Two Temples
Acts of the the Apostles • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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We’ve all heard the phrase “our body is a temple.” In our culture, that usually means we need to treat it with respect. Eat healthy and exercise. Those are both good things, but that’s not what a temple is for.
Before Jesus ascended, He told the disciples in Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
We established last week that the temple was dedicated to being a place for God’s presence. A place for atonement. And when the Holy Spirit came into the disciples a new temple was formed. Many, in fact. What, then, is the function of the temple? As we look at scripture for the answer to that question, we start in Acts 3.
We see in Acts 1 how we have our roadmap for how Acts plays out. The first 8 chapters take place within Jerusalem, at which point a great persecution breaks out. After that, we see the people of Jesus spread out into Judea and Samaria, taking us to chapter 13. At that point, we see several different missionary journeys to Asia minor and Greece, then we see more of Paul’s story.
For now, we are still in Jerusalem, as we are looking today at Acts 3, 4, and 5.
There is a sequence of events that happens in these 3 chapters. that all takes place in and around the temple in Jerusalem. A healing. Jail time. The disciples are questioned, and in the midst of that, we see the foundation of the new temple.
We begin chapter 3 with Peter and John going up to the temple at the time of prayer.
2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
A huge part of the establishment of the church at the very beginning were wonders and signs. Peter and John heal this man and immediately start preaching in the name of Jesus. A few verses later they tell all present
16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
Who had the faith? Peter and John. They had faith in the name of Jesus. The new church would constantly call back to the prophets. Speaking words of scripture to the jews. Showing them that they all pointed to Jesus, and the messiah had come. The healing of this man was a sign to draw people in. So Peter says to them all.
17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’ 24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
People are consistently convinced. They keep preaching at the temple for a reason. At this point this event and subsequent preaching kicks off a sequence of events starting in chapter 4.
1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
This is what is so terribly sad about this whole situation. The elders, teachers of the law, the saducees and the pharisees. They knew the scripture. They spent so much time in the temple. This place built out of love for God the creator and their redeemer. But the presence of God was no longer dwelling there. The presence, the spirit, was locked in their jail. All they claimed they wanted was right there in front of them but they didn’t see. They had already abandoned the truth for the parts of the law that would give them power and prestige. It was about what the people could do for them, rather than them serving the people. When they are questioned we see
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
11 Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
If we are being called to account for an act of kindness. They don’t care that this man has been healed. They care if Peter and John are saying the right words. Jesus consistently called the leaders to task not for following the law, but for missing huge parts of it. Things like
7 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need.
10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
In these passages in Acts, we see how the Old temple is being replaced by the new temple, fulfilling the duties the Israelites, the people of the temple, were always supposed to fulfill.
Peter and John are released, they go back and pray with the other believers, and verse 31 says
31 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.
At this point something happens. The believers start sharing their resources.
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.
It says God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them that there were no needy people among them.
Where did we see people begging? Outside of the temple. Because the temple was there to BE served, not TO serve. It was all backwards. When the presence of God, the Holy Spirit, resides in the people, we see what it is supposed to be. Jesus said
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
That’s our example.
I like stuff. I like money. But if we are to be the temple, that cannot fill our heart, otherwise there is no room for the Holy Spirit. We cannot be consumers. We cannot be materialists. Peter and John here show us the basics of being the new temple.
The Temple
The Temple
Proclaims Jesus
Boldly proclaim the name of Jesus and that we may be saved through Him through repentance. Turning from our sins. Trusting Him as the only way.
And the very next thing…is community. Is caring for each other’s basic needs. Is serving.
The Temple
The Temple
The temple was always called to serve. To make sure people were taken care of. If you have the Holy Spirit within you, you are the temple.
The things this community of believers has done over the years, is because so many have responded to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Giving generously and joyously, and much of it we won’t know the full impact of this side of heaven.
It’s not about forcing others to serve. At no point do the disciples say “you need to give this.” It is people giving joyously.
There’s a story in the middle there of a couple named Ananais and Saphira. They lie about how much they give in order to make themselves look good, and they were struck dead. They made it about them and their image, rather than giving glory to God.
Chapter 5 then ends with the apostles being imprisoned, but an angel miraculously opening the doors of the prison, they go back to the temple courts and begin teaching and preaching again.
The temple leaders thought this would end with the death of Jesus, but it’s only growing. The sanhedrin wants to kill the apostles. Finally an honored teacher of the law, Gamaliel, convinces the others to let the apostles go, saying if it is of God then they would succeed no matter what, and if it’s not they will fail. It ends with this verse. Acts 5:42
42 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.
Through their words and their actions, they never stopped. Our body is a temple. Is it the Holy Spirit that dwells in yours, or is it a temple to something else? To yourself, maybe? Are you ashamed of the gospel? Or is it not a priority? Do you exist in this Christian community to serve, or to be served? The temple preaches Jesus, and the temple serves. And the Holy Spirit within us guides how we serve and to what extent. When communities of Jesus followers get this right, it changes even the communities surrounding them. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to drive us to greater proclamation of the gospel of Jesus, and more joyous and vibrant service.
PRAY
