Chapter Four: A Higher Calling

Acts 4:1–4 CSB

1 While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them, 2 because they were annoyed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 So they seized them and took them into custody until the next day since it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

5000 people came to know Jesus because of Peter and John’s testimony regarding the life death and resurrection of Jesus.

Recap Chapter Three (Peter and John heal a man born lame by the name of Jesus Christ)

Acts 4:5–7 CSB

5 The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family. 7 After they had Peter and John stand before them, they began to question them: “By what power or in what name have you done this?”

The same people that killed Jesus had just arrested Peter and John. Imagine you are in the same position Peter and John are in. About two months prior, these men put your mentor, your Jesus to death in one of the most violent ways possible, and now you stand before them in a pair of handcuffs.

Previously, the thought of Peter being in this situation frightened him so severely that he was willing to deny Jesus three times.

How would you respond if you were Peter in this situation?

What was the key difference between the Peter of the Gospels and the Peter of Acts?

Rather than denying Jesus again, this time Peter responds with boldness.

How influential is fear in your life?

The apostles were able to stand before these powerful men because of three reasons.

They stood on a solid foundation

The fear of falling. Being afraid of heights and the milk crate challenge

How can you expect to stand firm when your foundation is faulty?

They stood together

The fear of being alone and our commitment to the church

They were prepared

The fear of being unprepared. This moment did not catch them by surprise. Jesus had told them that they would face persecution and stand before powerful people to give an account.

We can be bold in taking a stand for Jesus, because of who Jesus is and what He has done for us!

Acts 4:7–12 CSB

7 After they had Peter and John stand before them, they began to question them: “By what power or in what name have you done this?” 8 Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders: 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing here before you healthy. 11 This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

What do you build your life on?

Matthew 7:24–27 CSB

24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash.”

In His sermon on the mount Jesus presents a parable of two men. The first built his house on a rock and the other man built his house on sand. Both men choose a foundation to build their lives on. The foundation of sand represents the life of the man that rejects Christ whereas the rock represents the life of the man who receives Christ. Both men weather storms. Jesus doesn’t tell us that we will get to skip difficult times, but what He does promise us is that when we center our focus on Him, we can get through anything.

This foundation is what Peter references. Jesus is our Cornerstone. He is the piece of the building that all other parts align with. Even though Jesus was rejected and crucified, He has laid a foundation for eternal life to all who call on the name of the Jesus.

What is the purpose of your life?

A life that puts makes Christ its foundation puts Jesus first in everything and finds joy in any circumstance. (relationships, hobbies, careers, etc)

A life that makes sin its foundation exchanges the assurance that comes with Jesus for broken hearts, broken promises, shame, guilt, and death.

Acts 4:13–22 CSB

13 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. 14 And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 After they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign has been done through them, clear to everyone living in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.” 18 So they called for them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; 20 for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done. 22 For this sign of healing had been performed on a man over forty years old.

Peter and John were clearly uneducated and untrained men. However, it was clear to all who heard them speak that they had walked with Jesus.

When people look at you, is it clear that you have been with Jesus?

Being a follower of Jesus involves spending time with Him, in the study of Scripture and in prayer.

Peter and John remained committed to the mission of God even when their lives hung in the balance. They answered to a higher calling. They understood that their lives were not their own, but they belonged to Jesus.

We can be bold in taking a stand for Jesus, because of who Jesus is and what He has done for us!

Acts 4:23–31 (CSB)

23 After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David your servant:

Why do the Gentiles rage

and the peoples plot futile things?

26 The kings of the earth take their stand

and the rulers assemble together

against the Lord and against his Messiah.

27 “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28 to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 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.

When we stand firm on the truth of Jesus we can be sure that we will face opposition. For all of the church’s history there have been individuals, governments, and even empires that have opposed the mission of God. Today we see people being put to death for what they believe, we see families being destroyed, and countless other terrible things happening to Christians, yet the message of the Gospel continues to spread to all nations. Although the world plots against Jesus, He is greater than any authority that opposes Him.

This is the first opposition the church has faced since Jesus was crucified. It was a crucial moment for the church. Would they crumble at the first sign of danger or would they stand firm? Rather than cowering away the church prayed for boldness and God answered their prayers.

When God calls us to a task He does not send us alone. God always promises to be with us, guiding us and speaking through us.

Acts 4:32–37 CSB

32 Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. 33 With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. 34 For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

The church’s response to this opposition was to come together and to unify.

What makes it difficult today for people to unify when hardships come?

What is it that the church unified around?

Closing Questions

Have you made Jesus the center of your life?

How can you take the next step to grow in your relationship with Him?

How can you encourage others around you?