Mar 02, 2014
Acts 4:1-12


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http://zachadams.org/acts/acts4_1-12.mp3

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Outline:


Set the Scene.... Recap Acts 3.



Acts 4:1-2, “Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” 



“Now as they spoke” or literally “as Peter and John were speaking to the people” a fairly large group of men quickly and suddenly “came upon them.”


Luke says this group included:


“The priests” - Those charged with the care of the Temple.


“The captain of the Temple” - The guard in charge of keeping peace in the Temple precincts. More in likely he also came with a number of other Temple guards.


“And the Sadducees” -  At the time the Sadducees were the principle ruling party in Israel. They were politically powerful, wealthy, and had strong alliances with Rome. Unlike the Pharisees (who were the political and religious fundamentalists), the Sadducees were considered the liberal wing of Judaism. Their interpretation of Scripture was loose and progressive. Not to mention, they were also notoriously materialistic and hedonistic in their approach to life. The Sadducees were rationalists.... especially when it came to religion! The Sadducees didn’t believe in the supernatural (angles, spirits, miraculous) and therefore rejected the notion of the resurrection. 


Which might explain why they were “greatly disturbed” (troubled, displeased, offended, worked up)! Not only did they find Peter and John “teaching the people the resurrection of the dead,” but they also “preached in Jesus.”


Don’t forget just two months earlier the religious leaders attempted to silence Jesus by having Him crucified because he was proving to be a direct threat to their power! Then following the rumors of His resurrection this same group of men went to great lengths to bury the story by paying off the Roman guards. (Matthew 28:11-15)


The message they heard Peter and John preaching to such a large multitude “greatly disturbed” them because it (A) Contradicted their own theology, and (B) Threatened to undo the narrative they had spent good money propagating.



Observation: The preaching of God’s Word will offend those who resist it! 


I believe the most compelling signifier that differentiates between the rejection of truth verses the resisting of truth is when a person finds themselves “offended” by what’s being said. (Note: I am referencing offense over truth as opposed to being offended by stupid things that might be said for the sake of a rise.)


You see to reject a truth is to choose to cast it aside because you disagree with the conclusion, but when a person is offended by a truth it is often a clear indicator that  person is resisting some internal effect they didn’t like.


I’ll give you an example: Comedian Louis C.K. made this statement, “I don’t stop eating when I’m full. The meal isn’t over when I’m full. It’s over when I hate myself.” Now if you eat healthy you laugh at this statement because the truth buried within doesn’t apply to you; however, if you find yourself offended by his statement it’s probably an indicator you’re a fat slob who over indulges when it comes to food!


Think about it this way.... Isn’t it typically true that skinny people aren’t the ones offended by fat jokes and tall people aren’t often offended by short jokes?


Here’s my point.... I am convinced that this reaction of “offense” at the truth of Scripture is often evidence that the truth being communicated has struck a deep cord within the person they are often unwilling to address. The Word is a “double-edged sword!”


Chris Rock said it well, “You can only offend me if you mean something to me.”



Question: Why do we see the religious establishment “greatly disturbed?” 


Answer: They knew what Peter and John were preaching was the truth and they were unwilling to accept it so they actively resisted it! 


By the way it should also be pointed out what typically happens when a person is deeply offended by the truth.... they typically attack the truth speaker!



Acts 4:3, “So they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.” 



The scene Luke sets for us is one of a swift and violent action.... the Temple guard acting in the authority of the priests and Sadducees rushed into Solomon’s portico - through the crowd of onlookers - seized Peter and John - and lead them off as prisoners. 


“They laid” is the Greek word “epiballô” meaning “to throw one’s self upon, to lay upon, to rush in.” The word can be used to describe “waves crashing into a ship.”


“They laid hands on them....” According to verse 14 we will see “them” to include not only Peter and John, but also the man who had been healed. I like this because it reveals this man had “counted the costs” and still choose “to follow Jesus” no matter where that might have led. 


Understand: Though Jesus might give you legs to walk and provide the strength to stand, doesn’t mean He won’t led you into hostile courts! Psalm 23:4, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”


Peter and John entered the Temple at the “ninth hour of prayer” or 3:00 PM. Since it was now “already evening” they would spend the night “in custody until” they could appear before the courts “the next day.” Imagine the kind of intimidating experience this would have been for both Peter and John?



Acts 4:4, “However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”



Though the political and religious establishment resisted the message of Jesus Christ resurrected, Luke tells us that, in response to the sermon Peter preached, “many” or literally a large number “of those who heard the word believed.” The miracle of the healing of the lame man might have sparked an interest, but Luke is  clear it was the preaching of God’s Word that produced saving faith! As we’ve seen.... “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”


In order to establish a historical account of the rapid spread of Christianity (and at this point we’re approximately 2 months removed from the ascension of Jesus), Luke tells Theophilus “the number of men who believed came to be about five thousand.” Though some have claimed this to be a reference to the overarching totals of the church (2000 + 3000 from Pentecost), the language indicates instead an additional 5000 men were added to the church in response to this sermon. This means the church has now grown to a total of 8000 men (not including women and children).



Acts 4:5-7, “And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 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. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”



In addition to the presence of “the priests” and “the Sadducees,” Luke documents the full rolls of those who were present. More in likely this was the Jewish ruling body known as the Sanhedrin which included 70 religious and political leaders plus the High Priest. 


“The rulers and elders” were the heads of the influential families of Israel.


“The scribes” were the impartial interpreters of the Law.


Though Luke will sum up the rest “as many as were of the family of the high priest” he specifically lists for the record a few men of public notoriety.


“Annas the high priest” - According to Josephus, Annas has been the high priest from 6-15 AD until the Romans removed him from office. Though stripped of his official capacity, he was still the most powerful man in Israel.


“Caiaphas” was Annas’ son-in-law and had been given the official title of high priest to satisfy Rome, but was nothing more than a figure head. 


“John” was Annas’ son who would succeed Caiaphas as high priest in 37 AD.


“Alexander” - If he’s an individual we know nothing more than he’s of the family of Annas. Some have speculated that the name could instead be a title for the “Chief of the Jews at Alexandria.”


The scene was undoubtedly intimidating. Keep in mind this been the same group of people who had demonstrated their unbridled power and ruthlessness in the way they illegally tried and executed Jesus. Peter and John are expecting the same fate!


Their Question: “By what power or by what name have you done this?”


According to Deuteronomy 13 God had been clear that it was the job of the religious establishment to vet both miracles done in the presence of the people and the miracle worker! Since miracles alone are not evidence of a person being a true prophet of God, their question concerning the healing of this man is appropriate!


Peter’s answer will be presented in a third sermon....



Acts 4:8, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them....” 



In Acts 2, we saw how Peter is initially “filled with the Holy Spirit!” Not only did this filling produce worship through the “Gift of Tongues,” but it also enabled Peter to boldly preach an incredible sermon to those who had gathered on the day of Pentecost. We can also conclude this initial filling further guided Peter to the lame man, prompted him to command the man to “rise up and walk,” and provided the “Gift of Faith” for Peter to reach down and forcibly help the man stand!


Now faced with the possibility of death as he’s come face to face with the same crew that had Jesus crucified, Luke’s choice of Greek grammar indicates that in this moment Peter received a new and fresh filling of “the Holy Spirit!”


Peter is “filled with the Holy Spirit” or literally “to be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Luke presents “filled” in the present, active tense indicating this third interaction with the Holy Spirit was not a one time occasion, but something continuously available! And this only makes sense when we view the Holy Spirit not as a power or some kind of divine source we tap into, but rather as a person we interact with! 


In order to explain how this works, let me use my relationship with my wife as an example, because in many ways she has a similar threefold ministry in my life.... 


Note: All three interactions are continual because they are all personal! 


“Spirit-Filled” is not a titled describing the relationship I have with the Holy Spirit, but an interaction that manifests in my life from the relationship I have with the Holy Spirit!


When D.L. Moody was asked why he said he needed to be filled continually with the Holy Spirit, he replied, “Because I leak!” He’s saying that though the Spirit is with me and I am one with the Spirit of God, there are times when I need to draw upon a greater manifestation of this relationship for strength, power, even inspiration!



Acts 4:8-10, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 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. 



Let me paraphrase Peter’s answer.... You want to know “by what power or by what name” this man has been healed? This man “has been made well.... by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth!” Yes, this Jesus “whom you crucified” and rejected God accepted by “raising Him from the dead.” And because Jesus is still alive and actively at work in the lives of men “this man stands here before you whole.”


Let’s be honest this was much of a seeker service.... Peter was not operating as a “Dealer” hoping to make everyone feel good at the “Low Rise Church!” Peter was not a “Mister” enabling the attendees of the “Brothel Church” to avoid personal responsibility. Nor was he a “Ringmaster” seeking to appeal to “Everyone.” Rather, Peter is boldly speaking truth to an audience he knows he’s already offended once!



Observation: There is an interesting power found in the name of Jesus! 


Have you notice that only the name of Jesus is taken in vain? The simple explanation is that, unlike Jesus, the names Buddha, Mohammed, and Confucius lack power and authority because these men are still dead!



Acts 4:11, “This (speaking of Jesus) is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 



In order to Scripturally validate his position before a group of theologians Peter quotes from a famous Messianic passage they would have all been familiar with.... Psalms 118:22-23, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”


Peter is telling them that God knew all along that they “you builders” would reject the most important “stone” of all and that it would be this “stone” God would use to be “the chief cornerstone.”



Acts 4:12, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”



“Nor is there salvation in any other....”


“Salvation” is the Greek word “sôtêria” meaning “deliverance.” In a Biblical sense the word specifically speaks of “deliverance from the consequences of sin - death.” 


“In any other” speaks contextually of salvation being found in any other stone but the stone they had rejected -  the chief cornerstone - that being Jesus Christ of Nazareth!


“There is no other name.... by which we must be saved.”


“No other name” is in the emphatic tense meaning “in His name alone.” 


Peter is telling these religious leaders that they not only rejected their Savior, but unless they were willing to change their position on Jesus they could never be saved!



We live in a society that refuses to make absolute judgments when it comes to a person’s religious beliefs propping up instead the sincerity of the believer as being the only validating prerequisite. Because “truth by definition excludes,” honest debate based upon moral truth has been supplanted by the universal acceptance of an individual’s perspective. 


Therefore, it is simply a reality that our culture takes grave offense to the perceived narrowness and exclusivity of the statement that salvation can ONLY be found in Jesus!


Note: Believing that salvation can be found in Jesus is not what people find deeply offensive. What’s abrasive is the position that asserts Jesus as being the only way to heaven with every other religious system or worldview destining their followers to hell! 


And yet, in making the accusation that Christians are somehow narrow in our beliefs and intolerant of others, our culture tragically overlooks a few obvious points....

1. Christians aren’t making the claim of exclusivity! 


You see the reality is that Peter isn’t introducing some new revolutionary concept to Scripture! It was instead Jesus who first said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” 


Ironically, through Christians seem to take heat on this issue, the reality is that every religion is exclusive. Ravi Zacharias wrote, “All religions are not the same. All religions do not point to God. All religions do not say that all religions are the same. At the heart of every religion is an uncompromising commitment to a particular way of defining who God is or is not and accordingly, of defining life’s purpose.... Every religion at its core is exclusive.”

2. Tolerance doesn’t equate to the acceptance of every position as being right!


I’m glad we live in a tolerant world, because it’s tolerance that allows every person the freedom to believe whatever they want without fear of persecution. And to make this even better.... I believe this is most consistent with a Christian worldview! 


If you want to see what intolerance really looks like try being a Christian in a Muslim controlled country like Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, etc.


In reading through Peter’s dialogue with these religious leaders how can you honestly say Peter is being intolerant? It’s been said, “We have a right to believe whatever we want, but not everything we believe is right.” 


The core problem with our society is that tolerance is no longer seen as simply providing a person the freedom to believe whatever they want. Today, tolerance is viewed as the acceptance of every position as being equal. 


Once again I reference Ravi Zacharias who recently discussed a shift in our culture that takes tolerance even beyond this position.... “These days its not just that the line between right and wrong has been made unclear, today Christians are being asked by our culture to erase the lines and move the fences, and if that were not enough, we are being asked to join in the celebration cry by those who have thrown off the restraints religion had imposed upon them. It is not just that they ask we accept a behavior, but they now demand we celebrate it too.”

3. It seems arrogant to refer to only one way for salvation as being narrow! 


If you apply the same reaction to another topic aside from sin and hell it becomes clear how intellectually arrogant and even ungrateful this approach is.... Were people really offended that scientists only found one vaccine to cure polio? Were people really bent out of shape when we found that one cure for malaria, measles, tetanus, typhoid or yellow fever, chicken pox, or small pox? 


No! People were incredibly grateful there was finally provided a way they could be saved from what was before a certain death sentence! Seriously.... How many cures do you really need for the same disease? 


Simply being honest.... I think it’s shocking verse 12 even exists! It’s unreal to me that Peter even brings up the topic of salvation with these men.... who were by the way directly responsible for Jesus’ death! Peter hammered them with the truth and I would have been cool with him just leaving it with verse 11, “You rejected Jesus and now you’re screwed.” Of all the people who didn’t deserve a second chance this group would have topped the list. And yet, Peter not only boldly presents the Gospel message, but he gives them the remedy for their sin! 


Salvation through Jesus alone isn’t all that narrow to me.... Honestly, I think it’s more remarkable that there is even a way to be saved at all! 

4. Finally, salvation might be narrow in that it only comes through Jesus, but it is a grave mistake to see salvation in Jesus as being narrow in its accessibility. 


Salvation by works limits the race to only the smartest, most righteous, disciplined, and devoted (who still fall very short in the end). But.... Salvation by faith in Jesus opens the halls of heaven to every single one of us! 


Paul would say in Ephesians 3:11-12, “According to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.”


1 Timothy 2:3-6, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all....”


2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

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