Week 5 | Opposition and Perseverance

Big Idea: Believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, can stand boldly in their faith, no matter the opposition they face.

Scripture: Acts 4:1-31

Intro:

What does it mean to be bold?

As a youth pastor, I’ve had my fair share of camp experiences, each one filled with its own blend of fun, adventure, and unexpected moments of growth. But there’s one event that remains etched in my memory more than most: the “Leap of Faith.”

Now, if you’ve never heard of this activity, let me paint a picture for you. Imagine climbing a 30-foot telephone pole, all the while feeling it sway and bend beneath your feet. The wind rushes past, making each step more nerve-wracking than the last. At the top, there’s a small platform, barely big enough to stand on, and in front of you hangs a small, distant bar that you’re supposed to jump and grab. It’s designed to push you beyond your comfort zone and spark a surge of courage.

Here’s the thing about me: I’m terrified of heights. Like, palms-sweating, heart-racing, want-to-cling-to-the-ground terrified. But being the youth pastor means stepping up—literally and figuratively. So, there I was, strapped in, helmet on, and looking up at that wobbly pole. I knew this was going to be one of those moments that would either build lasting connections with the kids or give them a lifetime of material to joke about. Spoiler alert: it was the latter.

As I began the climb, my legs were already trembling, and the higher I got, the more I felt the pole shaking. Every gust of wind felt like it was taunting me. I could hear the students below, cheering, laughing, and—of course—offering helpful advice like, “Don’t look down!” I kept thinking to myself, Why am I doing this? And the answer came quickly: I was doing it for them. I wanted to model what it looks like to face your fears, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when you’d rather be anywhere else.

When I finally reached the top, I could feel the adrenaline pulsing through my veins. The view was both breathtaking and terrifying. I took a deep breath, steadied my feet, and prepared to jump. The platform beneath me seemed to shrink, and the bar seemed to move further away. The longer I hesitated, the more daunting it became.

In that moment, I realized just how badly I needed boldness. It wasn’t just a matter of physical ability; it was a mental and spiritual challenge. I wanted to take that leap not just for me, but for what it represented—a willingness to be vulnerable, to embrace the unknown, and to trust that sometimes you have to let go to move forward. But despite all my pep talks to the kids about facing fear, all I could feel was… well, fear. Pure, heart-stopping, knee-knocking fear.

Eventually, with every ounce of courage I could muster, I launched myself off the pole. And you know what? I missed the bar. My hands swung through the air, and I dangled on the safety harness instead. As I was lowered back to the ground, I was met with a mix of applause, laughter, and a barrage of roasting from the kids—most of it good-natured, of course.

It wasn’t the triumphant moment I’d imagined, but it was real. Sometimes, the biggest victories aren’t about reaching the goal, but about having the guts to try in the first place. And while the kids didn’t see me as the fearless hero that day, they did see me as someone willing to be uncomfortable, vulnerable, and real—right alongside them.

Tension:

We’ve all experienced moments when we tried to be bold but ended up facing failure, or were paralyzed by the fear of it. These moments can feel so defeating that we’re often tempted to throw in the towel and make a silent vow: I’ll never try that again.

It’s easy to let the sting of past failures convince us that boldness isn’t worth the risk. Yet, despite these fears, we’re often called to be bold, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Think about relationships, for example. When someone we care about hurts us, our natural instinct is often to withdraw, to protect ourselves. But boldness might mean stepping into a difficult conversation, humbling ourselves, and pursuing reconciliation—even when it’s uncertain or scary.

Or take trying out for a team or applying for a new opportunity. The fear of rejection can be overwhelming, yet boldness compels us to put ourselves out there, taking a leap of faith toward what we believe we can achieve.

For believers, this idea of boldness is not just a motivational concept; it’s a core calling. We are commanded to share the good news of Jesus Christ with boldness and conviction. This isn’t just about reciting Scripture—it’s about sharing the why behind our faith.

The early disciples didn’t share the gospel timidly; their boldness was fueled by their personal experiences with Jesus. They had walked with Him, witnessed His miracles, and felt His forgiveness. This was the driving force behind their courage.

I’d argue that we, too, can have that same boldness—no matter what opposition or resistance we might face.

Instead of allowing fear to dampen our resolve, we should see it as a spark that ignites our passion for the mission. Why? Because we have experienced the goodness of God! We’ve seen His grace in our lives, and we have His Holy Spirit within us, enabling us to fulfill the call to be bold in sharing the gospel.

When we recognize this, boldness becomes not just a reaction to opportunity, but a lifestyle driven by the love and power of God at work within us.

Big Idea:

Believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, can stand boldly in their faith, no matter the opposition they face.

Truth:

Setting: This passage takes place in Jerusalem, shortly after the healing of a lame man at the temple gate in Acts 3. This miracle, performed by Peter and John, drew a large crowd, providing the apostles an opportunity to boldly preach about Jesus and His resurrection.

The Temple Leadership: The temple leadership consisted of the Sadducees, the captain of the temple guard, and priests. The Sadducees were particularly disturbed by the apostles’ message of resurrection, as they denied the concept of resurrection and emphasized the importance of temple rituals.

Who Arrested Them: Peter and John were arrested by the temple authorities because of their public teaching about Jesus’ resurrection. The Sadducees, who wielded significant power in the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling council), were determined to silence this new message.

Timing of the Arrest: The arrest occurred in the evening, which delayed further proceedings until the next day. This highlights that the temple leaders were willing to bend legal procedures to maintain control and suppress the apostles’ message.

The Sanhedrin’s Role: The Sanhedrin was the highest judicial and legislative council among the Jewish people. It was composed of the high priest, elders, scribes, and other influential leaders, often with a mix of Sadducees and Pharisees.

Key Themes to Highlight Before Reading:

Opposition to the Gospel: The early church faced significant resistance from religious authorities, and this serves as an example of standing firm despite opposition.

Power of the Holy Spirit: Throughout Acts, boldness is closely linked to the Holy Spirit’s work. This same Spirit empowers believers today.

The Necessity of Prayer: Prayer was not just a reaction to persecution but a proactive response that shaped the church’s mission.

Read Acts 4:1-31

Acts 4:1–31 (ESV)

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 4

I. The Arrest (4:1–4)

This is beginning of the persecution of the church. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead and were opposed to Peter’s preaching. The priests, of course, did not want to be indicted for the crucifixion of Christ. Little did Israel’s religious leaders realize that Peter’s message was the one thing that could save their nation! Had they admitted their sin and received Christ, He would have bestowed the promises that the prophets had proclaimed centuries before.

We continue to witness a tragic refusal by the religious leaders to accept Jesus as the promised Messiah. Despite the overwhelming evidence, they are unable—or unwilling—to recognize Him for who He truly is. This is not simply a matter of theological disagreement; it’s a heartbreaking example of how spiritual pride and stubbornness can lead to missing out on God’s promises. The religious leaders had devoted their lives to waiting for the Messiah, yet when He stood right in front of them, they could not believe. They were blinded by their own expectations and unwillingness to surrender control.

This isn’t just an ancient issue. Even today, many Jews around the world are still waiting for a promise that has already been fulfilled in Jesus. The hope of the Messiah’s coming, which shaped Jewish history for centuries, has already been realized in Jesus Christ, but many have yet to embrace this truth. It’s a powerful reminder of how easily we can miss God’s work when our hearts are hardened or our minds closed.

Yet, amidst the rejection by some, there is an astonishing miracle that unfolds in Acts 4: around 5,000 people come to faith in Jesus. And that’s only counting the men—when we consider their families, the impact is even more profound.

This wasn’t just a few isolated conversions; it was an overwhelming movement of God’s Spirit, spreading like wildfire despite fierce opposition. The miracle here isn’t just numerical growth—it’s that this growth occurred under conditions of intense persecution and resistance. The religious leaders thought they could silence the apostles, but instead, their efforts only fueled the spread of the gospel.

God’s power is evident in this passage, showing us that opposition doesn’t hinder the gospel; it often accelerates it.

God’s kingdom grows even in hostile environments, as the Holy Spirit moves in unexpected ways. What’s remarkable is that the same Spirit that emboldened Peter and John in the face of threats is still at work today. Despite the challenges, setbacks, and hostility believers often face, God continues to move powerfully, bringing people to saving faith and transforming lives.

The real story here is the unstoppable nature of the gospel. No amount of human resistance can thwart God’s plan. While the religious leaders clung to their traditions and resisted change, the Holy Spirit was actively opening hearts, drawing people to the truth of Jesus Christ.

This passage serves as both a warning and an encouragement: a warning not to miss what God is doing because of our own stubbornness, and an encouragement that even when we face rejection or hostility, God is still working powerfully to build His kingdom.

On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 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. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 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.”

Peter’s proclamation of the gospel in Acts 4 is not only bold, but also precise and unwavering.

He doesn’t water down his message to accommodate his audience’s preferences or fears; instead, he presents the truth directly, clearly, and with urgency.

This boldness reflects an invitation to those who are truly listening—those who have ears to hear and hearts willing to respond. His words are not simply informative; they are confrontational, challenging the religious leaders to make a decision about Jesus as the risen Messiah.

One of the most striking aspects of the gospel’s spread in this context is that it is fueled by persecution, not hindered by it. The adversity faced by Peter, John, and the other apostles only adds to the gospel’s credibility.

This message isn’t theoretical or secondhand; it’s rooted in the apostles’ personal encounters with Jesus. Their courage in the face of arrest and threat is evidence of the genuine transformation they have experienced through His life, death, and resurrection. The gospel they proclaim has been validated not just by signs and miracles, but by the fact that they are willing to suffer for it.

At the heart of Peter’s message is the declaration that Jesus is the cornerstone—the foundational stone upon which God’s redemptive plan is built. This is a powerful image that the religious leaders would have understood immediately. Drawing from Psalm 118:22, Peter references the prophetic language of the Hebrew Scriptures, language that was deeply familiar to the Jewish leaders.

By invoking the image of the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone, Peter is making a bold theological statement: Jesus, whom they rejected and crucified, is actually the cornerstone of God’s kingdom.

This wasn’t just a theological assertion; it was a call to action.

The very leaders who were supposed to be the spiritual builders of Israel had rejected God’s chosen Messiah, yet they still had the opportunity to accept Him as Lord.

Despite Peter’s clear and compelling message, the leaders chose to refuse this invitation. It wasn’t that they didn’t understand—Peter had spoken their language, using terms and scriptures they knew well. It was a matter of the will.

The religious leaders were more concerned with maintaining their authority and control than responding to the truth of Peter’s words. This adds a tragic layer to the narrative: the truth was in front of them, and they had every opportunity to receive it, yet they clung to their pride and self-interest.

Peter’s bold proclamation of Jesus as the cornerstone is a reminder to us that the gospel message remains both a call to repentance and an invitation to salvation. It confronts our sin, challenges our beliefs, and offers a new foundation upon which to build our lives.

Just as it was in Peter’s day, the gospel still requires a response today—one that is marked by humility, openness, and a willingness to embrace the life-transforming power of Jesus Christ.

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. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 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. 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.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 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, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 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. For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

“ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage,

and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers were gathered together,

against the Lord and against his Anointed’—

for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Despite the mounting opposition and increasing hardship, the disciples remain unwavering in their mission to preach the gospel.

It’s not a mere human effort; they are empowered by the Holy Spirit, emboldened to proclaim the good news to anyone willing to listen.

The strength they display isn’t rooted in their own courage but in a profound encounter with the risen Jesus, which has transformed their lives and filled them with hope.

This hope is not theoretical; it’s tangible, experienced, and deeply real. It’s a hope they can’t help but share.

Peter’s story is a powerful encouragement to all believers. No failure is too great, no sin too deep, and no past too broken for Jesus to redeem and use for His glory. Peter’s past rejection becomes the foundation for a new boldness—a boldness that is rooted not in perfection, but in grace. It’s a reminder that God’s work is not thwarted by human failure; rather, He often uses it to showcase His mercy and power.

This same Spirit-empowered boldness is available to us today, equipping us to share the hope we’ve found in Jesus with a world that desperately needs to hear it.

What a profound encouragement for every believer: God’s grace not only forgives but also restores and empowers. We are not defined by our failures, but by Christ’s victory, which compels us to speak boldly, even in the face of opposition. This is the essence of the gospel—transformed lives that point others to the life-changing hope found in Jesus Christ.

Application

As we reflect on how this applies to us today, there are a few key things we need to remember. First, if we are believers, we have the same Holy Spirit dwelling within us—the same Spirit that empowered the apostles to boldly share the gospel. This isn’t just a historical fact; it’s a present reality for us.

We have experienced God’s presence not only through the work of the church and fellowship with other believers, but also through the truth of His Word. God still desires to use our personal stories, experiences, and convictions to empower us. In the face of opposition, whether in sharing our faith or standing firm on what we believe, He gives us the boldness we need.

Stand boldly when sharing the gospel with all humility and grace:

When we share the gospel, we should do it in a way that brings glory to God by showing the person how much God has changed us.

His grace and his mercy are the reason why we are able to follow him. It is because we are broken that we need him not because of how awesome we are.

55  A central message of the Bible is that we can only have a relationship with God by sheer grace. Our moral efforts are too feeble and falsely motivated to ever merit salvation.

Timothy Keller

The Reason for God (2008)

Timothy Keller

Every rejection is acceptance with Jesus:

As we share the gospel and get rejected, we can have confidence in knowing that we are accepted by Jesus and have experienced the suffering that he has when he got rejected.

We could have confidence, knowing that it is not us who changes people's hearts, but the Holy Spirit. The same spirit is working on us is working in people to bring them to God.

Landing

As we wrap up today, let’s bring everything we’ve learned back to the main point: Believers, empowered by the Holy Spirit, can stand boldly in their faith, no matter the opposition they face.

The events of Acts 4 are more than just a historical account; they’re a blueprint for how God wants us to live today. Peter and John didn’t shrink back in the face of powerful leaders; they spoke boldly, not because of their own strength, but because of the Holy Spirit working within them.

Think about that for a moment. The same Spirit that empowered Peter and John to preach the gospel boldly in the very city where Jesus was crucified is the same Spirit who lives in you and me.

This is incredible news! It means that when we face opposition, whether from the world around us or from the doubts within us, we don’t have to rely on our own courage.

The Holy Spirit gives us everything we need to stand firm and speak the truth with grace and conviction.

The reality is that we will face resistance in this life. It may not always look like arrest or public interrogation, but it will show up in the form of criticism, skepticism, and sometimes outright rejection. But just like Peter and John, we are called to persevere, not because we have all the answers or because we’re fearless, but because we have experienced the life-changing hope of Jesus and cannot help but speak of what we have seen and heard.

As we think about applying this in our own lives, let’s remember that boldness doesn’t mean being harsh or forceful—it means being willing to share the truth of Jesus even when it’s uncomfortable, inconvenient, or risky. It means standing firm in our faith, not with arrogance, but with humility and grace, showing others the love of Christ through our words and actions.

So as you leave today, I want to challenge you: where do you need boldness in your faith?

Maybe it’s in a relationship that’s grown distant because of unspoken hurts, and you need the courage to pursue reconciliation.

Maybe it’s in a school or work setting where you’re afraid to speak about your faith openly.

Or maybe it’s simply having the courage to invite someone to church or to pray for a friend in need.

Remember, every step of boldness you take in Jesus’ name is not done alone. The Holy Spirit is with you, empowering you just as He did the apostles. God doesn’t expect perfection; He expects willingness.

And finally, take comfort in this: even when your boldness doesn’t seem to bring immediate results, every act of faithfulness matters. God uses every moment of obedience, even the ones that seem small or unsuccessful, to advance His kingdom in ways we may never fully see.

Let’s pray together, asking for the Spirit to fill us with this kind of boldness, to help us live out our faith courageously, and to keep pointing others to the hope we have in Jesus.

Pray