Peter And John Arrested

Spring, c. 33 AD

Peter And John Arrested

The bold preaching in Solomon's Portico has provoked a rapid and aggressive response from the religious establishment. As Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees suddenly descended upon them. They were deeply disturbed that the apostles were proclaiming resurrection from the dead in Jesus.

Unable to convene a trial late in the day, the authorities laid hands on the two apostles and threw them into the temple jail for the night. This marks the very first instance of physical persecution against the newly formed Church. However, the arrest came too late to stop the message; the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

"And they laid hands on them and put them in prison until the next day, for it was already evening."
— Acts 4:3

Timeline Box: The first arrest of the apostles occurred on the evening following the healing of the lame man.

Mosaic Era, 1445 BC

The Cloud Lifts From Mount Sinai

A monumental day of movement for the nation of Israel! After remaining encamped at the base of Mount Sinai for nearly a year, receiving the Law and building the Tabernacle, the cloud of Yahweh has finally lifted. The signal has been given. The wilderness wanderings toward the Promised Land have officially commenced.

"Now it happened in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth of the month, that the cloud was lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony;"
— Numbers 10:11

Timeline Box: Numbers 10:11 provides this exact, explicit date (20th of Iyyar) for the departure from Mount Sinai.

Mosaic Era, 1445 BC

The Camp Sets Out In Order

Following the lifting of the cloud, the sons of Israel have set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai. They are moving with military precision according to the order established by Moses. The standard of the camp of Judah has taken the lead, marching into the harsh wilderness of Paran as the cloud directs their path.

"...and the sons of Israel set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai. Then the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran."
— Numbers 10:12

Timeline Box: The departure occurred precisely in the tribal order commanded by Yahweh.

Editorial: Moving Forward Despite Resistance

On the 20th of Iyyar, the cloud lifted and Israel finally moved away from the safety of Mount Sinai, marching into a dangerous, untested wilderness. They had to follow the Spirit of God, even when the terrain was harsh.

Peter and John were also moving with the Spirit, but their "wilderness" was the hostile environment of the Sanhedrin. Their bold preaching led directly to a jail cell. Yet, the movement of God cannot be chained. Even as the apostles sat in the dark, the number of believers swelled to 5,000. When the cloud of God moves in our lives, we must follow it boldly, knowing that external resistance cannot stop an internal revival.

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