Study of the Congregation Book, Week of January 29 to February 4, 2024, Chapter 5, paragraphs 1 to 8 and box on page. 39, “We must obey God as ruler”, Answers.

Study of the Congregation Book, January 29, February 4, 2024, Chapter 4, paragraphs 1 to 8 and box on page. 39, “We must obey God as ruler”, Answers.

Congregation Bible study (30 mins.) bt chap. 5 paras. 1-8 and box on p. 39.

“We must obey God as ruler”

1-3. a) What did the Sanhedrin accuse the apostles of, and what issue did they face?

The Sanhedrin accused the apostles of filling Jerusalem with their teachings about Jesus and of trying to make them guilty of Jesus' death. The apostles were faced with the question of whether they should obey God as ruler or the commands of the Sanhedrin, which meant ceasing to preach in the name of Jesus.

The religious leaders were furious because, despite warnings, the apostles continued to fill Jerusalem with their teachings about Jesus. The main accusation was disobedience to the prohibition to preach in the name of Jesus, and what was also asked was whether they would obey the Sanhedrin or continue preaching according to Jesus' instructions.

The high priest, Joseph Caiaphas expressed his anger saying that he had given them strict orders not to continue teaching in the name of Jesus, but the apostles had filled Jerusalem with their teachings and were determined to make them guilty of Jesus' death.

b) Why should we be interested in what happened to the apostles?

We should be interested in what happened to the apostles because their courageous stand in the face of persecution by the Sanhedrin provides us with an example of faithfulness to God and obedience to his commands, even in the midst of opposition and adversity. His experience teaches us valuable lessons about remaining steadfast in our faith and in our work to preach God's message, no matter the difficulties we face along the way.

The apostles faced the difficult decision of choosing between obeying God or men. The situation highlights the importance of remaining faithful to the teachings given by Jehovah, even when faced with opposition and threats. The example of the Apostles serves as inspiration for us to remain firm in our obedience to Jehovah.

We should be interested in what happened to the apostles, because they faced a crucial test of loyalty to Jehovah in the face of threats and prohibitions from the authorities. The fundamental question was, whether they would obey him or the men. The story of the Apostles serves as a reminder of the importance of courage and fidelity in times of position and inspires us to remain firm in our convictions. 

ANSWERS BASED ON THE BOX «THE SANHEDRIN, SUPREME COURT OF THE JEWS»

And this box is about the Sanhedrin which was the supreme, or the supreme court of the Jews during the time that Judea was under the rule of the Roman Empire. Despite the Roman occupation, the Jews were allowed to follow their traditions and govern themselves practically. There were local courts to try minor crimes and civil cases and when these could not be resolved, they referred the case to the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem.

It was a body composed of 71 men who met in a room within or near the temple precinct. This group included the high priest as president, priestly family nobles including the Sadducees, nobles who were not priests, and learned scribes. The Sanhedrin not only acted as the supreme court, but also as the administrative council of the Jewish nation. He had the final authority to interpret Jewish laws, and his decisions could not be changed or overturned. Furthermore, it is mentioned that Jews around the world respected the authority of the Sanhedrin.

The Sanhedrin apparently met in a room within or near the temple grounds in Jerusalem. The connection with the temple highlights the religious and spiritual importance of his decisions. This strategic location could also symbolize the relationship between religious and administrative authority in the daily lives of Jews.

The authority of the Sanhedrin was not limited to Judea, since Jews throughout the world respected its decisions. This suggests that his pronouncements had a global reach and that his influence extended beyond the geographical borders of Judea. The authority of the Sanhedrin unified the Jewish diaspora under a common legal and ethical system.

Although there were local courts in Judah that handled minor and civil cases, the Sanhedrin stood as the supreme court and administrative council. His role not only encompassed the resolution of legal cases, but also the interpretation of Jewish laws. The decisions of the Sanhedrin were final and could not be changed or annulled, thus marking a clear distinction from other local courts.

Although Judea was under the rule of the Roman Empire, the Sanhedrin allowed Jews to follow their traditions and govern themselves to a large extent. The existence of the Sanhedrin can be interpreted as a grant of autonomy by the Romans to the Jewish community, as long as Roman control in the region is not significantly interfered with.

“The angel of the Lord opened the doors” (Acts 5:12-21a)

4, 5. Why were Caiaphas and the other Sadducees “full of jealousy”?

Caiaphas and the other Sadducees were "full of jealousy" because the apostles taught that Jesus had risen, something the Sadducees did not believe. 

They were outraged primarily because the apostles taught that Jesus had risen, something the Sadducees did not believe. Furthermore, by proclaiming that only those who put their faith in Jesus would be saved, the apostles represented a threat to the authority and position of the Sadducees. In short, jealousy arose over the popularity of the Apostles and the message they shared, which questioned the beliefs and power of the Sadducees.

Furthermore, the apostles preached that only those who put their faith in Jesus would be saved, which threatened the leadership position of the Sadducees and their relationship with the Roman authorities. Therefore, they wanted to silence the apostles to prevent their message from spreading and gaining followers.

And let us remember that the first time the Sanhedrin ordered them to stop preaching, the apostles responded: "We cannot stop talking about the things we have seen and heard." That is, they refused to obey the order of the Sanhedrin and continued to preach the message of Jesus.

The apostles continued to preach despite the Sanhedrin's order to stop. The Jewish leaders could not tolerate the apostles disobeying their authority and openly defied their prohibition.

6. Who is behind the persecution against Jehovah's servants, and why should this not surprise us?

Religious leaders are primarily behind the persecution of Jehovah's servants, and we should not be surprised because they often use their position to influence authorities and the media to stop preaching.

It should not be surprising that religious leaders are behind the persecution of Jehovah's servants, as they have historically used their influence to stop preaching whose message exposes the lies of false religions.

We should not be surprised by the hatred and envy toward Jehovah's servants, since their message of truth frees sincere people from the unbiblical beliefs and customs taught by their leaders.

7, 8. What effect did the angel's orders have on the apostles, and what question should we ask ourselves?

The effect of the Angel's orders on the apostles was to confirm to them that they were doing the right thing and gave them new strength to remain firm in their preaching, filling us with faith and courage. And the question we should ask is: "If I were faced with similar situations," would I have the faith and courage necessary to continue preaching? Remembering that the Angels support and guide us in the work of bearing witness to the Kingdom of God can strengthen us in our own faith and courage.

The angel's orders had a confirming and strengthening effect on the apostles. He confirmed to them that they were doing the right thing and gave them new strength to stand firm against adversity. Full of faith and courage, "they entered the temple at dawn and began to teach."

These orders had the effect of reinforcing the apostles' conviction, confirming to them that they were on the right path. which gave them new strength, allowing them to face difficulties with faith and courage, as was evident when they entered the temple and continued teaching.