Nothing but the Truth

Introduction

Satan does not like it when God’s people are being obedient to their Lord. He does not like it when a church decides that she is going to be obedient to the call of God and begin ministering to the people not within the body of Christ but also those without. He will do whatever it is that he can do to get her discouraged and unfocused. His greatest tools for causing dissension within the body of Christ are the tools of pride and envy.

Once again, within our text, we find Peter and John facing the full Council of the Jewish people. They are once again finding themselves being persecuted for the Gospel sake by the Sanhedrin. How will they respond? Will God intervene? What will be the charges this time?

We will face trials for our faith. We will face persecution for the faith. Often those trials and persecutions come from within the body of Christ rather than outside of the body of Christ. We find those that resist change, attacking and resisting those that want change. We find those that are in power and influence, attacking and resisting those that are trying to lead. We find those that like things they way they are, attacking and resisting those that are believing that God is saying there’s more to do and we do not have time to wait. Often, the attacking and resisting, whether knowingly or unknowingly, is out of envy and pride, which is what we see before us. However, we find that God tells us to remain in Him and be faithful no matter the cost. As Jesus was a trail blazer, the church was then and is now to be a body on the move and have the attitude and heart of trail blazers. May we be faith and begin to blaze a new trail for the Gospel of Jesus Christ right here at Macedonia Baptist Church.

Focus Passage: Acts 5:17-32

Opening Passage:

Acts 5:17–20 Wordstudy KJV

17 Then the [high priest] [rose up,] and all they that were with him, [(which is] the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and [brought them forth,] and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Outline

Attacking the truth (vv.17-18)

Acts 5:17–18 Wordstudy KJV

17 Then the [high priest] [rose up,] and all they that were with him, [(which is] the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

Up this point the Sanhedrin had no way to charge the apostles for spreading the Gospel. It had not been an official breaking of the law until their last trial. In their last trial, Peter and John were told expressly not to preach the name of Jesus any longer (Acts 4:18). With that being said, Peter and John stood on trial for three offences:

The apostles were on trial for

Preaching the name of Jesus

As already stated, Peter and John were told not to preach in Jesus name. We live in a society where we are told not to mention the name of Jesus from all types people and in all types of places. We are told not to mention Jesus at work. We are told not to mention the name of Jesus or pray at school. We are told not to mention Jesus to strangers at the store. We hear all the time, it might offend someone if you tell them about the Gospel or mention the name of Jesus. My response to this is two fold: (1) We need to have the same response that Peter and John had when the Sanhedrin told them to stop preaching the name Jesus. We must obey God rather than man and preach the name Jesus.

Acts 4:19–20 Wordstudy KJV

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. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

and (2) the Gospel is offensive to a lost and dying world. The word of God tells us this much. Paul, quoting the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, writes, just as it is written: Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense (Romans 9:33a NASB 2020). Then again he writes, And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased (Galatians 5:11 KJV). This world does not like the truth and it is the truth of the Gospel that are offended by and will continue to persecute those that declare it.

Refuting the doctrine of the Sadducees

The Sadducees did not believe in miracles, angels, or the resurrection. The apostles were testifying that Jesus had risen from the grave and were not backing down. This went against all that the Sadducees stood for and believed.

The jealousy of the religious leaders

“…And they were filled with jealousy...”

As we look at our text, we see two completely different attitudes and spirits between the Sanhedrin and the apostles.

Opposing Spirits between the apostles and the Sanhedrin

The spirit of the apostles was one of confidence in the Lord

The apostles did not resist arrest or form a protest

The apostles when quietly and firmly trusted in the Lord

The apostles willingly spent time in jail

The spirit of the Sanhedrin was one of rage and jealousy focused on self

“…And they were filled with jealousy...”

God proved His faithfulness (v.19-21)

Acts 5:19–21 Wordstudy KJV

19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and [brought them forth,] and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple [early in the morning,] and taught. But the [high priest] came, and they that were with him, and [called the council together,] and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

God proved His faithfulness to His own

As the apostles are resting in prison, firmly confident in the Lord, God proves his faithfulness to them. We find God declares in his word that we have no reason to be ashamed of Him. As Paul writes, For the Scripture says, Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame (Romans 10:11). This is a truth that the first century church knew all too well. This truth was very apparent to the apostles as they had already seen through previous trials and tribulations for the sake of the Gospel. It would be no different this time. We find that the Scriptures state that God sends an angel to them to free them, But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison. We must remember that God still uses angels today to prove his faithfulness to his people. Angels, we are told through the Scripture, are ministering spirits to the children of God.

Hebrews 1:14 Wordstudy KJV

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, [sent forth] [to minister] for [them who shall be] heirs of salvation?

We can remain firm in our convictions and faithfulness to the Lord, for He is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23 Wordstudy KJV

23 Let us [hold fast] the profession of our faith [without wavering;] (for he is faithful that promised;)

God proved His faithfulness to the Gospel

“Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple area the whole message of this Life.”

The most important message that we as a church have to deliver is the gospel message. It is in the message of cross that we find life and the deliverance from the bondage and penalty of sin.

Romans 1:16 Wordstudy KJV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to [every one] [that believeth;] to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

1 Corinthians 1:18 Wordstudy KJV

18 For the preaching of the cross is to [them that perish] foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Jesus, Himself, said, I am the way the truth, and the life, and no man comes to the Father but by me (John 14:6). Prior this declaration He states, I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10).

The apostles proved their faithfulness to God

“Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple area about daybreak and began to teach.”

Affirming the Truth (vv.29-32)

I an only imagine the sure look of horror and embarrassment on the face of not on the prison guards but the Sanhedrin also, when they realized that the apostles were no longer in cell they left them in (v.22). Not to mention, we see that the jail cell was still tightly shut and locked as reported by the prison guards, We found the prison locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside (v.23). When you add to this the rage of their jealousy and then to find them once again declaring the same message that they had threw them in prison for the night before, The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple area and teaching the people (v.25). I set back in amusement knowing that they had to have been enraged and exasperated at this point wondering, what do we do to stop them. Their solution, bring accusations against them. Threaten them. Try to intimidate them.

The apostles, once again are brought before the Sanhedrin for interrogation. They remind them of what they already have told them, We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us (v.28) As the apostles endure this interrogation once again, Peter, as the leader of the apostles, stands up and affirms the truth.

Peter and the apostles affirmed the truth of obedience

“We must obey God rather than man”

Peter and and apostles affirm what Peter and John and already declared to them once before.

Peter and the apostles affirmed the truth of the Gospel

“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you put to death by hanging Him on a cross. He is one whom God exalted on His right and as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

While affirming the Gospel message, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, they also affirmed the guilt of the Jewish people. The religious leaders could not even mention the name of Jesus. As we previously read, when they were once again interrogating the apostles, in this name…this Man’s blood. They could not mention the name of Jesus as if it was blasphemy to do so. However, they were guilty of blasphemy by denying Jesus and they truly were guilty, by volition, for the crucifixion of Christ.

Matthew 7:25 Wordstudy KJV

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and [beat upon] that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock.

They also affirm another truth by their affirmation of the Gospel. They affirmed that Jesus was a trail blazer. They referred to him as a Prince and a Savior. The word Prince in the Greek, is rendered as a captain, a chief leader. Warren Wiersbe states that this could be rendered as “one who leads the way” an “originator.” While the religious leaders were wanting to remain staunch, stagnant, and not change, the apostles were following the Way Maker. They were following the Pioneer, the Captain of their Salvation (Hebrews 2:10) wherever he was going to lead them. The Christian life was never meant to be one of apathy and complacency. It is meant to be dynamic. It is meant to keep moving forward in progression and maturity in the Lord. We are never to be frozen where we are. Jesus did not come to maintain tradition as the religious leaders saw it, he came as a Captain, a Pioneer, and blazed a new trail. The church would do well to remember the example of the Captain of their salvation and continue be pioneers not settlers.

Peter and the apostles affirmed the truth of their witness

How did the apostles affirm their witness? They affirmed their witness in two ways: (1) They affirmed their witness through their personal testimony, we are witnesses of these things, and (2) the witness of the Holy Spirit, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.

Conclusion

May we remember that God has called us to be bold. He has not only called us to be bold, He has empowered us to be bold.

Acts 1:8 Wordstudy KJV

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the [uttermost part] of the earth.

As Peter and the Apostles called the Sanhedrin to repentance, we are called to repentance today. God does not request our repentance. He demands our repentance.

Acts 17:30 Wordstudy KJV

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men [every where] to repent:

At this time of invitation, I am reminded of John’s words in the book of Revelation...

Revelation 3:20 Wordstudy KJV

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if [any man] hear my voice, and open the door, I will [come in] to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Jesus stands at door, once again knocking, knocking, knocking. Will you open the door to your heart and welcome Him as Lord and Savior of your life before the knocking stops?