What's that have to do with Acts 5:12-21? Maybe a little more than my story about Grandpa Wright last week -- then again, maybe not!! But the text presupposes a temple system where the high priest controlled the economic exchange of goods through the temple -- the flow of wealth. From what we can tell, during this time the high priest oversaw this flow of wealth to make sure it benefited the elite in Jerusalem. This gives a background to the different perceptions on the church that this passage depicts.

The passage seems to suggest four different groups:
(1) believers in Jesus the Messiah and members of this Jewish messianic new age under the authority of the apostles.
(2) persons being initiated into this people as a result of the witness of the apostles and others.
(3) persons curious but afraid to be associated with the new Jewish messianists, except to receive benefits from them.
(4) The high priest and his associates who attempt to stop the spread of this Jewish messianic movement.

Maybe you can read through the passage and see what group appears where. Do you find any patterns of differences between them?

Read vv. 12-13: Why would the apostles and the church, meeting in the temple, have people's respect, yet at the same time, the same people not be willing to join them?

V. 14: Given this context, what is it to be a believer? What is the difference between the believers adn the "esteemers"?

Vv. 15-16: Why is the healing witness of the Peter so important? Is to be healed to become a believer? What is the point of the healings?

Vv. 17-18: Why are the high priests and their associates upset at the apostles? (don't forget to look back to chapter 4) Why do the high priest resort to coercion? What type of coercion do they use? Why?

Vv. 19-21: What "good" does the coercion of the high priest do? Where are the apostles when the high priest calls for them in prison? What does that imply about where the priestly officials are not? Who is more faithful to the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel?

The passage raises issues about the perception of the church, and its relationship to various different groups outside it. How do you think different people perceive you, and us as a congregation? What do people who do not really "believe" want from us? Does the church hold this back in Jerusalem? Who perceives you/us as a problem, or a threat? Why is this so? What does the passage suggest is our mission in such a situation?

If you still have time, maybe you can speculate more why I told the story about the dog and the apple butter. If you find out, let me know!! Have a wonderful evening together!