Sermon Number: 008

When Peter and John healed the lame man near the entrance of the temple they set in motion a chain of events that no one could have predicted. As a result of the miracle a crowd gathered giving Peter an opportunity to preach the gospel. This he did and, by reading ahead, we discover that the total number of Christians in the area increased to some five thousand as a result of this sermon. Peter’s message was hard to hear for the predominantly Jewish audience. For he recounted how they had put Jesus, the Son of God, their own Messiah, to death. He exposed their guilt, acknowledged that they had committed this crime in ignorance, and then called them to repentance and faith in the very Man they had murdered. It is no surprise that this public accusation incensed the rulers of Israel. We see what happened next in our text for today.

(Acts 4:1-4 NASB) "And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees, came upon them, {2} being GREATLY DISTURBED BECAUSE THEY WERE TEACHING THE PEOPLE AND PROCLAIMING IN JESUS THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. {3} And they laid hands on them, and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. {4} But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand".

"As they were speaking", before the message was even finished, the temple authorities rushed in and arrested Peter and John. These authorities were the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees. The priests were the ordinary priests probably conducting the evening sacrifice at the temple. The captain of the temple guard was the chief of the temple police force, which was composed exclusively of Levites. He was responsible for maintaining order on the temple grounds. Peter and John had caused no small disturbance so it is no surprise to find the temple guard on hand. The Sadducees were the most powerful religious and political group in Israel. Part of what made them so was that all the high priests were Sadducees. They were often wealthy and got along well with the Roman government. They liked the security and prosperity the protection of Rome afforded them. Therefore, anything that threatened to disrupt the peace and perhaps cause Rome to intervene in their business was opposed. We catch a glimpse of their selfish and murderous mindset in John 11:47-50. "Therefore the chief priests [Sadducees] and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, ‘What are we doing? For this man (Jesus) is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man should die (Jesus must die!) for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish." The Sadducees were not concerned with truth, only with power and comfort. If Jesus must die to maintain this then so be it.

Their religious beliefs give us additional information as to why Peter and John were arrested. Most important to our study is the fact that they did not believe in the resurrection of the body of anyone. Nor did they believe in rewards or the future punishment of the wicked. They denied the existence of angels and spirits of any kind. Acts 23:8 "For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an angel, nor a spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge them all". Further they did not believe in predestination or the sovereignty of God. Rather, they believed that man was the master of his own destiny.

Given the above information we can understand, at least in part, why this group rushed in to arrest Peter and John. Peter had proclaimed the two glorious truths of predestination and the sovereignty of God in the crucifixion of Christ. And, of course, he made much of the resurrection. The authorities were, "GREATLY DISTURBED BECAUSE THEY (Peter and John) WERE TEACHING THE PEOPLE AND PROCLAIMING IN JESUS THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD".

In the first place they were upset because Peter and John were teaching the people at all. These men were not recognized as teachers by the Jewish leaders. They were not trained to be teachers. Commentator Albert Barnes writes, "They were offended that unlearned Galileans, in no way connected with the priestly office, and unauthorized by them, should presume to set themselves up as religious teachers" (Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament: Acts–Romans [reprint of the 1884–85 edition; Grand Rapids: Baker], 74).

But the main problem was Peter and John’s message. They were proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. Think about it for a moment. These same Jewish leaders had executed Jesus as a blasphemer. Not believing in the resurrection of the dead they thought they had the problem. Jesus was out of the picture. Now the apostles were claiming that the very man they had put to death had risen from the dead and was in fact the long awaited Messiah! Peter and John were contradicting the Sadducees on two counts. Without saying it directly they were calling the Sadducees false teachers.

In extreme anger and frustration these officials put Peter and John in jail for the night. They would deal with them the following day. However, their being jailed did not weaken the message which Peter had just preached. God was pleased to bring many of His lost sheep into the kingdom. (Acts 4:4 NASB) "But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand".

How the apostles passed the night we are told what took place the next day. (Acts 4:5-31 NASB) "And it came about on the next day, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; {6} and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. {7} And when they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?"

Having placed the apostles in the center the hall they began to question them about the miracle and their teaching. There was some basis for this inquiry in the Old Testament. The commentator, Homer Kent, Jr., says this, "the Mosaic Law specified that whenever someone performed a miracle and used it as the basis for teaching, (which the apostles in fact did), he was to be examined, and if the teaching were used to lead men away from the God of their fathers, the nation was responsible to stone him (Deut. 13:1–5). On the other hand, if his message was doctrinally sound, the miracle-worker was to be accepted as coming with a message from God. (Jerusalem to Rome [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1992], 45–46) Peter and John could certainly not be accused of leading men away from the God of their fathers. Neither could they rightly be accused of teaching that which was doctrinally unsound. Looked at honestly and biblically they must be accepted as having come from God. As you know, that is not what happened.

In reference to Homer Kent’s comments, and the Deuteronomy passage cited, I can’t help but ask how many of our modern day miracle workers would survive if held to this standard. The standard that every so called miracle worker whose acts were not accompanied by sound teaching, good doctrine, would have to be stoned to death. I dare say many of the religious stars on our televisions would soon disappear. For they claim to perform miracles but they do not teach the truth.

We must remember that, like so many in positions of power today, this Jewish court was not interested in truth. They were interested in maintaining their comfortable existence and in covering up their sin. They wanted to silence these men. They never wanted to hear the name Jesus again. They begin asking questions of Peter and John. The first was this, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?" They didn’t have to wait for an answer. Peter was always ready to give reason for the faith that He had in Jesus Christ.

{8} Then Peter, filled with (controlled by and given over to) the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and elders of the people, {9} if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, {10} let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-- by this name this man stands here before you in good health. (Jesus is the source and reason for this healing, the very man you put to death!) {11} "He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, (the spiritual rulers and leaders and teachers of Israel) but WHICH BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone. (the stone which supports the whole building) {12} "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved."

I can’t imagine what the rulers and elders of Israel felt while listening to Peter’s indictment of them. First Peter accuses them of arresting he and John for doing good to a sick man, this was criminal in its self. Then he proclaims Jesus. He tells them exactly what they did not want to hear. This healing has come to pass by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified, and whom God raised from the dead. He is the reason this man stands before you in good health today. By the way, Peter continues, He, Jesus the Nazarene, is "the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but He has became the very corner stone," (Psalm 118:22). With this quote from Psalms Peter connects Jesus to prophecy and identifies Him as the Lord, the Savior, the Messiah. This name, which offends you so, is the only name by which men can be saved! The implication is this, "If you, the rulers and leaders of Israel, are to be forgiven your terrible crime you must trust in this name, in Jesus Christ the Lord, for the forgiveness of your sins and the salvation of your souls. There is no other possible solution. One can only be saved by trusting in Jesus Christ! The hatred and anger this fostered in the court officials must have been great.

The exclusiveness of Christianity offends men just as quickly today as it did then. It has always been true that if you reject Jesus you reject God and you cannot be saved. Your sins will not be forgiven. There is one and only one way to heaven and that is through the crucified and risen Son of God, Jesus Christ. Christians must continue to point to THE way, THE truth and THE light, Christ. They must continue to be narrow-minded and intolerant of any religion that offers another way to heaven. Yes, the world will continue despise those who have no respect for their way of relating to God but we must continue to honor name of Jesus by speaking the truth about Him as Peter and John did before the Sanhedrin.

Brother John McArthur wrote; "In the very citadel of the Sanhedrin’s power Peter put his judges on trial by proclaiming the truth about the living Christ to those responsible for His execution. By pointing out that they executed Jesus but God raised Him up, Peter showed them to be the enemies of God. . . . Peter refused to compromise the gospel by deleting what would offend the Sanhedrin. He spoke courageously because he was devoted to the truth and entrusted the outcome to his Lord. That is an example for all persecuted believers to follow. . . . Peter was not leading the Jews away from God but preaching the very truth of the Old Testament as fulfilled in Jesus. . . . They were the ones leading the people away from God." (End Quote)

The apostle’s startling behavior revealed much more than mere human boldness. It revealed the fact that these men were followers of Jesus, Christians. {13} "Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus". The Jews had done their best but this Jesus wasn’t going to go away. These men had obviously been with Jesus and His boldness, wisdom, mastery of the Old Testament scriptures, and miracle-working power, was now in their possession! What would they do now? What could they say? We find out as we continue reading.

{14} And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. (Not only were the words Peter spoke overwhelming the man that had been healed was standing with them right there in the court room! The Jewish court was dumbfounded and must have a moment to collect their thoughts.) {15} But when they had ordered them to go aside out of the Council, they began to confer with one another, {16} saying, "What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. (Not that they didn’t want to deny the healing and squash the apostles. The could not do so safely for the general public had witnessed the miracle. The best they can hope to do is prevent more of the same thing from happening again.) {17} "But in order that it may not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to any man in this name." {18} And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all 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 give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; {20} for we CANNOT stop speaking what we have seen and heard." {21} And when they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which they might punish them) on account of the people, (Again they would have ignored the evidence just like they did with Jesus had it not been for the popularity of the apostles with the people.) because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; {22} for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed" In other words there was no room to doubt or deny what had happened.

When you think about it these two men were in a very scary situation. These same Jews had crucified Jesus not long before. I can’t help but believe that the flesh and blood part of Peter and John quivered just a little as they stood before the Sanhedrin. I’ve not had my life threatened for the faith but I have, on many occasions, been in frightening circumstances. I have trembled at the disapproval of men, and the imagined, or real, consequences of my actions and teachings in the Lord’s service. But there is one thing I have never been able to do and that is to stop preaching and teaching in Jesus name! I CANNOT do that!

Many years ago, the most prominent, and powerful, man in the church I pastored at the time told me to stop preaching the scriptures. Our own Steve Martin, and myself had to confront him about this. He would not recant. The things that were being taught in Jesus name must stop, he said. My knees went weak as I contemplated the cost of defying this man’s orders. But in spite of the possible consequences and the trembling of my flesh there was not a moment that I did not know what must be done. There was not a millisecond wherein I considered bowing to the will of this man or the convention’s officials that eventually gathered round and supported his views. The statement made by Peter to the Sanhedrin certainly came to mind and became our marching orders. "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; {20} for we CANNOT stop speaking what we have seen and heard."

The key word here is CANNOT. A true minister of the gospel cannot fail to speak and do what he knows to be true. It is not a matter of choice, it is a matter of the Spirit’s constraint. On that occasion and on many since my flesh wanted to run but my redeemed soul could not budge, it could do nothing but what it had always done. By grace I had to, and did, continue to preach the word of God in Jesus’ almighty and everlasting name. I did not do so in my strength for I am by nature a coward. Rather, like Peter, John, and the lame man, I/we stood before our enemies in the name and power of Jesus the Nazarene. I/we have done all things through Him who strengthens me/us. He alone made my legs strong and gave me a voice. It could not have been any other way for the Spirit of God constrains his servants to do and say what is right. The children of God are driven to please their God, to honor Him in word and deed whatever the cost.

{23} And when they had been released, they went to their own companions, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. {24} And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is Thou who DIDST MAKE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM,

As this group begins to praise God for the deliverance of the Peter and John they first declare Him to be the Lord. This word tells us that our God is the Sovereign Creator and ruler of everything that is. Next they proclaim the fact that God by the Holy Spirit, through the mouths of prophets spoke. Therefore, when the prophets wrote the they wrote very words of God.

{25} who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Thy servant, didst say, 'WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS? {26} 'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD, AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.'

It is the height of arrogance, unbelief, and stupidity, for a human to set himself in opposition to his Creator! It is a vain and futile thing. Had the Jews not devised a futile thing? Yes they had. They tried to kill the Christ, the Son of God, Immanuel, God in the flesh! How foolish! One cannot kill God! Let the whole world convene for the overthrow of the Creator and all the world will be disappointed. The world’s treatment of Jesus is a good example of such foolishness and futility.

{27} "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Thy holy servant Jesus, whom Thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, (The leaders of Rome.) along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, (The leaders of Israel.) {28} to do whatever Thy hand and Thy purpose predestined to occur."

Let all men bow low and worship this great and invincible God. The God who accomplishes His eternal will by the hands of those who hate and fight against Him! The best and strongest of the wicked cannot hinder the unfolding of that which God has predestined to occur! In the final analysis when the wicked are all gathered in hell for their sin, they will discover an eternally disturbing truth. They will at last learn that their raging and rebellion, though it has damned them forever, was used by God to accomplish His purpose and do good to His people! (Romans 8:28)

{29} "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Thy bond-servants may speak Thy word with all confidence, {30} while Thou dost extend Thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Thy holy servant Jesus." {31} And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness."