Acts 4:1-22
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Two Realities:
This world, our country, our community and sadly our homes are FULL of strife and conflict.
God is a God of peace AND Jesus is the prince of peace. WE are supposed to be peacemakers who live at peace with everyone.
Given those realities the logical thing may be to say “Lets all just get along!” “I’m ok, you’re ok, we’re ok”
This month in particular is pretty in your face about it.
What does the Bible say? What does the book of Acts say?
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.”
RECAP:
Jesus rose from the dead, spent 40 days with the disciples and then ascended into heaven promising to send the Holy Spirit
The apostles waited and the Holy Spirit came to them and they received miraculous gifting
Peter Preached
Thousands were saved
The church was in it’s honeymoon stage
Peter and John went to the temple
They saw a man who was lame from birth (not a sprained ankle) and they healed him.
he was not super chill about it
Peter preached to the gathered crowd and many believed.
Acts 4:1–22 (ESV)
1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. 5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,
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. 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.”
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another,
16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
3 truths about the Gospel:
I. The Gospel is Disruptive
I. The Gospel is Disruptive
Acts 4:1–4 (ESV)
1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
Sadducees
3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
“It is Too late to have a hearing/trial BUT its not too late to put a stop to their disruptive preaching…
Damage control, on a human level, Thats a good thought…
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
God has spoken through the revelation of his power in the healing of this man
God has spoken through empowered words of peter and John.
God has spoken by sending his Son Jesus as a saving sacrifice to die and rise from the dead
10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
While they are sitting in prison, the Holy Spirit at work, using what they did and preached to bring people to salvation
II. The Gospel is Exclusive
II. The Gospel is Exclusive
Acts 4:5–12 (ESV)
5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.
According to other places in Scripture and other historical sources from the time (Josephus):
Annas was the ex high priest who the romans forced out by the romans and
Caiaphas was his son in law who was the new high priest who the romans chose to replace him.
These are some of the most important, respected, famous, and feared people in Jewish society.
BUT their power was tenuous. It was from man, not from God.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 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.
Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit
Peter is respectful but not fearful
“in the name of”
11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
This is a tweeked quote from Psalm 118:22
22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
The cornerstone demands attention.
Failure to recognize the cornerstone leads to deviation, confusion, and disaster.
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.”
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
III. The Gospel is Unstoppable
III. The Gospel is Unstoppable
Acts 4:13–22 (ESV)
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
4:13 “Uneducated” Men who do not have their letters
“These men don’t even know their ABCs”
15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”
They were afraid of Men (the people, Rome etc…)
So it was natural for them to think “we are important and powerful dudes, lets just scare these guys and they will do what we say”
18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
Peter and John had confidence because they were in the presence of the miraculous healing work of God. (We have that same work within us)
So What?
So What?
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.”
Where is your salvation?
Where is your salvation?
Acts 16:31 (ESV)
31 …“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved,…”
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Are you like Peter or like the Sadducees.
Are you like Peter or like the Sadducees.
Do you have fear of men or confidence in God and the gospel message?
Do you have fear of men or confidence in God and the gospel message?
Romans 10:11–15 (ESV)
11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
We do not have to fear.
We do not have to fear.
turn to your neighbor and say “What can man do to me?”
“If God is for us who can stand against us”
We do not have to know everything.
We do not have to know everything.
No Matter your education level if you have been saved by God’s grace through Jesus you should be be bold and humble
Boldness comes from knowing and experiencing the truth of God’s goodness.
Not about formal Education
but you do need to know your stuff.
Humility comes from understanding that salvation and conversion are all from God’s power and not your own.
So it is better to be clear than it is to be impressive.
We don’t have to win.
We don’t have to win.
Our job is to faithfully boldly and humbly speak the truth.
We don't have to win arguments, elections, lawsuits etc..
We don't have to own the opposition.
We don't have to grab and hold onto earthly power.
We have to boldly and humbly speak the truth
We have to boldly and humbly speak the truth
Commissioned by Jesus
Will you do it this week?
