****** acts 4:13-22

Acts 4:13–22 (NRSV)

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. 14 When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another. 16 They said, “What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it. 17 But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and ordered 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 God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; 20 for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.

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, 10 that 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.”

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: confidence,

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: to take eagerly,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)

Untrained:

John G. Butler said, “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:

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:

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, 16 saying, “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: to converse, consult, dispute,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; But 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.

And see, 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!

Have you been saved by the Lord Jesus? Have you been changed by the Lord Jesus?

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;

but then 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.

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!

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; but then, 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 true child of God

. 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!

Brian Harbour said, “If you are a salesman, you will not only sell your product but you will also sell Jesus Christ. If you are a lawyer, you will find ways to tell people about their Heavenly Advocate who pleads their case before God. If you are a doctor, you will tell your patients about the Great Physician who can heal their souls. If you are a carpenter, you will tell others of the Master Carpenter who can still mend broken hearts. If you are a teacher, you will teach your students about the One who brought the truth which sets persons free. If you are a banker, you will tell your customers about spiritual reserves which they may draw on eternally if they invest their lives in Christ.”

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;

but then lastly we 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. 22 For 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!

Are you serving in His name? Are you working in His name? Are you witnessing in 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!