Empowered Disciples 7

Peter and John

This morning as we continue our series on Empowered Disciples in the book of Acts, we are continuing the story line we start two weeks ago when Peter and John met the lame man.

The lame man was brought to the beautiful gate of the temple, where he daily sat begging for alms.

As Peter and John approach they focus on the lame man and tell him to pay attention.

Then they tell the lame man that they have something for him, but it is not silver or gold, but it is better.

They then heal the lame man in the name of Jesus, and the lame man gets up and begins to praise the Lord for the healing.

All the commotion drawled a crowd at Solomons portico, where Peter preaches his second sermon.

Peter addresses the Men of Israel, and tells them that when they called for Jesus’ crucifixion, it was a rejection of ignorance.

He then preaches the gospel to the people at the temple, telling them that this time, if they reject Jesus this time it will not be in ignorance.

As Peter is preaching with John at his side, the religious officials notice the crowd.

Up until this point in Acts, there had been no resistance to the Christians on the part of the Jews.

Chapter 4 we see this resistance begin, not by the people as they were responding favorably, but by the Religious officials.

This story line of the lame man continues into chapter 4, where we are picking up this morning in Acts.

Big Idea: Spirit-empowered disciples remain faithful to Christ even when opposition, examination, and pressure come.

The Arrest

Faithfulness often attracts opposition, but God's work cannot be stopped.

Acts 4:1–4 NASB95

1 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

As Peter is preaching the religious leaders noticed the crowd, and they approached Peter and John.

Jesus told us in John 15:20

John 15:20 NASB95

20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

That persecution was about to begin.

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the Jewish religious leaders got ticked off because they were proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, so clearly they were annoyed.

The religious leaders seized Peter and John and threw them in jail until the next day since it was already evening, as the Sanhedrin did not meet at night.

Despite adversities the sermon was no failure.

Beginning in the life of one lame man, God brought men to Christ, in spite of the opposition of powerful unbelievers.

The total number of Jewish Christians came to be 5,000.

There is no stopping the kingdom of God manifested through the power of the Holy Spirit when Jesus is being glorified.

Illustration

A story of the early days of the Salvation Army, William Booth's street preachers were frequently arrested or assaulted simply for preaching the gospel.

Opponents mocked them, threw objects at them, and sometimes jailed them.

Yet every arrest often brought more publicity, resulting in even larger crowds gathering to hear the gospel.

What Satan intended to silence became a megaphone for God's message.

Likewise, Peter and John were arrested not because they had committed a crime, but because they proclaimed Jesus Christ.

Challenge

Ask yourself, "Would anyone know I belong to Christ if it brought opposition?"

The Trail

Every believer will eventually be called to give an account for their faith.

Acts 4:5–7 NASB95

5 On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7 When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”

The next day the High Priest and all of the Jewish leadership - basically every leader that had been aligned against Jesus at His mock trial - brought Peter and John to stand before them for questioning.

The interrogation began with the apostles being brought before the Sanhedrin.

They then ask the question, By what power, or in what name, have you done this?

Another words, Who authorized you to say and do these things.

We might think that they were referring to the lame man’s healing, but the main reason for the arrest had been the preaching.

The Jewish officials were concerned about the source of the disciples’ teaching and the possibility that their emphasis on the resurrection could lead to a major messianic insurrection with serious political repercussions.

The Jewish officials were concerned about authority, proper accreditation, law and order, and keeping the peace.

Illustration

Students eventually take an exam that reveals whether they have learned the material.

Preparation is tested under pressure.

Peter and John had spent three years watching Jesus answer hostile religious leaders.

Now they stood in the same courtroom before many of the same men.

Their classroom had become a courtroom.

Historical Illustration

Olympic athletes spend years training for a performance that may last only minutes.

Pressure doesn't create their abilities—it reveals their preparation.

The same is true spiritually.

We don't prepare for pressure during the crisis; we prepare before it through daily walking with Christ.

Application

Your private walk with God prepares you for public moments of witness.

Read Scripture before you need it.

Pray before the crisis arrives.

Depend on the Holy Spirit every day.

Challenge

Ask yourself: If someone questioned your faith tomorrow, would your heart be prepared to answer?

The Defense

Spirit-filled believers boldly proclaim Jesus as the only Savior.

Acts 4:8–12 NASB95

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 “He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Notice that Peter who boldly answered the Jewish religious leaders was the same Peter who, when asked about Jesus during Jesus’ trial, said, I do not know Him.

What had changed?

Peter was now filled with the Holy Spirit.

Giving himself over to the influence of the Spirit’s power enabled him (and will enable us today) to confidently bear witness of Jesus Christ.

The question as to the name behind their preaching was a question of accreditation and authorization, but Peter could not let this one get by.

Peter made it clear, 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.

The Jewish officials were expecting a defense, instead Peter gave them a sermon.

In verses 9-12 Peter gives a mini-sermon on the name that brings salvation.

The sermon was based on the Greek word sozo, which means both physical salvation in the sense of healing, as well as the spiritual, eschatological sense of salvation.

The physical salvation of the lame man through the name of Jesus is thus a pointer to the far greater salvation that comes to all who call upon Jesus’ name in faith.

The Jewish officials were worried about the political dangers of the name the apostles were preaching.

The name of Jesus is not destructive, it brings good things; it brings wholeness.

Peter points out, by the name of Jesus Christ, whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead.

It is by the very fact that God has exalted Jesus that the power had come to heal the lame man.

Jesus is the fulfillment of Psalm 118:22

Psalm 118:22 NASB95

22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.

Jesus is the stone that the Jewish leaders had rejected, which became the cornerstone, the stone upon which the rest of the building depends.

This establishes the guilt of the Jewish officials.

The Jewish officials were the builders, the leaders of the nation, who rejected the very rock on which God’s people are to be built.

The only way to avoid the implications of what they had done was to repent and turn to the risen Lord Jesus, the one whom they had killed.

Peter concluded by telling the leaders that salvation is found in no one else.

There is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.

Names in the Bible are not mere titles; they reflect the person.

The name Jesus is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Joshua, which means, The Lord Saves.

Jesus name, then, speaks to what He is, what He has done, and what He can do.

If there is salvation in no other name, then obviously one must make a commitment to that sole name that brings salvation.

Salvation from sin, death, and hell is found in Jesus Christ alone.

The Jewish officials asked for the name in whom Peter and John’s authority rested.

Peter answered their question, it was the name, the power of Jesus.

The ultimate verdict rested with the Jewish officials would they continue to reject the one whom God had placed as the final stone for His people, the only name under heaven in which they would find their own salvation?

Illustration

See A lighthouse does not apologize for its light during a storm.

Ships depend upon its unwavering beam to avoid destruction.

Peter didn't soften or sugarcoat the message to satisfy the religious leaders.

Rather, Filled with the Holy Spirit, he pointed directly to Jesus—the One they crucified and whom God raised from the dead.

The world doesn't need a dimmer gospel.

It needs the clear light of Christ.

Biblical Illustration

David stood before Goliath not with confidence in himself but in the name of the Lord (1 Samuel 17).

Peter likewise stood before Israel's most powerful religious leaders not trusting his courage but in the power of Jesus Christ.

Application

Boldness is not a personality; it is dependence upon the Holy Spirit.

Our message is not that Jesus is one option among many but that He alone saves.

People are looking for hope.

Our responsibility is not to invent a message but faithfully proclaim the One God has already given.

Challenge

Think about Who needs to hear you lovingly share the name of Jesus this week?

Is it a family member, a co-worker, or a friend.

Sermon Conclusion

Opposition is unavoidable, but the gospel is unstoppable.

Peter and John teaches us that empowered disciples:

Stand firm when opposition comes.

Remain faithful when questioned.

Boldly proclaim that salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone.

Closing Challenge:

Have you called on the only name by which we must be saved?

Have you received salvation through the powerful name of Jesus Christ?

If you have, then Ask yourself, "If you were put on trial for being a follower of Jesus, would there be enough evidence to convict you?"

We need to leave committed to living so openly for Christ that His transforming power is unmistakable in our words, actions, and witness.