Messenger & Message
Notes
Transcript
The religious leaders had to do something. They couldn’t let this stand; this was not okay with them. A 40-year-old man who had been born unable to walk had just been healed. And then Peter and John, two of Jesus’ disciples started preaching and teaching in Jesus’ name, giving Jesus the credit for the miracle. Peter just preached Jesus, calling people to repentance.
That was too much for the temple leaders. They were going to have to figure out something to do with Peter and John.
1 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. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
The priests and the Sadducees were greatly disturbed, so disturbed they may have interrupted Peter and John—[they] came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.
You see, who Jesus is and what Jesus does is disturbing, troubling, even annoying to certain people.
A different word is used in Matthew, but the point is the same; after Jesus was born and the Magi came from the east and asked Herod, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We…have come to worship Him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.
Jesus and teaching in the name of Jesus can be disturbing, even troublesome. Jesus unravels a lot of our preconceived notions. Jesus’ teaching confounds the wise; He took established teaching of the day and said, “You’ve heard it said…but I say to you...”
The priests and Sadducees didn’t care for Jesus when He was ministering amongst them. And they don’t care for His disciples continuing to teach what Jesus taught.
What seems to have really irked the religious leaders was Peter and John’s teaching and proclamation in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
The Sadducees didn’t believe in a resurrection—that’s the reason they’re “sad-you-see?” They’re upset with the preaching of Jesus’ disciples that Jesus had been resurrected and that in Jesus a general resurrection had begun. Theirs was a message with definite messianic implications. Theirs was a revolutionary message, and that always angers a few people.
So the Sadducees, who worked closely with the Romans to protect their political and economic interests, along with the high priest and the temple guard (second in rank to the high priest) step in and put Peter and John in jail.
3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
Here’s the truth that comforts us and yet also props us up as we proclaim the good news about Jesus:
You Can Arrest the Messenger, but not the Message.
You Can Arrest the Messenger, but not the Message.
This event is likely only a few weeks after Pentecost. This is early, early in the life of the Church. They’re just getting started, really. And here they are, two of the apostles, two of the elders and leaders of the church, arrested.
They’ve been arrested for proclaiming Jesus, for teaching and preaching in the name of the crucified and Risen Savior. They have to be thinking, “Will we be crucified, too?”
I mean, the Sadducees work with the Romans and Peter and John have ticked off the Sadducees. The Romans like to crucify people they don’t like. It’s a very real possibility.
They get arrested and spend the night in detention awaiting a trial, a meeting with the religious leaders. Who knows what the next day will bring.
It makes no difference to Peter and John. After this night imprisoned and the meeting before the Sanhedrin the next day, Peter and John go back to their people, pray together, and then go and “speak the word of God boldly.”
This doesn’t stop them. “Arrest us. Don’t arrest us. We’re good with either.”
Peter and John are arrested, but the message is out there, with a walking, leaping, praising-God picture of Jesus’ mercy and grace illustrating the whole thing.
The message is out there. All the people were listening to Peter and John teach and preach about Jesus and His resurrection. You can’t unhear something.
You can throw Peter and John into prison, but the message is free. It’s working. And powerful.
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
As Luke writes this continuation of Jesus’ teaching and ministry, he seems to make the point that messengers of the gospel might be arrested, but the gospel can’t be.
Just look at verses 3-4 again:
3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
They put them in jail until the next day…BUT many who heard the message believed.
The message is out there, thanks to the faithfulness of Peter and John. And because God is faithful and promised His Word will not return empty, but will accomplish all He desires it to do, people believed.
The Church just keeps growing. No power of hell or scheme of man can stop it.
The early Church starts out with 120 believers (Acts 1:15), then grows to 3,000 (Acts 2:41). And now the number of men who believed grew to 5,000. That’s just the men. This suggests the total number of Christians at this point is 10,000 strong, at least.
The incredible growth of the church occured in response to two activities, empowered by the Holy Spirit: the powerful preaching of the gospel message about Jesus and the miraculous signs and wonders that accompanied their message.
You can arrest the messenger, but not the message.
It’s possible, I’d say even likely, that we here in the good ol’ U.S. of A. will be arrested for our faith and proclamation of Jesus. I believe I’ll see it in my lifetime, sooner rather than later.
Melissa Entrikin even made me a nice, prison-orange colored T-shirt so I’m all ready to go whenever they come pick me up.
We will not stop preaching Jesus. We will never stop preaching Jesus as the only way to be saved. We will continue to urge repentance and God’s call to righteousness, a Biblical ethic, a Biblical lifestyle. We will not stop preaching Jesus.
You can arrest me; but you can’t stop me from speaking. They’d have to arrest the whole crazy lot of us, and even then, God’s Word will go forth.
5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 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, 10 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. 11 Jesus is
“ ‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
13 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.
The Jewish high court—the Sanhedrin—consisted of 71 members: 70 elders plus the high priest as the presiding officer. It was dominated by Sadducees (why are they sad, again?) and the rest were Pharisees and scribes.
Talk about intimidating. Peter and John were brought before them and were questioned by the high court—71 angry old men yelling for Peter and John to “get of their lawn!”
Actually, they were asking Peter and John, “By what power or what name did you do this?”
One has to wonder if Peter and John would back down, capitulate to the pressure of the priests, say whatever they needed to say to satisfy the Sadducees.
Do and say enough to whatever is needed to get off the hook.
But here’s the encouraging truth:
The Holy Spirit Empowers the Messenger and Accompanies the Message
The Holy Spirit Empowers the Messenger and Accompanies the Message
Verse 8 starts out with a reminder for us, important as we read this account and important for our daily lives:
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit...”
This isn’t something new. This didn’t just happen at this point. This is a reminder for us, so that we realize Peter and John are not alone. They are empowered and emboldened by the Holy Spirit.
It’s not that Peter is all of a sudden really bold and well-spoken. It’s the the Holy Spirit—the 3rd person of the Godhead—is speaking through Peter, giving Peter the words to say.
Jesus prepared His disciples for this, and told them not to prepare, (if that makes sense):
11 “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
12 “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13 And so you will bear testimony to me. 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
Peter and John maybe had to remind each other of what Jesus had told them. As they were sitting in jail the night before, instead of writing out and practicing their legal defense, they remembered Jesus’ words: “The Holy Spirit will teach [us] at that time what to say…[Our heavenly Father] will give [us] words of wisdom…[we need] not worry how to defend [ourselves].”
Instead of planning and plotting, Peter and John could sing a song, say a prayer, close their eyes, and catch a solid-8, knowing the Holy Spirit would guide them and give them exactly what they needed when they needed it.
The Holy Spirit empowers the messenger. Peter speaks boldly, clearly, convincingly. He doesn’t waver. He doesn’t give in. He doesn’t admit he and John were wrong to say what they said. He stands his ground as the Lord has given him strength.
The Holy Spirit empowers the messenger and accompanies the message.
The message is not alone. Peter’s words have the force of conviction and challenge of the Holy Spirit. Doubtless there were members of the Sanhedrin who heard what Peter said and were cut to the heart.
I like to picture Peter and John (and other believers in the book of Acts) walking around with a knowing smile on their faces. I think Peter and John were standing before the high court with joy radiating from them.
This wasn’t a solemn occasion for them; Peter and John knew something we know: the Holy Spirit is working on people whenever and wherever the word of God is proclaimed.
As the apostles proclaim the grace and mercy of the crucified and Risen Savior, they have to be thinking, as they looked at the tired and weary religious faces staring at them: “Some of you are going to believe in Jesus and experience the joy we have in Him! :)”
This is our great assurance. We might not be able to explain it, it won’t make any sense, but people—even the worst of people—are changed when they hear God’s Word.
Peter proclaims Jesus as the One through whom this man—the man born lame—is healed. Peter doubles-down on the resurrection of Jesus, reminding them that they had crucified Jesus but that God has raised Him from the dead.
Peter quotes from Psalm 118, citing Jesus as its fulfillment. The One they rejected is the very foundation of the Church, the One in whom the Church holds together.
In the central verse of Peter’s sermon testimonial, Peter invites the Sanhedrin to place their faith in Jesus:
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
This is nothing less than an invitation for each man in the ruling body of Jerusalem to place his faith in Jesus.
It was Jesus’ name that brought physical healing and deliverance to the lame man. And it’s Jesus’ name, the same powerful and exclusive name, that brings eternal salvation to all who call upon Him.
The emphasis is that Jesus’ name is the only name under heaven (that is, throughout the whole earth) by which a person can be saved. There is no other name among men (that is, in all of human society) that saves.
There is no one else. Not Allah or Mary or Muhammed, not Joseph Smith or Buddha, no pope or cleric or ayatollah or pastor, no king or queen or president. ONLY JESUS!
Salvation comes only through conscious faith in Jesus. His is the only name.
The Sanhedrin saw the courage of Peter and John and realized they were unschooled, ordinary men.
What were Peter and John doing when Jesus called them to follow Him? Fishing! They were fishermen. They didn’t make the cut in school, so they joined their family trade. John and James were fishing with their father when Jesus pointed at them and said, “Follow me!”
Peter and John would be the first to tell you that they were unschooled and ordinary.
But that makes no difference. The difference is that they had been with Jesus.
I’ll tell you, your education and station in life matter very little, if at all. What matters, what’s most important, is whether or not you’ve been with Jesus. If you have a relationship with the Risen Savior, people will take notice. Spending time with Jesus will make a visible and notable difference in your life. Outsiders, even the hostile ones, will take note.
As you preach and teach about Jesus, the Holy Spirit will empower you and will accompany the message. Of this, there is no doubt.
14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “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. 17 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.”
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21 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. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
In less than one day’s time, Peter and John have been jailed (v. 3), brought before the Sanhedrin (v. 7), ordered to withdraw from the Sanhedrin (v. 15), called back in and commanded them not to speak or teach in Jesus’ name (v. 18), threatened and let go (v. 21).
That’s a pretty full day. It’s almost hard to imagine, but this is true:
The Messenger Knows the Proclamation of the Message is More Important than Personal Comfort.
The Messenger Knows the Proclamation of the Message is More Important than Personal Comfort.
The messenger, empowered by the Holy Spirit, understands that his or her task is to proclaim, and accepts the fact that life may not go well for them in light of their proclamation.
Jesus promised as much:
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
“In this world you will have trouble.”
At the moment, for proclaiming Jesus we might not experience anything worse than an awkward conversation here or there or a bruised ego. Maybe loss of friendship, or some gossip around town about us.
At the moment, we don’t have much trouble. We may, very soon, find ourselves facing actual trouble and persecution. It shouldn’t surprise us, nor should it slow us down. We keep proclaiming Christ and Him crucified.
“They called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.”
Peter and John, I imagine, were very quick to reply as they did.
19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
We stand up and defy any order or command from any person to stop preaching Jesus. And we don’t stand up because it’s our right under the 1st amendment. We stand up and we keep preaching because doing what is right in God’s eyes matters infinitely more.
Proclaiming the good news of Jesus is more important than personal comfort or civil obedience. Peter and John realize the impossibility of abiding by the Sanhedrin’s prohibition. The Sanhedrin says, “Stop with all the Jesus stuff.” And Peter and John say, “No sir. We will not.”
We are to be subject to governing authorities, this is true (Romans 13), as long as what they require does not go against what God has commanded of us. Believers have the responsibility not to obey authorities when such authorities prohibit preaching or require Christians to disobey God’s commandments. “We must obey God rather than human beings!”
It was right for us to obey governmental restriction on gathering together in-person. This was for the health and well-being of our community.
If, however, the government had said, “No more gathering, no sermons or teachings either,” we would have dissented. Publicly and loudly.
Civil obedience does not outweigh our obedience to Christ. We are to be good, law-abiding citizens. But we are first and foremost citizens, not of this temporary, sinful, earthly kingdom, but of the Kingdom of God (“Our citizenship is in heaven...” Phil 3:20).
We are not beholden to the American government; we are beholden to God.
In this world, we Christians may not always be comfortable. We might find ourselves in legal trouble in earthly courts of law. It is no matter: we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.
We cannot and will not stop preaching Jesus. This is the primary function of the Church. And we are not afraid.
The Church’s message is Jesus; as long as the Lord gives us breath, we will proclaim, in shackles or in solitude, in prison and under persecution, with our lives on the line:
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”