Shakespeare described envy as ‘the green sickness’.** But green also means ‘go’. Both ideas appear in this story. The Sadducees, a wealthy, powerful group, assumed leadership positions in the Temple, many playing the role of Chief Priest or High Priest. The success of the Jesus movement was independent of them and consequently felt something of a threat, provoking them to jealousy (v 17). Few of us enjoy being out of control in something for which we feel responsible. Their response is to shut it down, having the apostles arrested and imprisoned. 

It’s another moment of peril for the emerging church. Will it survive this hostility from such a powerful opponent? As on countless other occasions in the history of the church, Jesus continues to build his church, ramming through the gates of hell (Matthew 16:18) that would seek to thwart it. An angel frees the apostles and gives them the green light to stand in the very place where opposition is fiercest and speak about new life in Christ (v 20). It’s inexplicable to the Sanhedrin. They, like many world leaders since, are dumbfounded that the good news of Jesus cannot be chained. The good news will be taken to the ends of the earth.

**Antony and Cleopatra, 3:2

Lord, renew our hope that, in Christ, we are never left alone.

The previous passage ended by describing the huge and ever-growing positive response to the message of the gospel. Luke now records the inevitable reaction of the priestly authorities and exposes their underlying motivation in the fact that they were ‘filled with jealousy’ (v 17). In telling the story of Christian expansion in this book, Luke occasionally allows an element of humour into his narrative; the interjection of an anonymous witness in verse 25 is surely an example of this. 

The reference to ‘an angel of the Lord’ (v 19) who releases the apostles from prison should not lead us automatically to imagine a heavenly being in the form often used to depict such creatures in art and literature. The word signifies ‘messenger’ or ‘servant’ of God. While the Bible does suggest that such beings have a heavenly existence, it also describes them as appearing in human form.¹ Indeed, many identify the ‘angels’ addressed in the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 as the pastors of these congregations. This understanding is reflected in the English language when someone needing help may request of a trusted friend: ‘Be an angel’!

Perhaps the important lesson to be drawn from this incident is expressed in the poetic line which affirms that ‘omnipotence has servants everywhere’.² In a situation which might have appeared hopeless, a previously unknown personage appears and not only liberates the captives but reaffirms their calling to tell the people the full message of this new life. The history of Christianity, and indeed the experience of millions of believers, is replete with such experiences in which seemingly insurmountable problems have been suddenly overcome by a previously unknown ‘angelic’ appearance. 

Remember all who are in prison for the sake of the gospel and pray that God’s angels may visit them. 

¹ Heb 13:2  ² Charles H Spurgeon, 1834–92