Answer: The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing
because they had been counted worthy of suffering for THE NAME,
(verse 41).
MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
Upon the advice of a Pharisee named Gamaliel, the Jewish
Sanhedrin did not kill the apostles (verses
33-39). Instead, they had the apostles flogged
(verse 40). This flogging meant that they were
beaten with the Jewish penalty of "forty lashes minus
one" (Deuteronomy 25:3; 2 Corinthians
11:24).
Instead of leaving the Sanhedrin defeated, the apostles left
this place, where Jesus had been condemned (Matthew
26:57-27:1; Mark 14:53-51:1),
rejoicing! They had been counted worthy of suffering for THE
NAME. With the Jews, "the Name" meant
Jehovah. The Christians now apply it to Jesus.
Matthew 5:10-12: [Jesus said,]
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of
righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all
kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad,
because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they
persecuted the prophets who were before you."
John 15:18-21: [Jesus said] "If the
world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you
belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you
do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
That is why the world hates you. Remember the Words I spoke
to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If
they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My
teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this
way because of My Name, for they do not know the One Who sent
Me."
1 Peter 2:20-23: "But how is it to
your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it?
But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is
commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ
suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in
His steps. "'e committed no sin, and no deceit was
found in His mouth.' When they hurled their insults at
Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats.
Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him Who judges
justly."
