Acts 4 Peter and John before the council

Re-cap last week we read through Acts chapter 3 and Peter and John by the power of the Holy Spirit in them heal a lame man in front of the temple who had been paralyzed for his entire life. Many had seen this miracle and gathered around Peter and John and scripture says that Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd.

I asked the question towards the end of the night and it was what opportunities are you not taking advantage of in your life now. (Have student share one)

Today we will take a look at what happened next as a result of Peter and John laying hands and healing this lame man.

Read Acts 4

Verse 1 , SO the captian of the temple was second in rank to the high priest and the Sadducees where a Jewish priestly party that controlled the Sanhedrin and only accepted the pentateuch as scripture which is the first 5 books which ancient hebrews called the “Torah” or the “Law” it contains the legal and doctrinal , and ritual basis upon the Hebrew life was established. Greek word Penta teuchos “five vessel container”

Peter and John speaking about the resurrection of the dead in Christ would have been looked at a revolt to the Saducees’ they did not want these Jesus movement to spread.

Verse 10 , Just as Peter accused the Jews in his sermons he now accused the Sanhedrin judges of their role in Jesus death and he points to the divine power that raised him from the dead. Peter essentially has been arrested and he immediately takes the opportunity to tell them of their rejection of the Messiah.

Verse 19-21, I love these few verses Peter says “we cannot stop talking about everything we have seen and heard” and it was no matter the cost or the consequence what Peter did by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit was bold because these people once had Jesus before them and they sentenced him to death.

Ive thought of these words and really as we know Jesus instructs us to go and make disciples and teaching them. Peter understood that he didnt have choice he had to speak about what he had seen and heard. How many times to we not speak because of the cost? Maybe its gonna cost you time , money, popularity , friendship lost. So often we as Christians will only speak of what Christ has done in our lives when it is most convenient for us or when its safe. But not Peter and John they couldn’t shut up about Him They couldn’t shut up about the impact that Jesus had on their life , they couldn’t shut up about the savior of the world and it didn’t matter what happened to them or who they where facing they spoke boldly of the truth about Jesus.

And heres the prayer they prayed after the release of Peter and John, verse 29 “ And now oh lord hear their threats and give us your servants , great boldness in preaching your word.”

Father God give us a fresh filling , a renewed awareness of the Spirit’s power and presence in their life and witness. T