Untitled Sermon

GCC WINCHESTER - JULY 12, 2026

Isaac Reinherz

THE GIFT OF BOLDNESS

Acts 4:1-31

Introduction:

Summary: In Acts 4:1-31, the apostles Peter and John display incredible boldness in their faith despite facing opposition and threats from religious authorities. After being arrested for healing a lame man and preaching about Jesus, they boldly proclaim the truth of the resurrection, standing firm in their conviction.

Big Idea: God empowers Christians with boldness through the Holy Spirit to witness courageously, even in the face of opposition.

Opening Illustration: 

The Holy Spirit empowers us to be bold with the RESURRECTION of Jesus (vv. 1-4)

While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them, 

The priests and high priests were top dogs of the Temple. The captain of the Temple guard was the leader of the guards who made sure the Temple stayed in order. The Sadducees were a special religious group that did not believe in the resurrection. All three of these groups were the ones who planned and put to action the death of Jesus.

2 because they were annoyed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 So they seized them and took them into custody until the next day since it was already evening. 

The truth of Jesus’ resurrection was the most objectionable message to the Jewish leaders. From what we know, they put him on a cross for blasphemy, and yet even after he rose from the dead, they still do not believe.

So what do they do? They detain Peter and John and put them in jail for the night. The Jewish law did not permit trials at night.

4 But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Despite the opposition coming against the gospel, the number of Christians kept increasing, growing to 5,000 from 3,000 at last count.

We are empowered to be bold through the HOLY SPIRIT (vv. 5-8)

5 The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family.

All of these top dog religious leaders, who are best friends and even family members gather together to question Peter and John on how in the world they could heal this lame man.

 7 After they had Peter and John stand before them, they began to question them: “By what power or in what name have you done this?” 8 Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them

Peter was under the control of the Spirit, which means he was able to face opposition and persecution with power. 

Look at what Jesus tells his disciples back in Luke…

11 Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.” (Luke 12:11-12)

The Holy Spirit empowers us to be bold with the NAME and WORK of Jesus (vv. 9-12)

“Rulers of the people and elders: 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was healed, 10 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 and whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing here before you healthy.

Think about the weight of what Peter just said to these religious leaders. He answered them directly.

It is by the power and through the name of Jesus (the one they killed) that this disabled man could stand and walk. 

 11 This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. 

Peter quotes Psalm 118:22

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

Jewish leaders were viewed as builders of the nation. Jesus (who is the stone) was rejected by the builders (the Jewish people). But it doesn’t end with rejection, but with Jesus becoming the cornerstone, the one who restores and delivers. 

19 So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

There are only two religious paths: the broad way of works salvation leading to eternal death and the narrow way of faith in Jesus leading to eternal life. 

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Sadly, the religious leaders were on the wrong track because they were so focused on the works rather than simply believing in Jesus.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to be bold with the TRANSFORMED life (vv. 13-14)

13 When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus. 

Peter and John were uneducated in the formal sense, like the religious leaders. But they were educated in the sense that they knew the Scriptures and had been with Jesus.

They could preach no other name but the name of Jesus, and the Jewish leaders recognized this.

Peter and John had spent time with Jesus which transformed their life. These were the guys that ran away when Jesus was arrested. Peter was the guy that denied Jesus three times. And now here they are boldly healing this man, proclaiming the resurrection, and speaking the name of Jesus.

14 And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in opposition.

There was nothing more to say. This man was lame just yesterday, having to be carried around, and now he is fully healed.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to be bold in OPPOSITION (vv. 15-22)

15 After they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign has been done through them, clear to everyone living in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.”  18 So they called for them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 

The corruption of their hearts was plain. They acknowledged that a miracle had genuinely happened; yet they refused to submit to the God who worked the miracle.

Their fear of the preaching of Jesus was rooted in their own sinful self-interest, not in any desire to protect the people.

And this was the first time that the church faced opposition and persecution.

19 Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; 20 for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 

Peter and John knew that they had to listen to God and not man in this scenario. What they knew is that they could not stop speaking and witnessing as Jesus said back in Acts 1:8:

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

They knew and trusted the Holy Spirit would give them power to keep speaking Jesus’ name even in opposition.

21 After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done. 22 For this sign of healing had been performed on a man over forty years old.

This whole situation started out looking pretty bad. Peter and John were on trial before the same court that sent Jesus to Pilate for crucifixion. It was meant for great evil, but when it was all over, see what God did:

· 2,000 more people came to believe on Jesus.

· Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit again.

· Peter got to preach Jesus to the leaders of the Jews.

· Hostile examiners confirmed a miraculous healing.

· The enemies of Jesus were confused.

· Peter and John were bolder for Jesus than ever before.

· God was glorified.

The CHURCH prays for BOLDNESS (vv. 23-31)

23 After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them.25 You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David your servant: Why do the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot futile things? 26  The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers assemble together against the Lord and against his Messiah. 27 “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28 to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.

Three things jump out about their prayer

They acknowledge their God. They remind themselves who it is they pray to.

They pray in light of the Scriptures. They quote Psalm 2 which expresses complete confidence in God and His victory.

They ask for more boldness, more power, and more trouble. 

And their prayer is answered, and they are filled with the spirit.