Persecuted for the sake of Jesus

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 4

13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.

14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.

15 But when they had ordered them to leave the aCouncil, they began to confer with one another,

16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

17 “But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.”

18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;

20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened;

22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

INTRODUCTION:

BACKGROUND:

EXEGESIS:

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 4

13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.

I. UNSHAKEN CONFIDENCE

A. Your impact for the kingdom is not contingent upon your education.

“..they observed the confidence of Peter and John...”

1. PETER AND JOHN WERE CONFIDENT BECAUSE THEY HAD NO FEAR.

Peter and John had no fear because they were walking in faith. Confidence in Christ is the result when you put your trust in Him and depend on Him for the outcome no matter what it is.

Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 37:1-2 “Do not fret because of evildoers, do not be envious toward wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass and fade like the green herb.”

David said in Psalm 23:4 “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.”

2.PETER AND JOHN WERE CONFIDENT BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.

When you spend time with Jesus there is a tendency for things to change.

a. First, you will change! If your heart is receptive to the gospel, and if your mind is seeking the truth; if you are desperately looking for your life to be transformed into something that is good and beautiful, then spend time with Jesus. When you spend time with Jesus He will teach you that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. When you spend time with Jesus He will show you that you are the apple of God’s eye. When you spend time with Jesus He will let you know that you are blessed to be a blessing.

OBSERVATION:

One day there was a Samaritan woman who went to Jacob’s Well to draw water. When she got to the well, Jesus was sitting there and He asked her for some water. The encounter that she had with Jesus changed her life forever. Not only did it change her life; but because she had been with Jesus He influenced her to have an impact on the entire city of Sychar where she lived.

John 4:1-25

Psalm 37:5 “Commit you way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.”

B. Your influence for the kingdom happens because of your intimacy with Jesus.

“..they were amazed and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus”

1. PETER AND JOHN WERE CLOSE TO JESUS

Of the twelve disciples that Jesus chose there were three that He pulled closer to Himself than the others. Peter, James and John were present with Him when Jesus had a transfigurative encounter with Moses and Elijah in the Jezreel Valley atop of Mount Tabor.

Matthew 17:1-8

The night Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, He had taken His disciples with Him, but it was Peter, James and John that He pulled away from the others when He was grieved and asked them to “stay and keep watch with Me.”

Matthew 26:38

2. THE DISCIPLES LEANED ON JESUS

“Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.”

John 13:23-24

Matt 26:7 “a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table.”

Luke 12:37 “Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when He comes; truly I say to you, that He will gird Himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 4

14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.

II. UNANSWERABLE CLAIM

A. The power of God is unmistakable

“and seeing the man who had been healed standing with them...

1. ORDINARY MEN DOING EXTRAORDINARY THINGS

They were able to do miraculous things because of the power of the Holy Spirit that was working in them!

Matthew 10:19-20 (NASB) 19 "But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 20 "For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

2. THE DISCIPLES EXPERIENCED WHAT JESUS PROPHESIED ( Luke 21:12-15)

Luke 21:12-15 (NASB) 12 "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. 13 "It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. 14 "So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; 15 for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 4

15 But when they had ordered them to leave the aCouncil, they began to confer with one another,

III. UNEXPECTED CONFERENCE

A. Persecution comes from a world that does not believe in Jesus.

“…they had ordered them to leave the court...”

1. THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE!

What had happened to the lame man was the prophesies of Jesus Christ the Son of God coming to fruition. Jesus told His disciples,”Truly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12)

Jesus also told His disciples that, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine and you will know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32.)

B. People will confer with each other to conspire against truth.

“…they began to confer with one another.”

1. This group of Jewish leaders amounted to what was the Jewish Supreme Court. Annas was the high priest during the arrest and trial of Jesus and was now involved in a trial of two of Jesus’ disciples. Annas was no longer in power and had been deposed (removed from power) by the Roman government, but the Jewish leaders still recognized his leadership. Caiaphas was the son in law of Annas was appointed high priest and shared the authority of the office with his father in law. Luke recognized Annas so as to be able to point to the person responsible for the death of Jesus Christ, and now the persecution of the saints of God. Nothing is known about John and Alexander as rulers.

It is interesting to note that the Sadducees and the Pharisees, along with the scribes and the elders did not get along. There was an ongoing dispute between these leaders over the Mosaic Law. The Sadducees did not agree with Mosaic laws concerning purification, nor did they agree with the interpretation of Scripture. The Sadducees did not accept any of the rabbinical interpretation, including these laws which were revealed to Moshe. They had their own literal interpretation of Scripture, through which they removed themselves from the traditions of Israel. Yet, when it came time to hold a trial in the conviction of Christ, and the conviction of the disciples there is no record of any discord among the groups. So, in order to keep the disciples quiet, they had to conspire!

CONCLUSION: