Acts 4
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Introduction
Introduction
So this week we pick up directly where we left off. While this book covers three decades of history, the gap between chapters 3 and 4 is immediate.
You will remember that Through Christ, Peter and John healed a lepper. A man who had been unable to move or live independently for over 40 years. Right after that you will remember that Peter was preachng at the temple.
This was obviously going to cause an issue.
The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
When you preach truth, liars will resist.
At this point Peter and John are doing all that they know to do. Think about what they saw Jesus do. They saw Him preach truth in the Hardest places.
Jesus would sometimes be preaching and the Bible says that they would nash their teeth in anger, yet he would keep preaching.
Jesus never stopped preaching truth just because it was hard. Peter and John didnt stop preaching truth just because it was hard. We cannot stop preaching truth just becausd it is hard.
We have to keep fighting for truth and for the gospel. That means preaching the gospel and truth even if you Know exactly what is going to happem
Why?
4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
The Gospel is worth it and always wins.
Scripture tells us that people still came to know Jesus. Peter and john look and one another and can easily say hey its worth it.
It didnt matter what just happened to them. The worst they could do was kill them. They werent scared. They trusted in God and the one true Gospel.
ONE TRUE GOSPEL: MAYBE TIME PERMITTING
The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is
“ ‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’
Those who oppose you may be your opportunity to share the gospel.
So as we saw, there many that came to know Jesus at this time. There were certainly some that came in with hardened hearts. But left with life.
It is so incredible to me that we do not see hate in the voice of Peter and John. Dont get me wrong, they were passionate and strong but it was with a message of hope.
How many of us would be so angry of how we have been treated or complaining that we were being arrested for no reason.
Peter and John saw this as an oppurutnity to preach the Gospel once more. WOW.
What the World rejects God sets apart.
The Cornerstone
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
GOD IS OUR GREATEST DEFENSE
The men performed through Christ and preached His gospel and that was enough to astound these men. They did not need to argue themselves out of the situation or defend themselves.
How often do we feel the need to defend ourselves.
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
Proclaiming the Gospel has never been an option for believers.
Could you imagine the response of Peter and John and the others if we told him we loved Jesus but didn’t feel comfortable sharing Jesus and His gospel with others.
No excuses
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
“ ‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.’
Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
There are really two things I think that are important for us in this prayer.
The first is this
It is important to tell others your story
Peter and John come back and immediately tell them what had just happened. Why? to brag? no. To show the goodness of God and what is possible through Him.
They worshipped and cried out.
The second observation is
Have you asked God to use you in your area of life?
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
One Heart One Mind One Purpose