******acts 4:5-12

Acts 4:5–12 (NRSV)

5 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 When they had made the prisoners stand in their 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 questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11 This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”

The early Christians not only had opportunities to stand up for Jesus, but they also had opportunities to speak up for Jesus. The work of the Lord through His people opened up doors for the word of the Lord. After the man that was lame from his mother’s womb was healed it caused a great uproar among the religious establishment of that day. In the last study we learn that Peter took advantage of the opportunity and he preached the word to the people gathered in the temple that day.

At the end of the sermon as Peter was about to give the invitation, he and John were apprehended by the religious rulers, the captain of the temple guards, and the Sadducees. They had Peter and John put in prison until the next day because it was late in the evening and they had to call together and convene the council for this important meeting. Because Peter and John walked with the Lord Jesus and served the Lord Jesus they had opportunities to stand for the truth! They were in a place to stand for the truth, they were willing to stand for the truth, and God enabled them to stand for the truth. Mark 13:9–11 says, “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. 10And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” Peter and John were fulfilling those words of Jesus as they were brought before these rulers.

Peter and John had the hand of God and the power of God upon them. David Jeremiah said, “Jesus had told the disciples they should not worry when dragged before councils to answer for their actions … this is not permission from Jesus for preachers and teachers to avoid the discipline of study and preparation. It was a word of comfort so that Jesus’ disciples would know that the Spirit would be with them when they were suffering for His name.” Peter and John had been arrested because of their work and witness for the Lord Jesus and now they again had opportunity to stand for the truth! In a world that has denied the truth and defied the truth we have the call from God and opportunity from God to declare the truth!

Luke described the meeting before the rulers and the message of the disciples. Christians are to personally, passionately, powerfully, and pointedly stand for the truth! The early Christians stood without hesitation and without reservation for the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to challenge God’s people to publicly, proudly, passionately, and personally stand for the truth. Do you take advantage of the opportunities that the Lord gives you to stand for the truth? Are you faithfully standing for the truth in the world?

This passage gives us some insights about standing for the truth.

I. The prominent men assembled (vv. 5–6)

A. When they assembled (v. 5a)

“And it came to pass, on the next day,”

Peter and John didn’t have to wait long in prison. They were put in prison the night before and they were brought out the next day. Luke is careful to tell us that these prominent men assembled in Jerusalem on the next day after the lame man had been healed. Some times it takes an act of congress to get leaders to come together, but here we learn that it was an act of God that brought these men together. The Bible tells us when they assembled.

We also note:

B. Who assembled (vv. 5b–6)

“that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.”

Luke tells us who assembled that day in this important meeting with the Sanhedrin. The rulers of the people were there; the elders in the religious system were there; the scribes that taught and copied the word of God were there; the high priest Annas and Caiaphas, John, and Alexander and all the family of the high priest were all gathered together at Jerusalem.

Annas had been the previous high priest who held that office for nine years. He had been installed by Quicinius the Roman ruler of Syria. From the time that he left office in A.D 15 until the fall of Jerusalem in A.D 70 five of his sons, a grandson, and a son-in-law occupied the office of high priest. Caiaphas was the son-in-law of Annas. He had been installed by Valerius Gratus, the procurator of Judea in A.D 18. Caiaphas held the office for 18 years. This was a powerful family with powerful ties and influence in the Sanhedrin and all of Israel.

This was an important and urgent meeting that brought these men together. These folks were assembled together to question Peter and John and to disrupt and detour the work of God. These were the most prominent men in all of Israel. John G. Butler wrote, “How often it is that people in prominent position in society are very ignorant of the most important issues of life. They know the ins and outs of politics and money and economics and technology and other matters; but when it comes to spiritual matters, they are virtual dunces.” In verses 5–6 we’ve noticed the prominent men assembled,

we also note:

II. The pressing matter addressed (v. 7)

A. When they asked the disciples (v. 7a)

“And when they had set them in the midst,”

The Bible tells us that that very day and in that very meeting the elders and rulers had brought Peter and John before them and immediately asked the disciples the pressing question. This was an urgent matter that demanded the attention and action of the elders. These people were gathered on purpose for a purpose. They had a pressing matter that they had to address. The lame man had been healed, Peter preached the gospel and many were saved, and the elders and rulers had the disciples arrested.

The Bible tells us that when they had set them in the midst they asked the disciples the question. They didn’t beat around the bush; they didn’t take a vote or a survey; they didn’t make sure the disciples were comfortable; they didn’t pass out an agenda list to the members. They had one purpose for being there and that was to oppose God’s work through His servants. They were there to get to the bottom of this matter. We learn of when they asked the disciples and we also note:

B. What they asked the disciples (v. 7b)

“they asked, ‘By what power or by what name have you done this?”

The pressing matter addressed is clear in the question that they asked the disciples. They wanted to get to the bottom of the man’s healing and all the jubilation in the temple that day. They wanted to know what was going on and who was responsible for all this uproar. The question asked Peter and John gave them an open door to honor the Lord Jesus and declare the word of God. They had an opportunity to stand for the truth! Power: dunamis, doo’-nam-is; force (literal or figurative); specially miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself) ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, might (wonderful) work. They didn’t know where these men got the power to heal a man that had been lame from his mother’s womb. The rulers and elders could not deny that a miracle had taken place! (Acts 4:16) They wanted to know how and who was responsible for this miracle.

The work of the Lord opened up further doors for Peter to share the truth and stand for the truth. The apostles had an open invitation to tell the rulers the truth! They had been brought up on charges and they were to lift up the name that is above all names. In wanting to know by what name they had done this the council really wanted to know by what authority. They wanted to know by what right or power or authority that they did these things. Who gave them the right to do these things! Who were they acting on the behalf of? When we serve Jesus and live for Him we will have opportunities to point others to Jesus! Let us learn from the disciple of what to do and how to do it! In this study we have noted the prominent men who were assembled, the pressing matter addressed, and

lastly we note:

III. The powerful message answered (vv. 8–12)

A. The Source of the message (v. 8a)

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,”

Peter relied on the Lord and Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit filled Peter, used Peter, and spoke through Peter.

Filled: pletho, play’-tho; to “fill” (literal or figurative [imbue, influence, supply]); specially to fulfil (time) accomplish, full (… come), furnish. This verb is in the passive voice in the Greek language which indicates Peter’s yielding to the Spirit’s control.

Peter allowed the Holy Spirit to control him. He was submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit was the source of Peter’s message. He controlled Peter’s mind and He controlled Peter’s mouth. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit we will be under His influence and guidance! It will show in the way we reach out to the hopeless, reach down to the helpless, reach across to the hurting, reach back to the lost; and do it all in the name of Jesus.

The early disciples:

• Preached in Jesus name

• Prayed in Jesus name

• Worked in Jesus name

• Witnessed in Jesus name

• Loved in Jesus name

• Lived in Jesus name

They were filled with the Holy Spirit! They were trusting the Person of the Lord and relying on the power of the Lord. Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit? If you are saved you have been sealed with the Spirit!

Filling comes when we confess sin and rebellion and walk in obedience to the will of God.

NOTE: Peter was filled with the Spirit of God as he engaged in the work of God! It is as we step out by faith, live out our faith, and share our faith that we are filled with the Holy Spirit.

No one I know, including myself, fills glasses of what and for no apparent reason. I do not fill a glass of water and take it to the living room. I do not fill a glass of water and leave it in the kitchen.

When I fill a glass of water I intend to use it. I drink it, pour it in the coffee pot, or use it for some purpose.

The Lord will not fill us with the Spirit of God so that we can set on the couch, watch television, go shopping at the mall, cut the grass, play golf or hunt! We are filled with the Spirit so that we can accomplish the work of God and share the word of God! As we engage in the work of God, those who are surrendered to the Lord Jesus are filled with the Spirit of God.

He is the Source of our message! Without Him we would have no power or effectiveness! After learning about the Source of the message we also notice:

B. The scope of the message (vv. 8b–10a)

“Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel,”

Peter didn’t cower down or cut back on the message. He was not intimidated or irritated, but he was inspired to speak the truth because he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He stood before the same council that had previously condemned the Lord Jesus and before that same crowd he honored the One that they condemned. He addressed the rulers and elders. He was clear as can be. He got to the point and answered their question with a powerful message. They indeed had been arrested and were being judged because of the good deed that had been done to the helpless man.

• They didn’t take anything from the man, but they gave something to the man;

• they didn’t harass the man, but He healed the man;

• they didn’t ridicule the man, but they raised the man;

• they didn’t do harm to the man, but they gave help to the man.

They had done a good deed to this man and they were arrested and charged for their goodness! Peter gets pointed and specific in this message! He says, “let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel,”

◾ The message was for the rulers and the message was for the rebels;

◾ the message was for the elders and the message was for the evil-doers;

◾ the message was for the Sadducees and the message was for the sinners.

The message was for all people of Israel! There were no one left out! We later learn that God showed Peter that the message was for Gentiles as well as for the Jews. We have the same message that is for the same people of our day! You will never meet a person that God doesn’t love and that Jesus didn’t die for! He loved the “world” so much that He gave His only begotten Son that “whoever” believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. We’ve learned about the Source of the message, the scope of the message, and

we also see:

C. The subject of the message (vv. 10b–12)

1. The Resurrected Son (10b)

“that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.”

Peter laid the message on the line for the people. He pulled no punches; he gave them the clear gospel. The message was all about Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He took no credit himself, he shared in no glory for himself, and he turned no one away from the truth. He honored the name of Jesus; he magnified the name of Jesus.

Peter’s powerful message was all about Jesus! His message was powerful and plain and pointed! It was this same Jesus whom they were guilty of crucifying, whom God raised up from the dead, it was by His power and in His name that they did what they did and the lame man now leaped! Obviously, the elders had Peter and John apprehended and the healed man was also brought before the court! The evidence was there; no one could deny the facts! The man that was healed stood before the council!

Peter tells the how this man was healed and Who it was that healed him. He magnified the risen Savior!

*It was not in memory of a dead god, or in honor of a fallen god, but by the power of the Living God that this man was healed!*

The Lord Jesus was the subject of Peter’s message and He should always be the subject of our message! We’ve noticed the Resurrected Son was the subject of the message,

we also note:

2. The rejected Stone (v. 11)

“This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.”

Peter quotes Psalm 118:22 which refers to the Lord Jesus being rejected by the religious rulers and condemned to die. He was and is the Chief cornerstone and without Him the building would crumble and fall! They were guilty of rejecting Jesus. They were the builders! Those who studied the law, taught the word, and sought to lead others in the things of God. They were not building God’s kingdom because they rejected the Son of God and refused the Love of God. Matthew 23:13–15 the Lord Jesus said, “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”

The elders and rulers did not receive the Son of God, but they rejected the Son of God. They built without the Rock and their lives, kingdoms, and world fell! Vance Havner said, “Man will try all kinds of mud before he will try the Rock.” That is sad, but that is the case! These folks were guilty of rejecting the Stone that was sent by God and the nation paid for their rejection! The subject of Peter’s message was the Resurrected Son, the rejected stone,

and lastly:

3. The revealed salvation (v. 12)

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Peter was heading somewhere with this message. He had stood strong for the truth. He had confronted the people with their guilt of crucifying Jesus and now he points them to this same Jesus to be saved! The One they rejected was now the One they should receive! Peter magnifies the fact that salvation is by no one or anything else!

We are not saved by our good works, by our religious activity, by our denominational allegiance, by our church membership, by our giving, by our serving, by our sharing, or by our helping! Salvation is the gift of God and is by the grace of God! There is salvation by no other! Peter preached an exclusive message! There are “many ways to heaven” the world says today, but we are to stand for the truth! John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Matthew 7:13–14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

John MacArthur wrote, “Christians preach an exclusive Christ in an inclusive age. Because of that, we are often accused of being narrow-minded, even intolerant. Many paths, it is said, lead to the top of the mountain of religious enlightenment. How dare we insist that ours is the only one? In reality, however, there are only two religious paths: the broad way of works salvation leading to destruction, and the narrow way of faith in the only Savior leading to eternal life.”

H.A Ironside wrote, “Peter drives home to them that it was Christ or nothing, Christ or judgment, Christ or hell; no other way to be saved except through Christ.”

James Montgomery Boice wrote, “If you want to be laughed at, scorned, hated, even persecuted, testify to the exclusive claims of Jesus Christ. Say that Jesus is the only Savior, that only by believing in Him can one escape hell. The world will fight you to death, because nothing is so offensive to the natural man as teaching that we cannot save ourselves, that we cannot choose our own way of salvation, and that if we are going to be saved it must be by God in the way He has appointed.” God tells us that only through Jesus can a person be saved! There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved!

It is through the name of Jesus that the religious rulers who had condemned Jesus could now be converted by Jesus. It was through the name of Jesus that those who had sentenced Jesus could not be saved by Jesus. There is not a person that our Lord Jesus cannot save! The lost need to hear about their rejection of the Lord and His word and their guilt and then they need to hear the gospel and about God’s grace!

For the worst of sinners and the best of moralists there is the same Savior. In none other is there salvation, “for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Have you trusted in the Lord Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? Do you know Him today? Are you faithfully sharing His word? Are you standing for the truth? Do you truly believe that there is no other way to heaven except in and through the Lord Jesus Christ? Would you surrender to Him today? Call upon Him today? Be His servant today!

(Acts 4:13–22)

Jesus: His name means

“Yahweh is salvation or Jehovah is salvation.” His name is the greatest name this world has ever known.

There is power in His name and there is praise for His name and there is prayer in His name.

All of heaven rejoices at the sound of His name. All the saints are saved, secured, sanctified, singing, and serving in His name. There is no name like the name of the Lord Jesus!

Philippians 2:9–11 says, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, Hand that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

your name is a shelter like no other Your name let the nations sing it louder cause nothing has the power to save but Your name.

• Jesus in Your name we pray come and fill our hearts today. Lord, give us strength to live for You and glorify Your name.

• Nothing has the power to save but Your name.

That is the message that Peter and John proclaimed two thousand years ago and it is the same message that we proclaim today!

Luke declared the power of His name, the persecution because of His name, the persistence against His name, and the praise for His name. Christians are to stand boldly for Jesus, speak up clearly for Jesus even against those who are opposed to the Lord.

Mentioning God will not get you in much hot water in this society because God is a “politically correct” term, but if you glorify the name of Jesus and use the name of Jesus you will be ostracized and ridiculed! It is His name that will get you in hot water down here, but it is His name that will get you into heaven up there!

Thank God for the precious and powerful name of Jesus. This passage gives us some facts about His name.

I. The Christian’s courage for His name (vv. 13–14)

A. The effects of their witness (v. 13)

1. The result of their courage (v. 13a)

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled.”

The Sanhedrin saw the boldness of Peter and John. They were seeing the effects of being filled with the Spirit of God. They were filled with the Spirit of God and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Peter and John were not intimidated by their circumstances and they were not confused about their message.

Boldness: parrhesia, par-rhay-see’-ah; all outspokenness, i.e. frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication assurance:- bold (x -ly, -ness, -ness of speech), confidence, x freely, x openly, x plainly (-ness).

They discerned that Peter and John stood boldly before the most powerful men of their time.

The council perceived that Peter and John were uneducated and untrained men. They saw the Christian’s courage for the name of the Lord Jesus.

Perceived: katalambano, kat-al-am-ban’-o; to take eagerly, i.e. seize, possess, etc. (literal or figurative):- apprehend, attain, come upon, comprehend, find, obtain, perceive, (over-) take.

They comprehended by their appearance and by their speech that these old boys didn’t have rabbinical training. They were uneducated or unlearned.

They had not been taught in the Jewish seminaries or rabbinical schools.

They hadn’t memorized the letter of the law and what the scribes added to the law.

Uneducated: (KJV: Unlearned) agrammatos, ag- ram-mat-os; unlettered, i.e. illiterate- unlearned. Untrained: (KJV: ignorant) idiotes, id-ee-o’-tace; a private person, i.e. (by implication) an ignoramus (compare “idiot”), ignorant, rude, unlearned.

“Today we put so much emphasis on training the head that we forget that training the heart is the most important training of all. Let the heart be filled with devotion to Christ, and let it be surrendered to the leading of the Holy Spirit Who guides us through the Word of God, and that person will serve God with excellence.” These old boys just knew Jesus and when you know Him it doesn’t really matter what else you know, but if you do not know Him it really doesn’t matter what else you know! In the long run what matters is that people know the Lord Jesus Christ. The Sanhedrin saw these men, heard from these men, and they knew in their hearts that there was something different about these men. The result of the disciple’s courage was that the elders and rulers marveled. How could these men speak the way they spoke; how could they withstand the wisdom of the council; how could they refute the arguments from the elders?

Marveled: thaumazo, thou-mad’-zo; to wonder; by implication to admire, admire, have in admiration, marvel, wonder. The council was flabbergasted at the wisdom of these country fishermen.

• They flat marveled at and were astonished at the wisdom and words of the disciples;

• they were confounded by the courage and clarity of the Christians;

• they were struck by the sermon and the simplicity of the saints.

The witness of Peter and John had great effects on the elders of Israel. Luke tells us about the result of their courage (the leaders, elders, rulers marveled) the Bible also tells us about:

2. The realization of their company (v. 13b)

“And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”

The elders and rulers realized that Peter and John had been with Jesus.

Realized: (KJV: took knowledge) epiginosko, ep-ig-in-oce’-ko; to know upon some mark, i.e. recognize; by implication to become fully acquainted with, to acknowledge:- (ac-, have, take) know (-ledge, well), perceive. Because of the witness and testimony of Peter and John the elders realized that they had been with Jesus.

They took note that these men were different!

They had been saved by the grace of God and filled with the Spirit of God! When we spend time with Jesus others will realize that we have been with Jesus. We’ll act differently; we’ll speak differently; we’ll respond differently; we’ll have courage to face the wrongs; and courage to stand for the right!

The Sanhedrin realized that the disciples had kept company with the Lord Jesus. Who have you been in company with? When we spend time with Jesus we will have boldness to stand for the truth and speak the truth.

They had courage for Jesus name! We’ve noticed the effects of their witness and we also note in verse 14:

B. The evidence of His work (v. 14)

“And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.”

The evidence of God’s work was standing right there with Peter and John. This evidence confirmed the message of God. Peter and John took no credit for healing this lame man. They gave all the glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. Instead of looking at the proof and listening to the message and believing the word of God, the elders would not repent and believe the gospel. They couldn’t say anything against Peter and John because of the work of God through His servants. The evidence was plain as day! In verses 13–14 we’ve noticed the Christian’s courage for His name; we also see:

II. The council’s conference about His name (vv. 15–17)

A. The purpose of their meeting (vv. 15–16a)

“But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16saying, “What shall we do to these men?”

The council dismissed the disciples for a time so that they could confer among themselves about what to do with the disciples. The main question with this meeting was “What shall we do with these men?” The disciples were not privy to this meeting! They did not see or hear what was going on. The discussion was about them and what to do with them.

Conferred: sumballo, soom-bal’-lo; to combine, i.e. (in speaking) to converse, consult, dispute,(mentally) to consider, (by implication) to aid, (personally) to join, attack- confer, encounter, help, make, meet with, ponder. This was not a good conference and productive conference. This was not something that would benefit mankind. They wanted to know how they could silence the disciples and put an end to their message of Jesus.

They had a conference about the name of Jesus. They had a meeting about the name of Jesus. Many in our day meet about the name of Jesus. They have conferences on how to be inclusive and mix and mingle Christianity with other religions; they meet about how to defy, deny, and defame the name of Jesus. Times have changed, but people have not! They wanted to do harm to the disciples. They didn’t like the men or their message! Their message was convicting and convincing! The elders were guilty of handing Jesus over to be crucified and they thought that they had rid themselves of this Prophet from Galilee. Peter’s message was that though they killed Him, God raised Him from the dead and He is both Lord and Christ. He is the Chief Cornerstone the One who the builders rejected! There is the purpose of their meeting; we also see:

B. The problem with the miracle (vv. 16b–17)

1. The dilemma of the council (v. 16b)

“For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.”

The contents of their discussion in the conference were what to do with these men and what these men had done. They had a dilemma about what to do and how to do it. They had to confess that a notable miracle had been done through the apostles and it was evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem. News had spread throughout the whole city that this lame man had been healed and that many heard the word of God and was saved. The dilemma was that the council had a tough decision to make about what to do with these “troublemakers.” They could not deny the work of the Lord through His people. They could not deny that this man had been healed. People in this world cannot argue with changed lives! When a person comes to saving faith in Jesus Christ that person is changed forevermore.

• What we once was we are no longer;

• what we once did we do no longer;

• what we once said we say no longer;

• where we once went we go no longer!

We’ve noticed the dilemma of the council; we also notice:

2. The decision of the council (v. 17)

“But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”

The council was opposed at the name of the Lord Jesus and His message! They had Peter and John arrested and brought before the council to charge them and stop them from spreading the gospel. They didn’t want the gospel message to spread further among the people. That is the very thing that the Lord Jesus commands us to do! We are to be spreading His message among the people. Notice what the resolution of the council was: They were going to severely threaten them and warn them not to speak to no man in His name. They wanted to use force but they couldn’t because of all the people; so that used intimidation. John Phillips wrote, “Satan always resorts to force when other methods fail. The great concern of the Sanhedrin was not to get to the truth but to stop the truth from spreading.”

They had rejected the truth and now they were trying to derail the truth! They wanted to “nip it in the bud.” They wanted to put out the gospel fires and keep them from spreading. They conferred together and concurred together that they would bring the disciples back in and threaten them severely. They were going to tell them not to speak to no man in this name. Can you detect the disdain for His name! They would not even mention the name of Jesus. That referred to Him by “this name.” They came up with their decision of what to do and they all agreed that they should threaten them and warn them. They didn’t want to hear anything else from them about “this name.” In this passage we’ve noticed the Christian’s courage for His name; the council’s conference about His name; and we also see:

III. The clear command about His name (vv. 18–22)

A. The instruction to the disciples (v. 18)

“So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”

The disciples were brought back in and instructed by the council. They were called in and commanded to stop speaking in the name of Jesus and teaching in the name of Jesus.

• They didn’t want to hear anymore sermons or studies on the name of Jesus;

• they didn’t want to hear about any evangelistic crusades or any exalting of Christ;

• they told them not to preach or teach in His name;

• they didn’t want anymore declarations or defenses of His name.

The early disciples were flat out told to be quite when it came to the name of Jesus. They were told to shut up and not to ever speak up in the name of Jesus. John MacArthur wrote, “Ironically, the early believers had to be commanded to be quiet, while many modem ones have to be commanded to speak.” Do you have to be commanded to speak up for Jesus? Does the world tell you to keep quite about Jesus? We’ve learned about the instruction to the disciples; we also see:

B. The inspiration of the disciples (vv. 19–20)

1. What they deducted (v. 19)

“But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.”

Peter and John deducted that it was not right for them to obey the rulers of the land when the rulers of the land commanded them to disobey the Ruler of the world! David Jeremiah said, “The Bible is clear that Christians are responsible to obey civil governments as a general rule. We are to pay our taxes, obey the laws, respect our officials, and be good citizens. Governments have been put in place by God to carry out His laws, not mans. Therefore, if governments ever command us to do something that violates God’s law, or forbids us from doing something that God commands, we are to obey God rather than man.” Peter and John laid it out clearly for the Sanhedrin and they too should have deducted that it is right for man to obey God more than men. Peter and John were to listen to God and obey Him more than they listen to the commandments of men. Peter and John found inspiration in doing the will of God in spite of the opposition. We learn what they deducted; we also see in verse 20:

2. What they declared (v. 20)

“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

Peter and John had a case of the “can’t help its.” The message was in their hearts and the message came from their mouths! They spoke boldly the things that they had seen and heard! It would have been a sin for them to keep to themselves the gospel message! AMEN! It is a sin for us to keep to ourselves the message of eternal life! They were not going to shut Peter and John up no matter how much they threatened them! W. Herschel Ford wrote, “So they were told to go away and never again teach in the name of Jesus, but you cannot stop a God called and a God sent preacher. You might as well tell the sun to stop shining, or the rain to stop falling, or the winds to stop blowing, or the flowers to stop blooming.” In spite of the direct opposition to them and their message Peter and John clearly stated before them all that they would not heed their command. They would keep on preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus. Thank God for their resolve to keep standing for His name!

Peter and John boldly stood for the name of Jesus and declared to those powerful rulers and elders that they were going to keep on keeping on in Jesus name. If we are Christians we cannot help but speak the things that we have seen and heard!

The disciples were inspired to keep on preaching the message of Christ and honoring the name of Christ. We’ve noticed the instruction to the disciples; the inspiration of the disciples; and we lastly note:

C. Their insistence to the disciples (vv. 21–22)

“So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. 22For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.”

The council was dead set on intimidating and shutting the disciple up! They further threatened them! They were insistent on putting an end to this message! They were insistent on putting down this movement! After they threatened them they had to let them go because they found no way of punishing them. They could not go against the will of the people because all the people glorified God because of what God had done by raising up this lame man. They had no way of doing any physical harm to the disciples because of the ramifications and fall out of such an act! The people would have rebelled and the uproar would have increased and the Romans would have come and got involved! The Sanhedrin didn’t want that to happen! So they threatened the disciples and let them go!

All the people praised God for what the Lord had done! Luke tells us in verse 22, “For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.”

All the people glorified God because of His work in the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus was glorified through the apostles and in this man and with all the people. Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Because they had no real case to offer, the council could only threaten the men and let them go. After all, when you have a living miracle before you, as well as an approving public around you, you must be careful what you do!” You and I need to learn from the disciples to stand up boldly and speak out clearly in the name of Jesus. May we be found faithful to His name! May we continue to live and serve in His name! May you and I never be ashamed of His name!

• His name is wonderful; His name is wonderful; His name is wonderful Jesus my Lord!

• He is the mighty King; Master of everything! His name is wonderful Jesus our Lord!

• He’s the Great Shepherd; the Rock of All Ages; Almighty God is He!

• Bow down before Him; love and adore Him; His name is wonderful Jesus my Lord!