Contemplative Bible Reading

Acts 5:24 (Christian Standard Bible)

24 As the captain of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, wondering what would come of this.

The Apostles were teaching and healing and doing all sorts of things that drew large crowds of people. Filled with jealousy, the High Priest and the Sadducees had these Apostles put in prison. At night, an angel led the Apostles out of the prison and back to the Temple courts where they continued what they were doing.

The High Priest told the prison officials to bring the Apostles before them. Uh, well, uh, you see… the Apostles weren’t in prison. They, well, uh, somehow…

And now we read that the chief priests were baffled. (Other translations read “perplexed,” etc.)

These chief priests were well educated and experienced men. They were not buffoons or others who were frequently “baffled.” They were respected in the community. They were rarely surprised and left to wonder what would come of this.

This is how God often does things. God leaves us baffled, wondering, and just plain unsure what is next. Rats. If I want to understand everything about something, I shouldn’t think about God and the ways of God. God is far beyond me. I will often be baffled. Praise be to God.