Acts of the Apostles

Witness in Jerusalem

In our world today we see a call for unity, While I was preparing this lesson, I came across a quote from C.H. Spurgeon about the source of our unity;

"To remain divided is sinful! Did not our Lord pray, that they may be one, even as we are one"? (John 17:22). A chorus of ecumenical voices keep harping the unity tune. What they are saying is, "Christians of all doctrinal shades and beliefs must come together in one visible organization, regardless... Unite, unite!"  Such teaching is false, reckless and dangerous. Truth alone must determine our alignments. Truth comes before unity.  Unity without truth is hazardous. Our Lord's prayer in John 17 must be read in its full context. Look at verse 17: "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth." Only those sanctified through the Word can be one in Christ. To teach otherwise is to betray the Gospel. 

Charles H. Spurgeon, The Essence of Separation, quoted in The Berean Call, July, 1992, p. 4.

Spurgeon is teaching that the very source of unity is the Truth that we find in God’s word and to unite for any different teaching is dangerous.

The very next verse, verse 18, Jesus states, “As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”

What I love here is that Jesus’ prayer is being fulfilled and we can see this in the Book of Acts. Jesus spent 40 days teaching the apostles (Truth) and then in the theme verse of Acts Jesus sends them out in to the world, and through this we see a unity of the early church in teaching truth and going out sharing the truth.

Who can help us remember the theme verse of Acts?

Acts 1:8 CSB

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 ends of the earth.”

We looking at spending about 8 weeks traveling through the Book of Acts, this means will cover a lot of ground rather quick.

Things to continue to observation in the Book of Acts:

The work of the Holy Spirit (Tongues, Healing, Speaking Boldly, Bringing Judgment)

Traditions and Transition - Gathering together in temple, but we see the beginning of gathering in the homes as part of worship.

Last week Jeff introduced us to Acts and looked at the establishment of the early church with and we left off at the Feast of Pentecost when all the disciples were together and they were indwelt (Indwelling-) with the Holy Spirit, and with this came power which allowed the disciples to speak in different tongues and others to understand in their own language. As Jesus told them they would receive power and we see they did.

Now we see that they will begin their ministry by being witnesses to Jerusalem.

Peter’s Sermon

So as the Holy Spirit indwells the apostles and they speak some witness are amazed and others accuse them of being drunk. So Peter stands up to deliver his first sermon. He begins by showing the crowd that the power they are witnessing is the promised spirit that the Prophet Joel spoke about, and then transitions to speaking about Jesus’ resurrection and how King David who was indeed still dead spoke that God would put one of his descendants upon the throne who would not be abandoned to death, speaking of the resurrection.

Response of the Jews

Acts 2:37–41 CSB

When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.

3,000 people were added to the beginning of the Church that day. Not bad for a first sermon!

The Church begins

What were they then to do?

Acts 2:42 CSB

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

The response of this first Church was to gather in their homes, sharing meals, and giving their things as each had need. This is not a commentary on a preferred government view, but rather how we as followers of Christ are love one another in genuinely meeting the needs of those around us.

Arrest

Peter and John on their way to the temple, Peter performed a miracle healing a lame man in Jesus’s name. While many were amazed by this Peter began to preach about Jesus’ death and resurrection as fulfillment of the prophets, and called them to repent.

The Sadducees with the temple police arrested Peter and John for preaching Jesus’ resurrection. (This is interesting because the sadducees did not believe in resurrection) The next day before the leadership of Israel Peter and John were questioned how they performed the miracle.

They boldly proclaimed the truth that it was in the name of Jesus (whom they rejected and crucified) that they healed the disabled man.

Acts 4:13–14 CSB

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. And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in opposition.

They instead threatened and warned Peter and John against preaching in Jesus’ name.

Prayer for Boldness

Peter and John reported what happened to their people, so they prayed to the Lord for boldness to preach in-spite of the threat that was leveled towards them.

Acts 4:31 CSB

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.

Worshipping in Integrity

Ananias and Sapphira

They Were not giving (a part of their worship) with integrity.

We see that that as the early church were selling their property to give to the apostles to give as people had need.

We come to this couple Ananias and Sapphira who sold a piece of their property, but Ananias planned to keep some of the proceeds and Sapphira knew this.

(Fill in more)

The death of Ananias and Sapphira take us back to the establishment of the worship in the tabernacle:

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 10

Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his own firepan, put fire in it, placed incense on it, and presented unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them to do. 2 Then fire came from the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD has spoken:

I will demonstrate my holiness,

to those who are near me,

and I will reveal my glory,

before all the people.”

And Aaron remained silent.

The very son’s of Aaron worshipped in a manner that was unworthy before the Lord. The unauthorized fire has also been translated as strange fire. Strange is something unusual or in a way that is unsettlingly different.

We can see here that this couple did not live in fear of the Lord recognizing his holiness, and so as they offered the proceeds with hearts in a manner that was not sincere.

1 Corinthians 11:29–30 CSB

For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.

We covered this in a previous lesson, as some people were observing the Lord’s supper in and manner unworthy were judged.

We can see in Acts 5 that this couple did not live in fear of the Lord recognizing his holiness, and so as they offered the proceeds with hearts in a manner that was not sincere and were immediately judged. (While we could take the remainder of the time to discuss this I

Acts 5:11 CSB

Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.

We see that people were still being added to the Church.

Arrested and Beaten

Peter and apostles were arrested again and this time not only were threatened against preaching in Jesus’ name, but they were flogged

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 5

Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name., 42 Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Serving Humbly

We see at the beginning of Chapter 6 there had arisen an issue of functionality of the church, where the needs of the widows were not being met. So they chose 7 men to help functionally meet the needs of the church. This is so that the 12 could devote to prayer and ministry of the word

Acts 6:7 CSB

So the word of God spread, the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly in number, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.

Acts 2-6 Today

As a Church

1. Devoted to the Apostles Teaching

Today the majority of people are literate and are able to read the Bible in their own language

2. Fellowship (gathering)

We see the challenges that are being brought in our culture today, but I assure you that it is a must in our lives as Christians

3. Breaking of Bread (Lord’s Supper, sharing meals together)

We see this as the Lord’s Supper, but the culturally this also means sharing meals together, showing hospitality

4. Prayer

Personally

1. Speak Boldly

Preaching God’s truth no matter

Witnesses where you are (Share the Gospel and your testimony which is your story of how Christ changed your life)

2. Worship with Integrity

A and S were killed and

3. Serve Humbly

We must serve everyone

Breakout

Questions

How does Peter’s answer to ‘How can we be saved’ as seen in Acts 2:38 help us in sharing the Gospel?

How can praying for boldness encourage us to live our walk as followers of Christ everyday?

Pray for one another.