Cause for Rejoicing

Today we are picking up our study, Foundations of the Church: Acts, looking at Acts 5:12-42.

So far we have seen:

The Mission: You will be my witnesses (martyrs)

The Methods: Prayer and Proclamation

The Means: The Holy Spirit

We saw all of these coming together in Acts 4:29-31

Acts 4:29–31 NIV

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Remember He is Holy

Last week we saw how God set an example early on to remind the church that He is not only compassionate, gracious, full of mercy, and forgiving, but He is also Just, and the One who brings judgment on wrongdoing. He did this to set His church apart, and to protect them from getting off on the wrong foot with people vying for position and attention through their own actions which are done for others to see, and deception. These motives and actions have no place in His church.

That is where we are picking up the story-line.

Today, there are a number of points we will look at as we go through the text, but the main point I believe we need to keep in mind is at the end of the text.

What is the apostles cause of rejoicing?

What is rejoicing?

What do we rejoice over?

Good things. But what did they rejoice over? What does that show of their priorities? What does our rejoicing show about our priorities?

Acts 5:12–13 NIV

The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.

Acts 5:14–16 NIV

Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

Signs and Wonders

Why are these not found in the Mission, Methods and Means?

They had a purpose, but they were not the point.

John 4:48 NIV

“Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

1 Corinthians 1:22–23 NIV

Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

Romans 15:19 NIV

by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

2 Corinthians 12:12 NIV

I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.

Hebrews 2:3–4 NIV

how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

The main point of Jesus’ ministry, and of the apostles’ ministries was not the signs and wonders. The main point was the message. The signs and wonders were used specifically for the Jews, and to confirm the message.

Does God do miraculous things today? Yes, I believe He does, just not on the order of what we see in the Book of Acts. Though we do see more miracles happening in cultures where they are more concerned with signs. God knows what is appropriate and acts accordingly.

One thing I know is that when we see people claiming to have the ability to heal, or making a show of it, they are not doing it God’s way. God is the One who does the miraculous. Those through whom He works should not be getting, nor seeking, any of the glory. Rather like Peter and John, they should be saying, “Why do you look at us as if by our power we did anything? It is God, through the name of Jesus who died for our sins, and rose again from the dead that this has happened so that you might believe in Him!”

Let’s continue on through the passage for today.

Acts 5:17–20 NIV

Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”

Tell them of New Life

Jesus -

John 1:4 NIV

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

John 14:6 NIV

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 1:17 NIV

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:6 NIV

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Acts 5:21–26 NIV

At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to. Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

Jealous, Perplexed, Fearful

Acts 5:27–28 NIV

The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

you are determined to make us guilty. Can you be made guilty, or are you guilty by your own actions?

Acts 5:29–32 NIV

Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

The Message: Death and Resurrection to Provide Salvation

The Method: Proclamation

The Means: Holy Spirit

You cannot argue with what God is doing.

Jesus is Prince and Savior

Hebrews 12:2 NIV

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Repentance and Forgiveness

Acts 5:33–40 NIV

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

Acts 5:41–42 NIV

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

What was their cause of rejoicing?

Worthy of Suffering Disgrace for Jesus

Faith and Obedience: Living for the will of God and not their own desires.