8/3/08
“Telling the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth, as God has helped them”
Acts_4_5-37
I. Review
A. As we left off in our last study Peter and John had been arrested for preaching resurrection in the name of Jesus, after Peter had used the healing of a lame man as an opportunity to preach the gospel to the crowd gathered in the temple complex.
1. They were arrested in the afternoon and so they were held in custody overnight, which is where our text resumes.
II. Peter and John before the Sanhedrin.
Acts 4:5-12 (NKJV)
5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes,
6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:
9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,
10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
A. What a contrast we see here, apparently uneducated fisherman, standing in the midst of the Jewish Sanhedrin, some of the most educated men in history!
1. Peter again filled by the Holy Spirit takes the lead and he begins to preach to these educated leaders.
This seems a real life picture of what the Apostles Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
1 Corinthians 1:26-27 (NKJV)
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
a. Education - formal/informal need not fear those who are more educated nor should we assume they are correct in their assumptions. (we do not need to cower, we have defendable and reasonable truth)
(1) Learn to look at and rely on what God has said, learn to think for yourselves and not rely on what man says no matter how many letters he or she may have behind their name!
2. The religious leaders asked by what power or authority they had taught in and Peter very Boldly proclaims the name and person of Jesus as their source and authority.
a. If we are being judged for this good deed then let it be known it was in the name and authority of Jesus.
(1) This is the same court that had recently condemned Jesus to death, and the tone of Peter's response shows that he is in no way intimidated by these men.
b. And Peter lays out the gospel and the charges against them with incredible boldness. (It was a God given boldness, the empowering of God’s Spirit)
(Again note that rejection is the issue)
(1) FF Bruce the NT Scholar points out-
“It is particularly striking that neither on this nor on any subsequent occasion . . . did the Sanhedrin take any serious action to disprove the apostles’ central affirmation - the resurrection of Jesus. Had it seemed possible to refute them on this point, how readily would the Sanhedrin seized the opportunity! Had they succeeded, how quickly and completely the new movement would have collapsed!” (Bruce)
(2) Rejection of Jesus what is it based on?
(a) A close examination of the life of Jesus, shows that the only things for which He could be rejected was either because of His God (desire for another god)… or because His standard of right and wrong exceeds a personal willingness of conformity (my way or God's way).
1re•ject \ri-'jekt\ vt
[ME, fr. L rejectus, pp. of reicere, fr. re- + jacere to throw — more at jet] 15c
1 a : to refuse to accept, consider, submit to, take for some purpose, or use
b : to refuse to hear, receive, or admit : rebuff, repel
c : to refuse as lover or spouse
2 obs : to cast off
3 : throw back, repulse
4 : to spew out
5 : to subject to immunological rejection syn see decline — re•ject•er or re•jec•tor \-'jek-t?r\ n — re•ject•ing•ly \-ti?-le\ adv — re•jec•tive \-'jek-tiv\ adj
———————
(b) Rejection of Jesus is a willful rejection of the only means of salvation from sin available to man.
i) How foolish to reject Christ, be warned...
ii) Ask yourself what is my response to Jesus Christ honestly!
(3) How we need to learn to speak the truth in love (as did Peter) - not put people down!
(4) We also see the exclusivity of the gospel, which we need to tell people. Salvation is only found in Jesus!!! (argue with God if you don’t like this…)
III. The response of the Sanhedrin.
Acts 4:13-22 (NKJV)
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”
18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.
22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
A. Note vv-13 it is one of the greatest verses in all of scripture
1. The most important thing we can do in this life is spend time with Jesus.
a. That will impact others more than any other single thing we can do, more than all other activity put together.
(1) It was obvious to others that Peter and John had hung out with and learned from Jesus, after all Jesus had proved Himself a more than able opponent to their self-approbation (self-approval) and self-justification.
b. How do we spend time with Jesus today???
B. Note the stubbornness of the human heart, in these men, a notable miracle, and so many other evidences, but still they will not yield or embrace the truth.
1. This miracle is examined by these men who are doubters, who would like nothing better than to disprove it, but they can't!
2. Instead they do the only thing they can think of; they forbid them to preach in the name of Jesus anymore.
a. But Peter is so bold in the Spirit he takes them to task for this almost declaring you can't shut us up because we need to speak God's truth, the things to which we were eye witnesses.
(1) What we have seen and heard - experienced and the word of God...
b. We need to do what is right in God's eyes not mans.
C. Threatened and released.
1. Often the enemy of our soul keeps us isolated and ineffective by threat, fear, and discouragement, they are often the extent of the weapons he can use against us...
2. Guzik states the following reasons (what had been done) that they glorified for
i. Two thousand more people come to believe on Jesus.
ii. Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit again.
iii. Peter gets to preach Jesus to the leaders of the Jews.
iv. Hostile examiners confirm a miraculous healing.
v. The enemies of Jesus are confused.
vi. Peter and John are bolder for Jesus than ever before.
vii. God is glorified.
IV. Testimony and Prayer
Acts 4:23-31 (NKJV)
23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together
28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.
29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
A. They took a report or testimony back to the brethren:
1. Taking the report back or giving testimony about what God has done builds others up and encourages them to trust God also. (Learn to encourage others it is a mark of love)
B. They recognized that the persecution was predicted and quote from Ps.-2 (Ps.-2 authorship is attributed to David).
1. And they prayed in light of the scriptures. (What do the scripture say, what do they promise, on what conditions if any?)
C. And they prayed for continued boldness.
1. How wonderful as they prayed the Holy Spirit shook the place and came on them afresh to give them boldness in answer to their prayer.
a. The need for corporate prayer.
b. Also we see that the filling of the Holy Spirit is not a one time occurrence.
V. And we see the unity and common affection, the lack of materialism and the genuine concern they had for each other at this point in time, but which will soon be interrupted.
Acts 4:32-37 (NKJV)
32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.
36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
A. They had their priorities right, God was their main priority, then people, and material possessions were low on their list.
1. This unity and care they had for each other, this lack of concern for material goods, and trust they had for God to supply their needs will quickly come under attack.
a. The church has grown through external trial, with the arrest of Peter and John, but internal tests are also coming.
B. God grant to us the ability to boldly proclaim the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth concerning Him to those who are around us, or in our sphere of influence.
1. And if in any way you have been rejecting Jesus, or His word, may He grant you strength to yield your hearts to Him and do what is right by His standard not yours.
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