Power in the Name of Jesus

Text: Acts 4:1-12

Peter and John Arrested

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.

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?”

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.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Ac 4:1–12). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Introduction:

Background:

It was 3 o’clock in the afternoon when Peter and John found themselves going up to the temple for prayer. There was a man there who was lame from his birth that had been brought there by his friends through the Gate called Beautiful. Today that gate is called the Golden Gate. It faces east and overlooks the Kidron Valley. The Golden Gate or Eastern Gate is the access point of the original Temple Mount to the Court of the Gentiles and the Court of the Women. The entrance to the gate has been sealed but it is the very location that Jesus will enter upon His return to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.

“Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east: And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like the noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. ” “And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.”

Ezekiel 43: 1-2, 4

It was at this gate the Peter and John met the lame man who begged alms of these two disciples of Jesus. Acts 3:4 gives us the response that Peter gave to the man’s request. The Bible states that Peter “fixed his eyes on the man and said, “Look at us!”

You will notice that there is an exclamation point after that statement. An exclamation point is used to denote strong emotional response. It usually indicates that something is being expressed with a shout.

After Peter had the man’s attention, with the same level of intensity and passion Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth-rise up and walk!”

In proper hermeneutics, biblical interpretation is the literal, historical, grammatical interpretation of the text. In Acts 3:6 we find a semicolon in the middle of this statement. A semicolon is used to link two independent clauses together that are closely related in thought.

The first clause is, “silver and gold I do not possess, but what I do have I give to you:” Peter was with John at the time, but Peter doesn’t use the 1st person plural pronoun “we” he used the 1st person singular pronoun “I.” The emotion the statement was made in is indicative of the fact that when the beggar asked Peter for money, Peter got wrapped up in his emotions and took it personally.

But something happened between the two clauses. The Holy Spirit showed up between the two clauses to blend the statement together.

The second clause is, “in the name of Jesus Christ- rise up and walk!” There is an exclamation point after this clause also. It lets us know that Peter spoke in power of the name of Jesus with the same emotional passion. Peter was not quiet, but he shouted at the man-rise up and walk! That was the blessing, but the miracle didn’t happen until Peter took action in verse 7.

Acts 3:7 tells us this, “and seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were strengthened.” Afterwards that same lame man entered the temple with Peter and John praising God.

Exegesis:

I. THE OFFENSE OF HIS NAME

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 4

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 ain 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.

A. Your determination will draw attention v1

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 3

11 While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called bportico of Solomon, full of amazement.

B Your diligence will cause disturbance in others v2

The word for “disturbed” in the Greek language means that they were annoyed or grieved by what they were teaching and preaching. The Sadducees were a sect of the Jews that did not believe in the physical resurrection of the body. The message that Peter and John had healed a man lame from birth was disturbing because they were not taking the credit for the miracle, but giving all glory and honor for the miracle to God.

C. Your declaration of Jesus will lead to restrictions v3

II. THE AFFECT OF HIS NAME

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 4

But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

A. Your delivery of the message will make disciples v4

III. THE RESPONSE TO HIS NAME

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 4

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?”

A. Your dedication will cause opposition distress v5-6

B. Your deposition will be directed v7

IV. THE POWER IN HIS NAME

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 4

8 Then Peter, afilled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “bRulers and elders of the people,

A. Your dependence on the Holy Spirit helps others v8

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 4

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 aby 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 “aHe 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.”

A. Your delivery of the truth leads to salvation v9-12

Conclusion: