Acts 4 - When We Are With Jesus, We Can Do The Things He Did!
Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
4 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
The religious leaders thought they had gotten rid of the problem when they crucified Jesus. But, little did they know they could not snuff out the movement Jesus started. Peter and John's preaching, and the miracles they did, brought five thousand people to faith in Jesus. Note they taught people about how Jesus fulfilled the old covenant under Abraham and Moses and proved He was the Messiah by his resurrection. The leaders realized that things were out of their control, so they tried to quell movement of the Holy Spirit by putting Peter and John in jail.
In the Western world, Christians rarely face persecution. Satan instead has attacked us with worldliness, selfish pride, a need for acceptance, and status. The martyr can impress unbelievers with his courage and faith; the self-centered, compromising Christian is despised by the world. - Guzik
5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
Much like Jesus, Peter and John were brought before all the leaders of the Jews in Jerusalem. Because they were men addicted to power and authority, they asked Peter and John, "By what power or what name did you do this?" I wrote yesterday the importance of someone's name in Jesus' culture and how authority and power were derived from one's name and position which came with that name.
This was a scene of power and intimidation. This same group of leaders had recently condemned Jesus to death, and they wanted them to know that they had the power to do the same thing to Peter and John. - Guzik
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ (Psalm 118:22) 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Once again we see it was the power of the Holy Spirit, which gave the apostles their power. Peter spoke in that power, which gave his words authority, as if they were straight from the mouth of God. Peter was happy to respond to them where the power came to heal the lame man at the temple. It was by the name of Jesus, and by his authority that this man's body was fully restored. They had used their power to crucify Jesus, by God's greater power raised from him the dead.
The psalms had prophesied that the man the leaders would reject was the cornerstone of the building, which was Jesus. The Jews would experience the collapse of the temple in AD 70. It was a symbol of what they had put their hopes in. The New Testament would teach of a new temple, the body of Christ.
Peter makes it clear that as the cornerstone of the house of God, there is no other name by which people can be saved than Jesus. Like John 14:6, when Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father except by me", this is a very exclusive statement. Sound find it offensive.
We hear a lot about inclusion in our society today, but Jesus is the most inclusive person the world ever knew. He showed it by the type of people he loved and healed. He showed it by the fact He died for all mankind. First, for the Jews AND for the Gentiles. All are invited by Jesus to come to find abundant life and forgiveness of sin in His name and by His work on the cross.
If salvation could come from somewhere or someone else than why did Jesus have to die for us. See Galatians 2:20-21
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
What made this scene all the more astounding to the Jewish leaders was that they were ordinary, unschooled men. Most of them were fishermen. But then Luke says something very important. "They took note that these man had been with Jesus!"
When we are with Jesus, we can do the same things the apostles did. Most of us are pretty ordinary men and women, but by being with Jesus we can do extraordinary things. This makes it clear it does not come from us and points to Jesus instead. The leaders did not know what to do because the effect these men had was undeniable. Some can argue with your theology, but they can't argue with the direct evidence of God's power demonstrated through your life. The only thing the leaders could do was to try and use their power to try and intimidate them into being afraid to speak in Jesus' name. Notice again the focus on "this name"
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
Apparently their threats did not intimidate Peter and John. Remember Peter had just folded under pressure when he denied Jesus three times to save his skin. This is a different Peter. He was sent by Jesus to feed His sheep and that was exactly what Peter was doing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter and John did not back down. They simply said they were reporting to a higher authority. They were more interested in obeying God than men.
After their threats and orders did nothing, the leaders didn't know what to do next, so they released them with more threats. The reason being they could not hide the miracle they had just done in everyone's presence. It was evidence that could not be denied.
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain. 26 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. - Anointed One also means Christ or Messiah, quoted from Psalm 2:1,2
Upon their release they were even more fired up. Though taking a stand for God is hard to do, it is exhilarating to know you are obeying the God of the universe. This was a tremendous boost to the community as well. It caused them to burst out in prayer and praise. When we see the awesome things God is doing it causes us to lift our voices to praise our Great God, the maker of heaven and earth.
When you step out in faith for Jesus you realize what Paul said in Romans, "If God is for us, who can be against us!" Romans 8:31
27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
The only reason Herod and Pilate could do what they did to Jesus was because God's Sovereign Will allowed it to happen. He allowed it to happen His rescue plan of all humankind. Little did Herod and Pilate know they were playing right into God's hands. Peter and John were still not afraid or intimidated, they actually asked for more power to do more signs and wonders in the mighty name of Jesus.
These were powerful and bold prayers. God heard them and His power than emanated out so much it shook the place where they were meeting. Now that's what a prayer meeting should look like! Oh, that our prayers would be as fervent and bold as the first apostles. Not only was the place shaken but the same Holy Spirit who came at Pentecost filled all the people. The coming of the Holy Spirit was not one and done, it was resurrection power of Jesus filling the believers so they could carry on the mission Jesus gave them.
Do you think we need the Holy Spirit to shake our churches and fill all of us with the Holy Spirit? Note it was not just some of the believers but all of them! When the Holy Spirit comes he fills everyone!
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Most churches have time during the year, which they call Stewardship Time. It is usually a time that members of a church think about what they would like to give to the church to fund next year's budget. Pastors teach on why as believers we are called to be radically generous. We teach about the tithe as a standard of giving, though some can do more and some less.
The principle is generosity and not giving out of obligation. We say things like, "We are managers and stewards of what God has entrusted to us and one day we will be accountable with what we have been given." See The Parable of the Talents. There is nothing wrong with any of these concepts and teaching. They are all scriptural, but when we look at the above verses, we see what can only be called "Radical Generosity".
No one claimed any possession of their own. Now that is counter-cultural and foreign to us. There were no needy people among them because people even sold property if it meant providing for another brother or sister in Christ. And how did God respond?
With great power the apostles testified and great power was among them. Their radical generosity released God's power. And it also created a unity where all the believers were of one heart and mind!
Where are you called to be radically generous in your life to help someone in need? It may not mean selling your house, but maybe it might mean selling a stock or bond? Or, taking some money out of your retirement fund? When the early church let go of their possessions God took hold of them and worked mightily. We can never outgive God!
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