Peter & John Before the Sanhedrin (Part 2)

HOOK

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s TUESDAY the 29th day of September

Yesterday right here at “The Message”, we looked behind the incidents that took place while Peter was speaking to the onlookers— explaining what they have witnessed— the healing of the lame beggar— The priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came to arrest Peter and John, and brought them to the powerful council of the Jews [Sanhedrin]

They interrogated them— Peter used the proceedings to publicly proclaim the gospel— and from that we learned:

JESUS IS THE CORNERSTONE

SALVATION IS FOUND IN HIM AND NO ONE ELSE

They [The Sanhedrin] did not know what to do— they ordered Peter and John to step out while they confer with one another— Let’s see what happened in that meeting— open your Bible to ACTS 4:16-22, once you get there, type “Let’s see what the Sanhedrin says!”

When reading in advance, whenever you’re studying God’s Word— look for words that defines that CHARACTER of God, COMMANDS to obey, PROMISES to claim, good EXAMPLES to follow and bad examples to avoid, ENCOURAGEMENTS & CHALLENGES to keep you going, reasons to be THANK GOD for, PRAYERS to pray

READ ACTS 4:16-22

BOOK

Acts 4:16–22 NIV

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.

WHAT: Closed door conference of the Sanhedrin

WHERE: Jerusalem

WHEN: The day after Peter healed the lame beggar

WHO: Sanhedrin and later on joined by Peter, John and the healed beggar

WHY: To decide what to do with Peter and John

LOOK

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THESE MEN?

The Sanhedrin was at lost— they could hardly figure out what they should do with Peter and John because the news about the miraculous healing was widely spread— they are afraid of the people— take notice— public opinion is a great factor to them

WE CANNOT DENY IT

What has been done and said in public can be hardly denied— as witnesses for Christ, they proclaimed the good news— the Lord affirmed what their claims with notable signs [miracles]— and the people believed them— their number grew to 5,000 men [women and children not included]

TO STOP THIS THING FROM SPREADING ANY FURTHER AMONG THE PEOPLE

They must warn them not to speak about Jesus— that was the decision they arrived at—

Obviously, they were unsuccessful with their efforts to stop the spread— Christianity today is the largest faith in the world

And so they summoned Peter and John back to the Sanhedrin

COMMANDED THEM NOT TO SPEAK OR TEACH AT ALL IN THE NAME OF JESUS

Even today, as I speak, many people are still trying to suppress the preaching about Jesus— Amy Coney Barrett— the President’s nominee is a devout catholic— the liberals are using her faith against her confirmation as Justice of the SCOTUS

But Peter and John replied in a form of question tossing back to them which is the right thing to do… take a listen!

WHICH IS RIGHT IN GOD’S EYES: TO LISTEN TO YOU, OR TO HIM?

They threw that question right back to the Sanhedrin— you be the judges they said.. but as for them, this is what they said..

WE CANNOT HELP SPEAKING ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD

They’re not willing to be silenced [ACTS 1:8]— as witnesses of Jesus, we must not be willing to be silenced— we must speak about what we have seen and heard about our Lord— [GALATIANS 1:10]

THEY LET THEM GO, THEY COULD NOT DECIDE HOW TO PUNISH THEM

The apostles violated no law— the religious leaders have no legal grounds for disciplining them

It is very hard to oppose the truth— if you’re on the side of truth, no one can silenced you from speaking about what you’ve seen and hear— no one should be able to stop you from testifying about our Lord

TOOK

I WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN THE EYES OF GOD

NO ONE CAN DENY AND STOP THE SPREAD OF THE TRUTH

SING

Elevation Worship— Won’t Stop Now