Acts 4:1-12

Imagine, a young child.

He is sneaking a cookie from the cookie jar and as he makes his way past his mother he does so in the most unnatural way imaginable.

He turns backwards and he sneaks by.

He hides the cookie behind his back.

Of course she notices and he beleives she has eyes in the back of her head.

In astounding shock he gives up the cookie, knowing he would never sneak it by his mother.

As we follow the apostles John and Peter in Chapter 4 of Acts we can kinda get an understanding that they had drawn some attention to the local religious leaders.

Just as Jesus had the attention they received was not positive but it was a good sign for the advancement of the gospel.

Acts 4:1–12 KJV 1900

And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

as we take a look at these verses 1 and 2 of chapter 4 says

Acts 4:1–2 KJV 1900

And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

So the Sadducees, along with the pharisees and the priests were very unhappy with the actions that John and Peter had displayed

They had caused an uproar.

The Sadducees had approached them and they were angry, angry because the disciples not only healed a man, causing a huge uproar alone but they also gave credit to Jesus Christ.

Certainly the name sounded familiar to the Sadducees

Jesus Christ?

Jesus of Nazareth?

These are his follower, remember the problems he caused us now they are going to do the same.

Regardless the were very angry and simply put they arrest Peter and John

So after a night in prison the Next day arrives

peter and John are faced with the faces of many leaders in their society

By the likes of rulers, elders and scribes they are brought for questioning.

Peter and John are asked in the end of verse 7 “by what name did you do this?” (talking about making the lame to walk Acts 3:1-10)

Peter for the third time to this point in acts stands before the counsel

In verse 8-12

scripture says

Acts 4:8–12 KJV 1900

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Peter was filled by the Holy Ghost and not only does he tell them what he thinks but he speaks at the spirits command

He in essence tells them this is a pointless question because this man can who could not walk can now walk but if you must know the answer IT IS CHRIST!

Christ whom you found guilty of a crime punishable by death is still living and the very reason for this great work.

Notice Peter also inserts “He is the one way to salvation and forgiveness”

SO I ask you today why do we find Peter and John causing an uproar?

Many people in today’s world would be saying “get your hand out of the cookie jar, just love us by accepting us”

Peter and Johns type of love was a love that was modeled after Christ and it was not a love to back down and let be but rather a love that “I want you, a counsel questioning me for healing a man to know Christ”

Many will say “stay silent”

That is not what we find in scripture

I want to encourage you today to love another so much that you are willing to draw unnecessary and uncomfortable attention to yourself so that maybe just maybe the kingdom will grow.

This being said

Their is still good attention and negative attention

In other words

Are we stirring an uproar just to see where it goes or is it christ inspired.

Notice every time scripture speaks about Peter giving one of these spill sit says “He was filled with the Holy Ghost”

I am encouraging you today not to make a mess of a situation because you have to speak

But to speak boldly and faithfully when the spirit inspires to do so.

The world we face has many issues and we have been silent a little to long.

We have done what we found as best instead of waiting on God to lead

Example time

We have all done it. (Throwing a tantrum over something that doesn’t affect the kingdom is for lack of a better term ignorance.)

Such situation draws away from our witness and from the advancement of the kingdom

However, the same can eb said about remaining silent to long.

In the scriptural issues of this world we need to be bold and vocal, but do so lovingly and seeking the kingdom first.

How can we do such a thing?

We find Peter being brutally blunt but in loving way as he was encouraging them to acknowledge their wrongdoing and seek forgiveness.

Today in a world full of problems I will nto encourage you to be accepting but I will encourage you to be vocal when the spirit leads

If you say today “the spirit hasn’t led me to be vocal on this issues that plague this world”

I am afraid that friends, you may be lying to yourself.

It is never OK to be silent when others are going to hell because of our laziness and silence.

People in this very community, going to hell and we stand by content.

So I encourage you today.

Don’t speak just to speak, but also don’t be silent.

Make a bold and vocal stance for the kingdom of God.

Lovingly lead this community to Christ.

Be vocal about the wrongs you see. Even the wrongs you see in this little part of the world.

I simple encourage you to point back to Christ.

In conclusion today I want to tell you

If you would simply stand in the line and proclaim what God was commanding of us we would see the same growth and experiences in the church today that was found here in acts.

In verse 4 they said that 5,000 had been added to the kingdom.

Scripture seems to make us believe that so happened in a short time.

I truly believe that we could experience the same growth today

However, we must be lovingly bold for the gospel and willing to follow the Holy Ghost.