“The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.”
Acts 5:41 (NLT)
Acts 5 has another “but God” moment: Gamaliel stands up, the council listens, and the apostles are spared from being murdered. But the story doesn’t end with relief. The council still turns its frustration into punishment. Some translations say they were flogged, some say whipped, some say beaten. The suffering is real—and it echoes what our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, endured as He was prepared to be crucified on the cross.
And what they do next is what exposes my heart. They don’t leave the council complaining. They don’t leave sad. They don’t leave angry. They don’t leave with their head down. They leave rejoicing. Not because pain feels good, but because they recognize what the moment means: they’ve been counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.
That word “worthy” both challenges and encourages me. I don’t go looking for suffering, and I don’t think we’re called to pursue it. But when we choose obedience—when we obey God rather than man—it often puts us in a position to suffer for Christ. And if I’m honest, often my fear of suffering is exactly what prevents my obedience.
Still, I can’t miss the mercy in this passage. The fire did not consume them. Their lives were spared. The beating was visible, shameful, and on display—clothes torn, blood, bruises—yet God used even that disgrace to keep the good news moving forward. They were honored to be dishonored for Jesus. And if I’m not willing to suffer for Christ, then it’s highly likely I’m not being Christ-like.