This passage follows on from the preaching of Peter. The reaction of the Sadducees was interesting — you are arrested for discussion the resurrection.
1While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, 2much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. 3So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.
5The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ 12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”
Things really do not change. The subjects that are important are not to be discussed. We can discuss the olympics, the next election, whatever is happening in hollywood, but to the decline of our culture. In fact, if we begin to discuss these things we care called names. Yesterday, sarcastically I suggested that we make a hashtag on twitter on #hatespeechObama simply to drown out that narrative.
In doing this, we need to be like Peter. He said that the healing he had done was part of the power of the risen Christ. He would not accede to the conditions that the elite were placing around him. As long as we have free speech (and that may not be for ver much longer) we need to take back what is being hidden in a post modern, right on, area of silence, Of impoliteness.
It is time to be rude. Upset the narrative. For the comforting speech of peace is a lie.
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