When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.
The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ac 5:33.
We’re going to need a little context on this one. Who are “they” and “them”? Well, it started on Solomons Porch in the temple. Peter and other disciples were performing signs and wonders, teaching and healing in the name of Jesus. Acts 5:14 says “And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,”. The high priest and those who were with him were “filled with indignation” when they heard about it. They laid hands on the apostles and put them in prison.
During the night an angel of the Lord cam to them and let them out. The angel instructed them to “speak to the people all the words of this life” so they returned to the temple and continued to teach in the name of Jesus. Once again they were brought in front of the council and they said to them, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?”
In response, Peter and the other apostles said:
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
This brings us to our scripture in verse 33, “When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.” All but one of the Jewish leaders wanted violence. The words that the apostles spoke cut them deeply and encited rage within them.
God’s word is a weapon, but not just any ordinary weapon. It has the power to destroy or heal depending on how it is received. Ephesians 6:17 tells us to take up the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”. The enemy that we face is not physical, but spiritual.
The question that we must ask ourselves is, how familiar are we with our weapon? How well do we know it? How much have we carried it and felt its weight? How well do we know how and when it is to be used? Unfortunately, this battle is not like David’s, when he faced Goliath. David removed armor that he was not familiar with to fight with something that he was proficient with. The word of God is part of our armor system and we must be proficient in it to have victory.