Acts 04_13-22 Common Men; Uncommon Boldness

Read Acts 4:13-22 – P&J are described here as “common men” -- nothing of special merit. But, as Abe Lincoln once said, “God must love the common man; He made so many of them.” He did. But what God really loves is to use common people to do uncommon things, just as He did here. These common men “astonished” the elite of their day even tho they violently opposed them.

It’s incredible. Two fishermen from Galilee, challenged by the highest court in Israel – like our Supreme Court. They last saw these people on the night of Jesus’ arrest, as they scurried for cover, Peter swearing he didn’t even know Jesus. But no longer. Now he speaks with boldness, conviction and reason. What changed? How did they go from running scared to standing proud?!

The enemy knew. 13b) “And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” For them, this was déjà vu all over again! They’d seen this show just weeks before at Jesus’ trial. Now, they’re seeing the same miracles, hearing the same message and seeing the same courage from His followers. It’s their worst nightmare. What they thought was dead is proliferating!

God loves to use little people against powerful opposition. That’s the norm for a Christian. If there is no opposition in our lives, it’s bc we’re not in the game – not claiming Christ publicly. Do that and there will be opposition. So How can we be common people with uncommon boldness?

The Uncommon Boldness

Testifying before the Supreme Court. How’d they get the courage?

A. They’d Been with Jesus – How did the Sanhedrin know they had been with Jesus? Multiple clues. First, they’d performed a miracle like Jesus – healing a man these guys had walked by for 40 years without being able to offer more help than a penny here or there. That was one sign.

Second, I think they saw the same quiet confidence as Jesus. They didn’t enter screaming “Police Brutality.” Neither were they intimated. To stand before there and speak of Jesus boldly cannot have been easy. Yet Peter does it, graciously. He’s definite, but not harsh. Often dedicated Xns give the game away right at the start by their belligerent attitude -- or worse – like Scott Roeder who killed abortionist Dr. Geo Tiller in 2009, as tho two wrongs could make a right. Protesting the killing of innocent unborn babies by means of a non-violent prayer vigil is inspiring; killing the docs only negates our own message. We can defeat ourselves with our harsh attitudes. Peter and John didn’t do that. Paul later advises we are to be “speaking the truth in love” (Eph 4:15a). Both truth and love are needed to face opposition. Jesus had both; P&J had both; and we must have both. Harshness is our enemy.

Third, tho not trained, these men knew the Word. Why? They’d been with Jesus, and He knew the Word. That put steel in their backbone. The crowds said of Jesus in Jn 7:15: “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” Well, he had studied, just not in rabbi school. And he taught the disciples for 3 years. They knew the Word. They spoke the Word. Their argument was the Word, not opinion. The Word was their authority.

Spurgeon had a lot of opposition. But he considered his greatest compliment a mocker who said, “Here is a man who has not moved an inch forward in all his ministry. At the close of the 19th century he’s teaching the theology of the first century.” He welcomed that criticism bc he knew the power was in the Word. And we must join him and Peter and John and Jesus in that same confidence. Our foes may tell us we’re on the wrong side of history. But we’re on the right side of God’s Word. Mt 24:35: “Heaven and earth may pass away, but my words will not pass away.” History ends; the Word, never!

B. They’d Been Transformed by Jesus – That didn’t happen overnight. At the cross, they thought it was over. But when they saw the risen Christ – got the big picture – perceived He really was “the way, and the truth, and the life”, everything changed. The pieces came together. They were on the winning side. They were transformed from cowards to courageous.

On the third floor of the Museum of History in DC, you’d find a black horse, Rienzi. He belonged to Genrl Phil Sheridan, who, near the end of the CW, was tasked to clear the Shenandoah Valley of rebels. He got called to DC for a conference, returning to Winchester for the night, with his army 20 miles away at Cedar Creek. Next morning, he was awakened by gunfire. A surprise attack! Sheridan jumped on Rienzi and rode at a furious pace to reach the field of battle where he found troops retreating and disaster looming. Without stopping he waved them on and urged them back to battle. At the sight of their leader, they rallied immediately, turned back and won a great victory.

So it must have been for the disciples. Seeing Jesus alive – victor over sin and death rallied them. So it will for us when we truly grasp – it’s all true. Jesus really did die, but He really did rise again. He really is our greatest champion when we are faced with opposition. Temporary setbacks there may be – but ultimate defeat – never! See we’re on the winning side changes our lives.

C. They Were Still With Jesus – Jesus hadreturned to heaven. But 8) “Then Peter, filled with the HS said to them.” Jesus was gone but the HS was there. Yes, Jesus and the HS are two distinct persons. But both are equally God and thus one in purpose, power and even presence in a sense. Jesus says said in Jn 16:7: “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” So He had and was now with them thru the Spirit. Rom 8:9: “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10) But if Christ is in you.” To have the HS is to have Christ and vice versa. You read thru the book of Acts and you’ll find that every time they meet opposition, they do so filled with, controlled by and empowered by, the HS. He always indwelt them, and as they gave control to Him, they could meet any opposition with confidence and power.

So, we must learn to depend on Him. Wm Newell was once preaching at a conf in China for CIM. He said to the leader, “Please pray for me that I will be nothing.” The director responded, “Newell, take it on faith; you are nothing! But He is everything. Trust Him.” That’s what Peter and John are doing. Common men, with uncommon courage under the Spirit’s control.

II. The Empty Threats

P&J’s opponents are on the horns of a dilemma. They have broken no law, but to turn them loose would credit their message. But to punish them would anger the crowd. They can’t deny the miracle. He’s standing right there. What to do?! The best they can come up with are empty threats. “Don’t speak or teach in Jesus’ name – or else.” Their best shot. Empty threats.

Of course, their threats were not always so empty. They had crucified Jesus. Soon they will kill Stephen and then James. But, do you realize, even the threat to kill is an empty threat. It is. Jesus says in Lu 21:16c-18: “Some of you they will put to death. 17) You will be hated for my name’s sake. 18) But not a hair of your head will perish.” How can He say you’ll be put to death, yet not a hair of your head will perish?

Jesus is giving us an eternal perspective – the big pix. The opponents of Christ ultimately have no leverage. Why? Listen: Rom 8:31: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32) He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? . . . 35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? . . . 38) For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39) nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” In other words, “You can take my house. You can take my car. You can even take my life. But you can’t take Jesus’ love and you can’t take my eternal life. I am eternally untouchable. So do your worst. But remember, one day you’ll answer for it.

Sahil grew up in a Muslim home in India and married a Muslim girl. Not long after, both came to faith in Christ thru a friend. When their families found out, they had to flee for their lives. But they prayed for their families, slowly renewed contact, and got what appeared to be positive responses. One day Sahil dropped his wife with her family for a meal while he went on to his. When he returned, his wife was dead -- poisoned by her own parents.

So did God fail? No, Beloved. Isaiah was sawn in two while Daniel prospered; Jonathan died; David became king. Jas was executed; Peter was delivered from the same prison. But none was every separated from the “love of God in Christ Jesus.” All are at home in glory today. No threat against a Christian can ever ultimately succeed. Church father Justin Martyr wrote to his persecutors in AD 150, “You can kill us, but you can’t harm us.” We’re eternally invincible. All threats to a Xn are empty in light of God’s grace. Is that good?

III. The Overriding Principle

The court’s final decision: 18) “So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” So, why didn’t the disciples just leave quietly? After all, aren’t Xn responsible to obey public authorities? Didn’t Jesus pay His taxes? Didn’t Peter himself say in I Peter 2:13 “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme”? Well, Peter did write that. That is the general guideline for all believers. You’ll find no support in Scripture for not paying your taxes or disobeying the traffic laws. That’s the principle: “Obey those in authority.”

But Peter didn’t stop there. He went on: I Pet 2:17: “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” Honor the emperor is still there, but before that: “Fear God.” Obey the human authority – unless the human edict violates the character of God. Then – it’s God first. That’s where the disciples are. They say, “We have to speak of what we’ve seen and heard. We must.” Where did they get that? Acts 1:8b: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” Their situation was exactly what Jesus had predicted when He told them in Lu 21:12) “They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13) This will be your opportunity to [what?] bear witness. Their marching orders were clear. Now it’s a simple matter of obey God or obey man? Regardless of the consequences, they chose to obey God.

This principle is increasingly more important in an increasingly secular society. But the threat isn’t just from government; it’s from any authority. I know of one man who was VP at a large branch of a large bank. A policy developed where VP’s were to entertain lavishly at the bank’s expense at questionable venues, including strip clubs. This man didn’t think that was appropriate for bankers and certainly not for a Xn. He graciously explained his reasons for not complying, but was suspended and eventually demoted. He paid a price for putting God’s interests above man’s. Would we?

Conc – Why do we so often struggle with listening to the voice of God rather than men. In some cases, we’re simply not listening for the voice of God. Distractions and busyness keep us from the Word and soon His voice is crowded out by the noise around us.

We naturally more in tune with physical things than the real things that are unseen. We’re like that old Steve Still song that advises, “If you can’t be with the one you love, honey, Love the one you’re with.” Aren’t we like that? We can’t physically see God or hear Him, so the voices of friends and opponents which are very immediate intimidate us. We listen to them rather than the more distant voice of God. We’re common people.

But God loves common people, and He loves to do great things through common people who will take an uncommon view of reality and display uncommon boldness. The Prussian King Frederick the Great once invited his generals to a dinner. Gnrl Hans Von Zieten begged off bc he was scheduled to help serve Communion that night. Later there was another dinner, and the King and his colleagues joked about his religious duties and made light of his choice to attend to them. Von Zieten finally stood and said, “My lord, there is a greater king than you, a king to whom I have sworn allegiance, even unto death. I belong to Christ and cannot sit quietly as the Lord’s name is dishonored, his character belittled and his caused subjected to ridicule. With your permission I shall withdraw.” Now there was dead silence for everyone knew such a bold act could mean death. But Frederick was so struck by Zieten’s courage and commitment he begged him to stay and promised never to demean sacred things again. A common man with uncommon boldness.

But whether that boldness is rewarded like Von Zieten’s, or results in death like Shahil’s wife, ultimately not a hair of our head can be harmed. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. H. G. Wells said, “The trouble with so many people is that the voice of their neighbors sounds louder in their ears than the voice of God.” Let’s be common people with uncommon boldness because the voice of God is loud in our ears. Let’s pray.

Related Media

Related Sermons