Acts 4:1-31
Acts 4:1-31
1-3 JAILED FOR DOING GOOD
• Priests – On duty doing daily sacrifices
• Captain of the Temple – Chief of Temple Police
• Sadducees – Small, but extremely powerful political party defending the status quo
The political pressure to defend the status quo was amazing. The sect of Christ-followers were rapidly growing and could endanger what those in power had worked so hard to achieve.
In addition, especially for the Sadducees, the spiritual pressure to fight against the Christ-followers was high because the Sadducees taught that there was no life after death – that resurrection was a myth. Jesus took them to task for this in Mark 12:18-27
Placed in jail for overnight
4 EVANGELISTIC RESULTS OF HEALING MIRACLE
The ultimate objective of healing, deliverance, preaching and suffering persecution continues to be that of making disciples of all nations.
Luke shows this report to encourage us to continue on in the work of Christ even when doing so results in suffering and persecution.
Galatians 6:9
2 Thessalonians 3:13
On the day of Pentecost some 3000 men came to Christ (Acts 2:41). Note, the Greek word for men in this case is gender specific meaning MEN as in male. This raises several issues:
1. Men were the head of household, and determined the direction a family took. Therefore, if the man came to Christ, his whole family would. Conservatively speaking, if a man came to Christ, he’d bring his wife and at least one child with him. Meaning that when Luke speaks of 3000 men, the total number of converts on the day of Pentecost could easily have been 9000!
2. The city of Jerusalem was crowded with tens of thousands of pilgrims during the Festivals season when Pentecost occurred. Many of those who came to Christ that day soon returned to their homes, spreading the Gospel to other parts of Israel and the Roman Empire.
3. How many Christians remained in Jerusalem? Luke tells us that after the healing of the crippled beggar in 4:4, the number was now 5000 men. Using the same conservative numbers as above, this could mean that some 15,000 people in Jerusalem were now followers of Jesus.
Clearly this represents a serious disturbance in the status quo.
5-6 STATUS QUO MEETS THE NEW MAN
Sanhedrin (v. 15) was the Jewish Senate and Supreme Court all balled up into one body of 70 members. Comprised of rulers, elders, scribes and High Priest.
It took an extremely serious situation to warrant such a high level meeting. What was it about the healing of a lowly beggar that would cause such panic amongst the powers that be?
7 POWER & AUTHORITY
The Sanhedrin is seeking one agenda: to protect their own power and authority.
Notice that they don’t question the validity of the miracle.
Luke 21:12-13
8-11 THE NEW MAN RESPONDS
The spiritual condition: “filled w/ the Holy Spirit” – Luke 11:13
The explanation:
‘The man crucified…’
‘resurrected…’
‘by God’s power and authority’
is how the beggar was healed.
Turning the tables: From accused to accuser… ‘who YOU crucified…’
‘YOU sinned against God…
God demonstrated His authenticity by raising Him…
Fulfillment of prophecy (11) – Psalms 118:22
12 THE BOTTOM LINE
Christ is the POWER for salvation
Christ is the AUTHORITY for salvation
13-15 THE SHOCKED SILENCE OF THE SANHEDRIN
Courage
Unschooled, ordinary men
Astonished
Aware of their connection to Jesus – John 15:5
Evidence was undeniable
Nothing to say
They then did exactly what ‘religious’ people always do – they called a meeting
16-17 HARD HEARTS MISS THE TRUTH
What are WE going to do with these men?
The miracle is undeniable – so how do we stop this?
- Misplaced authority
- Political vs. spiritual minds – Romans 8:6
18-22 THE SHOWDOWN AT SANHEDRIN CORRAL
70 vs. 2 – who wins?
Order: Do not speak in Jesus’ name!
This same assault continues to this day. Why?
Response:
Obey – man or God?
We can’t help speaking what we’ve…
Seen – experienced!
Heard – understood!
70 defeated old men: “let them go, we can’t find a way to punish them!”
Note: This is the same group who found a way to kill Jesus without cause! Could this be an example of the ‘greater things’ of John 14:12?
23-30 THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Boldness
Power
31 THE ANSWER OF GOD
Power
Boldness
1-3 JAILED FOR DOING GOOD
• Priests – On duty doing daily sacrifices
• Captain of the Temple – Chief of Temple Police
• Sadducees – Small, but extremely powerful political party defending the status quo
The political pressure to defend the status quo was amazing. The sect of Christ-followers were rapidly growing and could endanger what those in power had worked so hard to achieve.
In addition, especially for the Sadducees, the spiritual pressure to fight against the Christ-followers was high because the Sadducees taught that there was no life after death – that resurrection was a myth. Jesus took them to task for this in Mark 12:18-27
Placed in jail for overnight
4 EVANGELISTIC RESULTS OF HEALING MIRACLE
The ultimate objective of healing, deliverance, preaching and suffering persecution continues to be that of making disciples of all nations.
Luke shows this report to encourage us to continue on in the work of Christ even when doing so results in suffering and persecution.
Galatians 6:9
2 Thessalonians 3:13
On the day of Pentecost some 3000 men came to Christ (Acts 2:41). Note, the Greek word for men in this case is gender specific meaning MEN as in male. This raises several issues:
1. Men were the head of household, and determined the direction a family took. Therefore, if the man came to Christ, his whole family would. Conservatively speaking, if a man came to Christ, he’d bring his wife and at least one child with him. Meaning that when Luke speaks of 3000 men, the total number of converts on the day of Pentecost could easily have been 9000!
2. The city of Jerusalem was crowded with tens of thousands of pilgrims during the Festivals season when Pentecost occurred. Many of those who came to Christ that day soon returned to their homes, spreading the Gospel to other parts of Israel and the Roman Empire.
3. How many Christians remained in Jerusalem? Luke tells us that after the healing of the crippled beggar in 4:4, the number was now 5000 men. Using the same conservative numbers as above, this could mean that some 15,000 people in Jerusalem were now followers of Jesus.
Clearly this represents a serious disturbance in the status quo.
5-6 STATUS QUO MEETS THE NEW MAN
Sanhedrin (v. 15) was the Jewish Senate and Supreme Court all balled up into one body of 70 members. Comprised of rulers, elders, scribes and High Priest.
It took an extremely serious situation to warrant such a high level meeting. What was it about the healing of a lowly beggar that would cause such panic amongst the powers that be?
7 POWER & AUTHORITY
The Sanhedrin is seeking one agenda: to protect their own power and authority.
Notice that they don’t question the validity of the miracle.
Luke 21:12-13
8-11 THE NEW MAN RESPONDS
The spiritual condition: “filled w/ the Holy Spirit” – Luke 11:13
The explanation:
‘The man crucified…’
‘resurrected…’
‘by God’s power and authority’
is how the beggar was healed.
Turning the tables: From accused to accuser… ‘who YOU crucified…’
‘YOU sinned against God…
God demonstrated His authenticity by raising Him…
Fulfillment of prophecy (11) – Psalms 118:22
12 THE BOTTOM LINE
Christ is the POWER for salvation
Christ is the AUTHORITY for salvation
13-15 THE SHOCKED SILENCE OF THE SANHEDRIN
Courage
Unschooled, ordinary men
Astonished
Aware of their connection to Jesus – John 15:5
Evidence was undeniable
Nothing to say
They then did exactly what ‘religious’ people always do – they called a meeting
16-17 HARD HEARTS MISS THE TRUTH
What are WE going to do with these men?
The miracle is undeniable – so how do we stop this?
- Misplaced authority
- Political vs. spiritual minds – Romans 8:6
18-22 THE SHOWDOWN AT SANHEDRIN CORRAL
70 vs. 2 – who wins?
Order: Do not speak in Jesus’ name!
This same assault continues to this day. Why?
Response:
Obey – man or God?
We can’t help speaking what we’ve…
Seen – experienced!
Heard – understood!
70 defeated old men: “let them go, we can’t find a way to punish them!”
Note: This is the same group who found a way to kill Jesus without cause! Could this be an example of the ‘greater things’ of John 14:12?
23-30 THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Boldness
Power
31 THE ANSWER OF GOD
Power
Boldness
posted by Doug Love at 8:53 AM
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