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APRIL 10, 2022
STUDY NOTES
ACTS 4:23-31
BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES
BOLDNESS TO SPEAK FOR JESUS
INTRODUCTION
Peter and John had been arrested and threatened by the Sanhedrin Court
They were commanded not to teach, preach, or even speak in the name of Jesus
The Sanhedrin released them, expecting them to obey their commands
Peter and John immediately gather with other disciples, they had church
The church is the right place to come to share the problems of your life and pray together
Peter and John shared with the church their recent experience with the Sanhedrin Court
Which immediately united the church in prayer, they made their requests known unto God
And God manifested Himself to them, what a prayer meeting that was
God is still answering their prayer today, the question is, is their prayer being prayed today?
Act 4:23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests
and elders had said unto them.
“They went to their own company,” the brotherhood of believers, the True NT Church
What a wonderful truth, what an encouraging truth, as Christians we are a church family
Peter and John reported the facts, it is common today for people to only share the positive
The psychology of today is the power of positive thinking, scripture does not disagree
But scripture does not hide the fact that Christians will face trials, troubles, and persecution
Peter and John held nothing back, they gave a detailed description of what they had experienced
Peter and John were not trying to trouble the church, they were preparing the church for the future
Today Satan troubles churches with the least little things that do not relate to the ministry of the church
Leading churches to fuss and fight among themselves over that which is insignificant
Distracting them from that which is most important, “boldness to speak for Jesus”
Which is the purpose of Peter and John reporting to the church, look at the results of their sharing truth
Act 4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said,
Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
There are some good guidelines for prayer time in this passage
Come together to share your concerns and needs and then pray together with one accord
“One accord” is a powerful point, it was common among the early believers, each mind set upon Jesus
Their goal was to live for Jesus, serve Jesus, teach, preach Jesus, and tell the lost about Jesus
Prayer was on their mind, Act 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with
the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
They were united in spirit and fellowship, Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they
were all with one accord in one place.
They were filled with joy and gladness, Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the
temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Satan seeks to divide churches, which will result in a powerless ministry, prayer will defeat Satan
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Before they made their requests known they set their mind upon who they were talking too
They acknowledged who He was, they said “Lord,” meaning He is the Omnipotent God
The title “Lord” focused on His sovereignty, majesty, and power, He is the “absolute Master””
They begin their prayer with a time of praise, Lord, thou art God, You are the Creator, “who has made
heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is”
They had faced the power of the Sanhedrin, the most powerful Jewish force in all of Israel
But now they pray to the most powerful source in all-of the universe, no wonder Peter said, Act 4:19
But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto
you more than unto God, judge ye.
As “Lord” and the Creator of all, He is in control of all things, He can and will handle the situation
Further evidence that God is always in control is His foresight which is recorded in scripture
Act 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the
people imagine vain things?
Peter and John were praying to God and putting faith in God’s Word, prayer and the Bible go together
We talk to God through prayer and God talks to us through the Bible
Which is how God accomplishes His will in our life, 1Jn 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in
him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he hear
us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
We are all to be “servants” of God, David is an example of one who was used to serve God
Regardless of our present problems or current circumstances, we can find comfort in God’s Word
Peter quotes from, Psa 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Peter could apply the prophecy of this verse to the “rage” they were facing
He could also make a personal application to “the people imagine vain things”
The Sanhedrin thought they could end God’s plan of salvation through the name of Jesus
Which was “vain,” futile and without success, it did not happen then and will never happen
Satan can and will oppose the preaching of the gospel, but it will continue until Jesus returns
Act 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord,
and against his Christ.
Peter quotes, Psa 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against
the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Psalms 2. predicts the rebellion against, and the rejection of Jesus at His first coming
Prophecy that could be applied to the opposition of the Sanhedrin against Peter and John
Prophecy that applies throughout the present age and the final fulfillment will be when Jesus returns
Satan will continue to gather-together world rulers “against the Lord, and against His Christ”
Just as he did at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus
Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and
Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Peter again identifies the truth of Jesus, He is the “Anointed,” God’s Anointed One, the Messiah
Satan gathers Kings, rulers, Jews, Gentiles, and sinful mankind against God’s “Holy Child Jesus”
Act 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Here we have a Biblical truth that is often difficult for us to understand, God’s foreordained will
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The same truth is why we can say, Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things?
If God be for us,
who can be against us?
The prayer of Peter and John reveals that they believed the truth of Romans 8:31
God has a predetermined plan which is controlled by His hand and His purpose will be fulfilled
The song that says, “He’s Got the Whole Word in His Hands” is true
An example is the crucifixion of Jesus, Act 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and
foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Act 2:24 Whom
God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden
of it.
“Determined before” means “predestined,” that which has been planned-in advance, which God did
God had predetermined or foreordained the cross of Jesus, why?
1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God,
being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
God also predetermined the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, Act 2:24 Whom God hath raised up,
having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
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