Jail Doors were Opened

Jail Doors Were Opened

They were arrested again and put in a ward but the angel of the Lord opened the prison and told them to go and stand in the temple and preach all the words of this Life. In the morning they were brought before the Council and the High Priest asked them, saying “We strictly charged you not to teach in this Name, and behold you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” Acts 5:28.

Then came one of the most dramatic events in the Early Church: when the Council was divided and the power of God was so manifest among the people,-Gamaliel warned them not to touch them-said they might find themselves fighting against God.
But in the face of this, they beat the disciples and charged them not to speak in the Name of Jesus and let them go.

“They departed from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the Name.” Acts 5:41. No student can read this section of the Book of Acts without being impressed with the large place the Name of Jesus held in the Early Church.

Following the death of Stephen and the preaching of the Word by Philip in Samaria, we come to this significant statement. “But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Acts 8:12.

He not only preached the kingdom but he preached the Name of Jesus. It seems that the Early Church devoted the time to instructing the people in regard to the use of the Name of Jesus. They must have understood that they had what we would call today a legal Right to use the Name of Jesus.