit, breath, wind of God), which is the Word (rhema = spoken word made by the living voice; the Lord speaking His dynamic, living word into or through a believer) of God (theos = divinity; properly, God, the Creator and owner of all things (John 1:3; Genesis 1-3) Pray continually (how?) 18 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit (heavenly language of the Holy Spirit and all baptized in the Holy Spirit that has sounds, vowels, consonants by vocal chords out loud, speaking, praying or singing – literally the language of heaven that will be spoken for eternity, all other languages will disappear!), and watching with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, 19 And on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak
 
SPEAK 
​(praying in the Spirit, with the Spirit in tongues breaks up the fallow ground in our heat so that when we speak, we speak by the power of God. When we speak by the Spirit the listeners hear the voice of Jesus in their hearts. When we speak by the power of the Spirit, there are rivers of living water pouring out from us. In the overflow those who look upon us see Jesus. They encounter Jesus. 

(Laleo: Preach, Speak, Utter; from Lalos = talkative) as by the breath of the Holy Spirit – to disclose a message by revelation/inner vision (opening eyes of the Spirit to see) and hearing/inner locution to hear; to bring the message to closure, meaning and message. Isaiah 6:9; Matthew 13:13-14; Mark 4:12; Luke 8:10; Acts 28:25-28.
 
Audience: The People in the Temple 
(The New Temple made of Believers In the Midst of the People standing inside the Old Temple)
 
“To the Jew first and then to the Gentile” see Acts 28:25-28: This is the disclosure of the entire book of the Acts of Jesus. He makes it clear He has left the Old Temple and is only found there when the Christians are found there. He is spreading out His ministry from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria to the uttermost parts of the earth to add the Gentiles to the Family of God.
 
The people of the temple are the first and therefore the last to be addressed with the power and authority of the Gospel confirmed by signs and wonders and the recognition that this is the doing of Jesus (and His people). The people of Jesus are ‘In the Midst’ of the people of the temple. A New Temple has been raised up made of Living Stones from people who have given their life to Jesus for the rest of eternity! Now THE Temple is in the temple. The Jewish people would rather care for the brick and mortar due to be razed by the Romans in the next 70 years rather than to become the brick and mortar of the New Temple, raised up and enlivened/empowered by the Holy Spirit! The New Community was In the Midst of the Old Dwelling Place of God where the voice of Jesus from the Cross “It Is Finished” caused the foot thick curtain in the Temple to be torn from top to bottom by the hand of God! He is no longer there! The Lord has left the building! He is about to inhabit those who believe and will now and forever be seen in the midst of them – even where 2 or 3 are gathered.
 
So hearing this from the angel they went to the Temple – Solomon’s Porch – and picked up where they left off before being imprisoned.
 
Here Jesus is emphasizing that you cannot imprison the Gospel. The Gospel, His ongoing, day-to-day message, the daily bread given in Communion to the Jesus people is the power of God! He demonstrates and openly reveals His power through the 1st-hand revelations and messages declared by His people and then with miracles, signs and wonders confirms their witness and that the powers of this world do not compare to the power of Jesus. Jesus keeps revealing His presence “In the Midst” of the hearts of the believers who come to His Table, “In the Midst” of those who meet in groups of 2, 3 or more and “In the Midst” of the temporal, natural and worldly with eternal, supernatural and heavenly signs and wonders.
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