ordinary you. EXTRAordinary God.

Opening

Has anyone here ever felt like a failure or like a nobody that God could never use? I sure have, many times.

The Bible is full of “failures”, and “nobodies” that God used to extraordinary things.

David

Started out as the little brother that nobody wanted around so they sent him out with the animals. He coveted, committed adultery, lied and even murdered.

Saul

Saul was present and approved of murdering Stephen the first Christian martyr. Saul when door to door looking for people who followed Jesus so that he could throw them in prison.

Peter

Peter told Jesus to His face that He didn’t know what He was talking about. Then he proceeded to do exactly what Jesus said he would do.

The Bible is full of story after story and the Lord using nobodies to do amazing things for His glory.

Question

What does God want to do with ordinary people like you and me?

Text

Acts 4:5–7 CSB

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. 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?”

A

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 4

The parties listed in vv. 5–6 represent all the most powerful players in the Jewish religious establishment.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 4

4:5 elders In Judaea in the first century AD, elders were trusted older men who functioned as important rulers in the synagogues, helping to govern the community’s affairs.

scribes These individuals had varying functions in the ancient world; Luke (the narrator) portrays them as experts in the law who possessed significant authority over its interpretation and teaching (compare Luke 11:37–54; Acts 6:12–14; 23:9).

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 4

4:6 Annas the high priest Annas was the former high priest, who served AD 6–15 (see Luke 3:2 and note). He was the father-in-law of the current high priest, Caiaphas. The title high priest seems to have been used even after someone left office; it seems that Annas was still very influential at this time

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 4

4:7 by what power The council questions Peter and John (the son of Zebedee) about how they were able to perform the miracle (Acts 3:1–10). The religious leaders are trying to understand the nature of the apostles’ mission and message, whether it is allowed by the law (Deut 18:20), and whether it operates within their rules.

Acts 4:8 CSB

8 Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders:

Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that Peter is able to do what he is doing. Remember Peter is the one that denied knowing Christ 3x’s to “nobodies” and now he is before the court of powerful leaders.

Acts 1:8 CSB

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 end of the earth.”

The Greek for the word power here is where we get our English word for dynamite. Now that is power. Continuing in that verse it says that they would “be witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria...” Now isn’t that exactly what Peter is doing here?

Acts 4:9–10 CSB

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.

Acts 4:9-10

“examined” can mean an official judicial proceeding

Are we supposed to be on trial for a good deed? Of course not and Peter wants it to be very clear to his audience that it was a good deed and it was “by the name of Jesus Christ” that is was performed.

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 4

4:9–10 Peter again emphasized to a Jewish audience that Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom the nation had crucified, was raised from the dead by God. This same Jesus is the power by which the lame man was made healthy.

“Whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead” - Peter is pointing out… “Guess what? It didn’t work! He is alive!”

Acts 4:11 CSB

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

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 4

4:11 Peter again identified Jesus with OT testimony by citing Ps 118:22. Though Jesus was a stone rejected by the Jewish leaders, God made him the cornerstone (foundation) of the church.

Acts 4:12 CSB

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.”

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 4

4:12 Peter concluded by making clear the uncompromising claim of Christianity: There is salvation in no one else besides Jesus. This message rings throughout the NT. Jesus himself said, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6).

Acts 4:13 CSB

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.

The religious leaders “observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men.”

They were amazed that these ordinary men did and were doing something extraordinary. They were able to that because “they had been with Jesus.”

Application & Challenge

These ordinary men lived extraordinary lives. Witnessed and performed extraordinary miracles.

That is exactly what God has for you and I.

Let’s live we have an extraordinary God who has an extraordinary plan for our lives!

Let’s live spending time with God every day!

Let’s live knowing we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us!

You want revival? Live it!

You want to see miracles? Live it!

You want to perform miracles? Live it!

You want to share the good news of Jesus? Live it!

You want to see change in your world? Live it!

You want to live an extraordinary life with and extraordinary God? Live it!