Witness in the Face of Opposition

Church family, as we walk through the early chapters of Acts, we’ve seen the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus, poured out at Pentecost, and powerfully present as the Church grows in joy and unity. But now—things change.

Opposition arrives.

Peter and John are no longer just proclaiming Jesus in friendly spaces. They’ve healed a lame man at the temple gate. A crowd gathered. Peter preached again. But not everyone was celebrating.

In Acts 4:1–31, we see the first wave of persecution and it just escalates from there—and we also see what Spirit-empowered boldness looks like when God’s people face real threats.

Before we read todays text lets pray together:

Heavenly Father, We come before You this morning with grateful hearts, humbled by Your grace and power. As we open Your Word together, we ask that You quiet our minds, soften our hearts, and stir our spirits.

Lord, in these early chapters of Acts, we see how Your Spirit moved with boldness and power through ordinary people who had been with Jesus. We ask that You do the same in us today. Fill us with the same courage to speak truth, the same unity that marked the early Church, and the same unwavering confidence in the name of Jesus.

Speak through Your Word, O God. Shape us, challenge us, and empower us—not for our own comfort, but for Your glory and the advancement of the gospel. We pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our risen Savior. Amen.

Acts 4:1–4 NKJV

1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

I. Gospel Boldness Draws Opposition - Acts 4:1-4

Acts 4:1–2 “1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”

Peter and John weren’t preaching politics. They weren’t inciting violence. They were preaching Jesus the resurrection from the dead. But it angered the religious elite—especially the Sadducees, who denied resurrection entirely.

This wasn’t just theological disagreement. It was about control. The apostles were threatening the status quo.

Lesson: Whenever the gospel disrupts systems of power and comfort, opposition will follow.

Jesus promised this: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18).

Yet even with this resistance, the Word bore fruit:

“...many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.” (v. 4)

You can’t stop the gospel when the Spirit moves. Opposition can’t silence truth—it often amplifies it.

Acts 4:5–12 NKJV

5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 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. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, 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 stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 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.”

II. Spirit-Filled Witness Confronts with Truth

Peter and John are brought before the highest Jewish court—the Sanhedrin, the same group that condemned Jesus.

They ask, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” And Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, gives a courageous response:

“Let it be known to all of you... 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.” (v. 10)

And then comes that clear gospel declaration:

“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.” (v. 12)

Lesson: Spirit-empowered witness is not about being clever or polished—it’s about being faithful and clear.

In 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Paul admits that he didn't come with eloquence but preached Christ crucified with simplicity. This illustrates that it's not the polish of our words that matters, but the authenticity of our faith. Just as a sown seed grows best when planted carefully and watered, so do our faithful words flourish when they're grounded in love and God’s holy Word, not in cleverness.

Lets keep going,

Acts 4:13–22 NKJV

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 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? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 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.” 18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 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. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” 21 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.

III. Boldness Is Recognized, Even by Enemies

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John... they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” (v. 13)

What a powerful statement: “They had been with Jesus.”

Not seminary-trained. Not politically connected. Just ordinary men—transformed by time with Christ and empowered by the Spirit.

And here’s the dilemma for the Sanhedrin:

They can’t deny the miracle (the healed man is standing there).

But they won’t accept the message.

So they threaten them: Don’t speak in this name again!

And Peter and John reply:

“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.” (vv. 19–20)

Lesson: Spirit-boldness is not arrogant defiance—it’s unshakable obedience to God over man.

They weren’t trying to stir up rebellion. They were obeying a higher authority.

Lets finish up by reading the next section,

Acts 4:23–31 ESV

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 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, 25 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? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 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, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 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.

IV. Prayer Fuels Boldness and Unity

After release, Peter and John go straight to the church—not to complain, but to pray.

And look at their prayer:

It begins with sovereignty: “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth…” (v. 24)

It recalls Scripture: Psalm 2, where nations rage against the Lord’s Anointed. (v.25)

It acknowledges the reality: Herod, Pilate, and the Gentiles did what God had predestined. (v. 27-28)

And then—here’s the heart of their request:

“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness…” (v. 29)

They don’t ask for safety.

They don’t pray for comfort.

They pray for boldness.

And God answers:

“...they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” (v. 31)

Lesson: The Church advances not through human strategy, but through Spirit-filled prayer and proclamation.

Message Application:

How Can We Be Bold Today?

Be with Jesus. Boldness is rooted not in personality, but in proximity to Christ.

Speak the name of Jesus. Our culture tolerates spirituality but resists specificity. Be loving, but don’t be vague. Speak His name.

Expect opposition. Don’t be surprised when faithfulness is resisted. The early Church experienced this immediately.

Pray for boldness. Not for a quiet life, but for a courageous witness. The same Spirit that filled Peter and John lives in us.

Conclusion: A Church That Will Not Be Silenced

Church, this is not a museum we belong to—it’s a movement we’re part of.

The Spirit who empowered Peter in front of the Sanhedrin is the same Spirit working in you.

When we face rejection, let us respond with love and clarity.

When we are pressured to be silent, let us pray—not for escape, but for boldness.

When we are tempted to shrink back, let us remember that Jesus is worth it.

“We cannot help but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

May that be our testimony as well.

Amen.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the bold witness of Peter and John, and for the unstoppable power of the gospel. In a world that still resists the name of Jesus, fill us with the same Spirit-empowered boldness to speak truth with love, to stand firm with grace, and to obey You above all else. Make us a church that prays first, trusts fully, and proclaims Christ clearly. May we be known, not for our strength, but because we have been with Jesus. In His mighty name we pray—Amen.