Sermon Tone Analysis

Text

Introduction

We have heard about the call to witness

the need to witness,

the urgency to witness

yet still many won’t

why?

2 main reasons:

Fear of persecution

desiring to be people pleasers

The Hostile Opposition

v1-2

“And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

().

Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

continuing from last chapter

The authorities of the day: priests, captain of the temple guard, Sadducees

Priests = activities of the temple

Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection

Captains = maintain order in the temple

Sadducees = ruling class, enjoyed freedom to rule Israel under Roman Law

eager to maintain healthy relationships with Roman authorities.

v2

they were “greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

().

Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Wanted to stop their teaching the resurrection for 2 reasons - a theological one and a political one:

Theologically: they didn’t believe in the resurrection and taught that there was no life after death

all this talk about Jesus being raised from the dead undermines their teaching

Politically: they were afraid of the threat these Christians posed to their sensitive relations with Rome

The Christians were calling someone other than Caesar, Lord and king.

The Jewish leaders were willing to compromise and call Caesar king

They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!”

Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”

The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!”

Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”

The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”

But the Christians were being bold in declaring someone other than Caesar Lord and King - and worse, it was Jesus who they had crucified just a few weeks earlier

(disagreed, threatened relations with Rome) - verse 2 “greatly annoyed”

That is why verse 2 says they were “greatly annoyed”

And it was made even more threatening by the fact that thousands of people were now joining them in proclaiming Jesus daily in the temple

This was bad for the religious rulers of Israel, because it threatened their own freedom under Rome

That is why verse 2 says they were “greatly annoyed”

v3

Impose silence by imprisonment.

First of many occasions they will be arrested

The cakes issue

Silencing Christianity in the schools

v4

In spite of the hostility of the rulers, and the suffering of the apostles, the Lord continues to build his church

5000 men (excluding women and children)

An astonishing growth of the church in a short period of time, in a culture hostile to the gospel

miraculous

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”

v5

The Sanhedrin gather

v6

Annas & Caiaphas - , involved in the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus

v7

set them in their midst

71 men in a semi circle.

High priest in the centre, 35 to left and right.

Apostles in the middle

By what power or name did you do this?

Irony: the religious leaders of the people have no idea what God is doing

accusatory: by what power did YOU do thus - belittling

THIS -

Total disregard for what God has done - only concerned with their personal well being

This is the attitude of the unbelieving world today

It is aggressive and intimidating

Agree with us, or we will silence you

The unbelieving world is not for the most part neutral or unmoved by the gospel message - it is greatly annoyed by it

Because it threatens their status quo

It threatens their freedom to rule themselves and to do as they please

They like the

The Courageous Witnesses

v8

Verse 5-7 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

().

Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Imagine the stress, threat, pressure, fear

This is an aggressive confrontation, designed to intimidate

But Peter “filled with the Holy Spirit”, answers with courage and confidence

“Rulers of the people and elders” - he maintains his composure and replies with due respect of their position of authority

You see, the message we have about Jesus is offensive to an unbelieving world, but that doesn’t give us the right to be offensive in our behaviour

It should never be our behaviour or treatment of people that causes the offense

v9

“If we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man....” - lets call THIS what it is

So what are we on trial for?

For the healing of this man?

Is that a crime?

v10

His answer is both courageous and wise.

What we are seeing is the precise fulfillment of what Jesus told them would happen in

“And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Now we are seeing the fulfillment of that.

Having been brought before the rulers and authorities, they are filled with the Holy Spirit, and their response to the rulers silences them.