Acts 04_01-12 A Question of Authority

A Question of Authority

(Acts 4:1-12)

August 1, 2021

Read Acts 4:1-12 – Peter and John have just healed a lame man and then preached Jesus. But now, the first persecution. The temple authorities and Sadducees threw them in jail overnight. The issue is authority. We all choose some ultimate authority on which we base their lives. At a high level, the choices boil down to two. Human wisdom, in many flavors of philosophy, psychology, religion, all based on human thought and experience – or God’s revelation. It’s man’s authority or God’s authority.

Most get it wrong. One popular TV pastor wrote in Self-Esteem: the New Reformation: "It was appropriate for Calvin and Luther to think in a God-centered way. But classical Christian theology has erred in its insistence that theology be God-centered and not man-centered. Sin is any act or thought that robs [any] human being of his or her self-esteem. [Hell is when a person] has lost his self-esteem." Sin is having a bad self-image! When an interviewer suggested the Bible defines sin differently, like 10 Commandments, he said: “I hope you don't preach that stuff. If you do you'll hurt a lot of beautiful people. Just because it's in the Bible doesn't mean that you need to preach it." Whoa! A pastor saying the Bible a waste of time!

Human wisdom has merit when subordinate to God’s Word. But at best, it’s limited and flawed. Commit to it and you’ll find yourself hopelessly deficient in eternal truth. Note how this was true of the apostles’ accusers.

The Derisive Attack

As Peter finished, trouble arrived. 1) “And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them.” These guys considered the temple their domain, so here they come – priests, head of security and Sadducees, the ringleaders. They were not happy.

The Pharisees opposed to Jesus on religious grounds. He didn’t keep the law as they defined it. The Sadducees had issues both political and religious. They were the aristocracy, descendants of the priestly nobility – educated, wealthy, elite – the blue bloods of their time. And bc they had wealth and position, they were unprincipled collaborationists who had long ago gotten in bed with the Romans. They hated them, but they would have sold their mothers to protect their power. They were a minority, but they controlled Jewish political and social life. Much of their wealth came from elicit business within the temple itself. They were control freaks who did not want anyone rocking their boat.

Spiritually, Sads denied the supernatural, demons, angels, resurrection and afterlife. They were: 2) “greatly annoyed bc they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” Jesus’ resurrection as the proof others would be resurrected. They were appalled that men with no theological training were teaching heresy. Then to be credited with healing a lame man – on their territory – it was all too much. So, they threw them in jail.

5) On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes (71-member Sanhedrin) gathered together in Jerusalem, 6) with Annas the high priest (emeritus) and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family (the top of the Jewish aristocracy). 7)And when they had set [not sat] them in the midst [typical Sanhedrin trial where the accused stood in the center of a semicircle of elevated seats] they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Simple question. But once you know the background, you can almost hear the derision in their voices. “This is our domain. You have no right to come and undermine our teaching. Who gave you that authority? Let’s have His name?” It’s not a question; it’s an attack.

They are pitting their human authority against the authority of God, and human authority is a jealous god, often blinding men to truth. The disciples have made clear that they did this in the name of Jesus– Acts 3:16b: “and the faith that is thru Jesus has given the man this perfect health.” And they’ve clarified Jesus fulfills the OT prophecies concerning a coming Messiah. So it’s the age-old issue of human wisdom vs. divine revelation. “Who you gonna believe, men or God?” With the proof of the healed man staring them in the face, they choose their own wisdom over God’s revelation. They were directly challenging the apostles claim that God did this. Human wisdom is a jealous god. It’s not interested in Truth; it’s interested in Power.

So it has always been. The lie Eve fell for in Eden was Gen 3:5: “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So, who you gonna believe? God’s revelation – “Don’t eat that one tree” – or human wisdom, “Eat it and you’ll be as smart as God.” We all know how that turned out.

Human wisdom is a wonderful gift – when submitted to His authority. But it’s devastating when made ultimate; destruction cannot be far behind. This battle never ends. A few years ago there was the Jesus Seminar, initiated by some of the smartest theologians of our time. Their goal was to determine which sayings in the gospel, Jesus actually said. Committees examined the words and then voted – did Jesus say it or not? They actually put it to a vote!!

They used four colored marbles to vote. Red meant He said it. Pink – kind of sounds like Jesus, but we’re not sure. Gray – probably didn’t. Black – Jesus never said this. I kid you not, that’s what they did. Long story short – their red-letter NT doesn’t have much red. Everything got cut that didn’t fit their expectations. And bc their basic premise was He couldn’t have been God, all supernatural claims were cut, along with any moral judgments not PC today. In the end, they couldn’t even agree among themselves. It all fell apart.

It’s tempting to say, “They lost their marbles,” but so it is when we reject the plain, historically verifiable Word of God and subject it to human authority rather than the other way around – whether the issue is Creation, Evolution, sexual morality or whatever. Human wisdom beneath God’s authority is a wonderful gift. Human wisdom judging God’s authority is a disaster.

II. The Divine Answer

So, Peter answers by pointing out they’d done nothing wrong. They are being tried “concerning a good deed done to a crippled man” (9). It’s a gentle reminder of the unfairness of the charge. They hadn’t robbed a bank; they’d healed a lame man! Then, he preaches the same sermon he’d given to the crowd! Boldly! The coward from 2 months ago stands and delivers!

Why? What changed? Two things. He’d seen Jesus alive, and 8), he was “filled with the HS.” No doubt he also remembered Jesus’ prediction: Lu 21:12: “They will lay hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. 13) This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14) Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15) for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.” And that’s just what happened. Jesus kept His promise thru the HS. For the HS is God with them, just as Jesus was, but now in a new way. Incredible isn’t it? So what is this divine answer?

A. Jesus is the Authority -- “Here’s the proof.”

1. He was raised by God – Peter goes straight to the heart of the matter. Our authority comes from that Nazarene carpenter – Jesus – whom you thought you were rid of. Well, He’s back. 10) “let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.” “He’s back; He’s well; and He has all authority in heaven and on earth. That authority didn’t come from you. It came straight from God – and the proof is He undid your evil deed in killing Him. God raised Him from the dead. So consider that. You’ve been overruled!”

Peter had seen Jesus, and the tomb was empty. The one thing that would have shut him up would have been to walk out to the tomb and said, “There’s your Jesus and that’s your authority?” But they didn’t do that; they couldn’t do that. There was no body there despite their own carefully placed guard, and if the only credible claim is that God raised Him, you better think carefully about the implications, right? They’d finished with Jesus; but God hadn’t finished with Him. That was the first proof they needed to consider.

2. He healed the lame man – V. 14 tells us he was standing right there next to P&J. Big as life! The same beggar they’d been walking past for 40 years. Perhaps given him a penny or two. But never healed him! Their authority couldn’t save him. How much more proof did they need that some power greater than their own was in play?! They refused to deal with that.

They were more interested in protecting turf than in discovering truth. The preferred human wisdom to God’s revelation. When human wisdom is made god, truth becomes a casualty. Take biologist Richard Lewontin. He’s dedicated his life to science – a grand purpose. But he’s made it his god to the denial of any possible supernatural intervention. He said, “We are forced by our a priori commitment to material causes [to conclude] that materialism is absolute, for we cannot allow a Divine Foot in the door.” That is circular reasoning at its finest, isn’t it? Protecting one’s turf over truth. Always the case when an idol is made of human wisdom. Truth is the casualty even if it stands right in front of you as with Peter and John’s accusers.

B. Jesus is the Only Authority – Peter’s not done yet. Not only is Jesus the authority; He is the only authority on eternal issues. Peter hammers that point: 11) This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12) And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” V. 11 is a quote from Psa 118:2. Peter is saying, “You guys know you’re in the OT, right? Remember that quote about Messiah being rejected by the builders, only to become the chief cornerstone? Remember that? Well that’s you. You claim to be building God’s kingdom. Yet you rejected the One who holds it all together. He stood before you just like me! And you killed him. But your verdict was overturned! God overruled your decision. He raised Him from the dead saved the day – but only for those who turn to Him. There’s no other way and no other name by which to be saved.”

Powerful! But much maligned in our relativistic, postmodern culture. All roads lead to God! That’s the rallying cry of human wisdom. One old folk song had a chorus: “I went to the doctor; I went to the mountains/I looked to the children; I drank from the fountain./There’s more than one answer to these questions, pointing me in a crooked line./ The less I seek for something definitive, the closer I am to fine.” Human wisdom. I feel best if I just believe good intentions are good enough.

But Peter says, “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Arrogant? Yes – unless it’s true! Provable? No, I can’t prove He’s the only way. But I ask, who else lived a sinless life? Who else displayed such miraculous power? Who else cared for outcasts like Jesus? Who else met every intellectual challenge to the dismay of His enemies with never a misstep? Who else fulfilled to the letter hundreds of prophecies made hundreds of years in advance? Who else brought supernatural darkness over the earth at His death? Who else predicted His own death – and His own resurrection like Jesus? Who else could credibly say, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except thru me.” It’s not Jesus or; it’s Jesus only! So you can have your pluralistic “everyone’s okay” irreligion or you can have Jesus; but you can’t have both. It’s human wisdom or God’s revelation; but it can’t be both.

III. The Decisive Aftermath

Jesus’ claims mean every person will at some point make a decision for or against Him. Everyone. No decision is a decision to reject. We see both in this passage. One group arrests the disciples. They reject. But look at v. 4: “But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.” The men numbered 5,000! With women and kids, this may be the largest positive response to one gospel message ever – even up to the present, even including BG meetings. Incredible. But the point is, the same message had 2 responses. Some believed. Some rejected.

This illustrates II Cor 2:15-16: “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life.” The gospel is the most wonderful message ever to mankind. It is also the most divisive. By its very nature it forces a decision for or against. Having heard it, you can not sit on the fence. And it’s important to point this out. If the gospel isn’t true, then believers and non-believers alike are none the worse off. But if it true, then there is an eternal difference in how we choose.

Conc – So, what’s your authority today? What are you staking your life on – human wisdom or God’s revelation? Man’s authority or God’s. For right this moment, it’s one or the other. There’s an old story about Caesar Augustus returning to Rome after his victory over Antony at Actium. Our from the crowd came a man with a gift – a bird he had taught to say, “Hail, Caesar victorious.” Caesar was very impressed and someone whispered the man had another bird equally talented that Caesar might like to purchase. When produced, the bird said, “Hail, Antony, victorious.” Trying to have it both ways. But we can’t, Beloved. It’s God’s wisdom in Christ, or man’s Christless wisdom. We’re all in one camp or the other. Let’s pray.