Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life."
Acts 5:17-20
When people are wrong and and therefore can say nothing to defend their wrong position, they employ a typical “one-two punch” tactic.
One, instead of debating the issue, they attack the people who espouse any other opinion but theirs. This tactic amounts to shouting, “Then you are stupid!” (or a racist, or homophobic, or any other name intended to insult their opponent.) They need cite no examples that the person is any of the names hurled at them. Name calling is enough.
Two, silence any opinion but your own. This “You do not agree with me, so you have no right to speak,” tactic is plied if the name-calling doesn’t silence the person first. This is what the religious leaders did with Peter and John. “We do not like what they are saying, so throw ’em in jail and throw away the key!”
Does any of this sound familiar in our country in these days of “political correctness” and “cancel culture”? Doesn’t the employment of this these kinds of tactics expose those who use them as being wrong, and holding indefensible positions?
The Lord dispatched an angel who miraculously released these Apostles from prison. What did the angel tell them to do? Demonstrate? Protest? Riot? Threaten people and destroy property? Hardly. the angel told them to “speak…all the words of life.” In other words, speak the words of Christ and the gospel.
Do you remember in John 6, Jesus asked the disciples if they wanted to depart and no longer follow Him? Do you remember what Peter said in (v.68)? “Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’”
Whatever we speak, may we boldly and faithfully speak the words of life.