“The Wisdom of the Witness” Acts 5:33-42

My beloved friends and family, God’s Grace and Love be with each of you.

Jesus’ disciples now stood before the very Sanhedrin council where Jesus Himself had been tried

and sentenced to death. For anyone other than a council member, this was a place that naturally

inspired great fear; a single wrong word spoken here could lead to execution, flogging, or

imprisonment.

Yet Peter—who had once denied Jesus three times—entered that very courtroom and boldly

proclaimed Jesus’ resurrection: “God raised the Jesus whom you crucified. We are His witnesses!”

Peter, who had once been so afraid of death and the powers that be, no longer feared death. This

was because his heart was anchored in the conviction that he stood always before God, that the

Holy Spirit was with him, and that Jesus was the Son of God. “Judge for yourselves whether it is

right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God” (Acts 4:19). These words embody the core of faith

and the source of authority that the Lord’s disciples must possess. Those who believe, “I am

following the Lord’s word before God,” remain unshaken. That faith enables them to overcome fear

and stand with confidence. It is my earnest hope that all of the Lord’s beloved people will possess

and enjoy this confidence.

Faith that is filled with the Holy Spirit and grounded in the belief in Christ’s resurrection acts like a

fire that melts away all fear. Having glimpsed the eternal realm through the certainty of the

resurrection, Peter refused to bow before any earthly authority. His conviction was that it mattered

not if the world remained unaware, so long as the Lord knew the truth. This godly, spiritual mindset

instills a sense of dignity and boldness in a person.

In any era or life, moments of crisis call for wisdom rather than emotion. Giving way to emotion

leads to easy collapse, while yielding to anger causes one to lose sight of natural reason and God’s

will.

Gamaliel, a Jewish teacher of the law mentioned in the text, averted a bloody trial during just such a

crisis. When the apostles testified to Jesus’ resurrection amidst a volatile atmosphere, the leaders

of the Council gnashed their teeth in rage, their faces filled with murderous intent. They realized that

if news of Jesus’ resurrection spread among the people, they would be branded as the men who

executed the Son of God; their ignorance would be exposed, their status as sinners revealed, and a

massive upheaval would engulf the entire Jewish community. Consequently, the Council members

clamored, "Let us get rid of them! If we leave them be, the masses will all be led astray!" At that

moment, an elderly man named Gamaliel—a respected Jewish scholar known as the "Glory of the

Law"—slowly rose from his seat. His words averted bloodshed and saved the church. Wisdom

triumphs over anger and enables us to discern the will of God.

Those who focus solely on the Lord exercise discernment—relying on His sovereignty and guided

by heavenly truth and wisdom—without being clouded by prejudice, habit, or circumstance. Thus,

those who possess heavenly wisdom must pray during moments of crisis, “Let me not hinder the

work of God.” Gamaliel’s words were not merely a display of prudent political mediation or human

zeal; rather, they were rooted in a profound trust in God’s providence. He held the conviction that

God would act even if he himself did not intervene at that moment. The wise do not rush; they know

how to wait for God’s timing. In contrast, the foolish act impulsively and make decisions driven by

anger. The wise, however, contemplate God’s will in silence and speak and act in accordance with

His Word.

In our modern society, too, we frequently see people making mistakes and plunging countless

others into death and chaos in their haste to realize their own plans and intentions. People of the

world, bound by familiar conventions and habits, tend to pass immediate judgment and demand

quick results. Yet, God continues to work through the process of waiting. Those who possess the

Lord’s wisdom choose the courage to trust in God’s timing rather than succumbing to impatience.

Modern churches and believers alike must learn from Peter’s attitude as a true witness—one who

remained unshaken by the prospect of death, grounded in the assurance of faith.

We must also learn from the wisdom of Gamaliel, a teacher of Judaism. Even among the faithful,

there are those whose judgment is clouded because anger takes precedence and they fail to

control their emotions. No one should rashly interfere with or meddle in the work of God. At times,

silence is an expression of faith, and the wisdom to wait and endure is by no means an act of

cowardice.

Wisdom lies in knowing when to wait and when to speak; that balance is the "heavenly wisdom"

bestowed by the Holy Spirit. "If this work is of God, you cannot stop it." This confession is not

merely an expression of caution but a declaration of faith in God’s sovereignty. It reflects the attitude

of a wise, true believer—one who does not let personal judgment precede God’s work, does not

obstruct the Lord’s plans with custom or tradition, and knows how to step back unconditionally when

it aligns with God’s will.

Heavenly wisdom involves balancing the boldness to proclaim the Gospel with the wisdom of a

witness who waits, entrusting the present situation to the Lord and relying on Him. In the times

ahead, the Lord’s people will desperately need both confidence and the wisdom of patience.

We live in an era where we cannot know when, where, or what events might unfold. Yet, if we are

filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit and possess this discerning wisdom as witnesses of the Lord,

we will become wise children of God—standing confident in any situation and waiting with heavenly

peace.

I earnestly pray that you all may possess this blessing.

Gods bless you.

Your Pastor, Oon Don