CHAPTER 4

1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

The leaders, though they KNEW Jesus had risen from the dead, were UPSET!
They STILL didn't believe Jesus was God in flesh, Messiah!

So they put them "in hold."
They put them under the care of guards, probably in a public jail facility.

Note the statement: "for it was now eventide."
The leaders KNEW they were not to convene the "council" during the evening for a trial.
Yet, they had DONE that for Jesus!
Breaking the law to enforce the law is not lawful!

4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

AMAZING!
The power of God's Word (even in such a short sermon), when used by God's Holy Spirit, brings TREMENDOUS results!

Now, there's a lot of discussion about the term "five thousand."
Some say the small area would not contain enough people for 5,000 to be saved.
Some say Luke's intent is to relate that 2,000 NEW were saved.
To me, it doesn't make any difference!
That's still a LOT of people who got saved from one short sermon!!

5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred 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 ye done this?
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

When the leaders convened the "council," and had Peter and John brought in, they asked a really DUMB question:
"By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?"

Peter had distinctly utilized the Name of Jesus in his short sermon the day before.
(See Acts 3:20)

In fact, that was the very reason for which the two men had been put "in hold" until the next day!
The leaders were "grieved" (vs 2 above) that Peter and John taught eternal resurrection through Jesus!

So, Peter provided them with ANOTHER short sermon!!
He bluntly and boldly stated it was "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom YE crucified!"
Yes!
In THAT Name! By THAT power!!

Then Peter uses a quote from the Old Testament (vs 11 above), Psalm 118:22-23 which says,
"22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes."

Peter then explicitly points out that in THAT Name ONLY is "salvation!" (vs 12 above)
There is NO OTHER Name by which man can be truly saved!! ((See John 14:6))

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
14 And beholding the man which was 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 that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Neither Peter nor John had been to "divinity" school!
Therefore, the "council" assumed they were "unlearned and ignorant."

But their "boldness" exhibited the fact they were CONFIDENT in what they knew!
Friends, when one knows JESUS, one knows "the TRUTH!" ((See John 14:6 AGAIN))

And "the TRUTH shall make you FREE INDEED!" ((See John 8:36))

THAT type of freedom will make one BOLD!

Besides seeing the confidence in Peter and John, the "council" was facing PROOF of the power in that Name of Jesus!
The lame man was standing there HEALED as EVIDENCE!

They could not "deny" that a miracle was DONE! (Vs 16 above)
So, they "commanded" Peter and John NOT to preach in Jesus' Name anymore!

But let's see what Peter and John says about that!

19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

Now Peter and John hazard their lives for their faith!
Boldly they state that it is more right to listen to GOD than to man!

Also, Peter and John confirm the power of God's Holy Spirit IN them!
They stated they CANNOT HELP but testify to the TRUTH!

My friends, may I say that it is IMPOSSIBLE for a person to be filled with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead,
and not TESTIFY to Jesus being LORD!

21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

Everybody in town had heard about the miracle!
ALL the "news" (traveling mouth to ear) included the story of the lame man healed!

The "council" didn't dare "punish" Peter and John, because all the people were saying how WONDERFUL it was.

The man, lame from birth (Acts 3:2), was over 40 years old.
He had begged at the gate for MANY years, and EVERYONE knew him.

MOST of the time, people who preach and teach Jesus are not punished for that work.
(However, in my life time, I have seen people jailed, beaten and killed for preaching Jesus!) But MOST of the time, leaders see that the majority of people would be upset if doing good was punished!

It would thrill my soul if ALL Christians would preach Jesus EVERYWHERE they went, and
were UNAFRAID of people who might condemn them!
THEN, maybe sin would again be looked upon as SHAMEFUL!

23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

When Peter and John were released, they went to the "company" of believers.
They recounted all that the "council" had told them.

Then, the believers had a brief prayer meeting!

First, they acknowledged that God is the Creator of all things (vs 24).
Second, they acknowledged that God's WORD prophesied of the unsaved being "against" Jesus (vs 25-26).
Third, they acknowledged Jesus as Son of God DELIVERED for man's salvation (vs 27-28).
THEN, they asked God to allow MORE POWER to heal people in Jesus' Name!

Now, THAT my friends, is a purposeful prayer meeting!
Their determination to CONTINUE preaching and acting in Jesus' Name was exhibited in their request for God to become MORE involved!

31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Look at the RESULTS of that prayer meeting!
God SHOOK the place where they were assembled!
They were ALL filled with God's Holy Spirit!
And, they ALL began to preach with "boldness"!

THAT's the kind of prayer meetings we need in Christian churches today!!

Present day Christian writers, Henry Blackaby and Claude King indicated in their book "Experiencing God,"
that if we Christians would look and see where God is working, and
get involved we would see more of His power.

May I say that God is ALWAYS working with His WORD, and with His GOSPEL!!
So, let's get involved in telling, teaching and preaching it!!

32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

Here is another result of being "filled with the Holy Ghost!"
Gathered in fullness of His Spirit, they are UNSELFISH!
When one is sick, down, hurt, they ALL "pitch in" and help!!

The WORLD says, "What's mine is mine, and what's yours is mine if I can take it."
Christians say to their brothers and sisters in Christ, "What's mine is yours when you NEED it!"

33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

There are two results of a church truly surrendered to God's Holy Spirit:
1) There's great preaching and teaching,
2) There's an outpouring of grace upon the believers.

Charles H. Spurgeon was a great preacher.
When visitors would come to Spurgeon's church he would take them to the basement prayer-room
where people were always on their knees interceding.
THAT was the key to great preaching!

And, THAT is the key to more GRACE!
For God pours out MORE grace to the humble, seeking God's presence in what they do!
(See James 4:6)

Christians, if you want to see more powerful witnessing, more powerful teaching and more powerful preaching,
be in "prayer meeting" pleading for God's presence!!

34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Here Luke begins relating an incident that continues through Acts 5:11.

Many of the new Christians had possessions which they believed could be of more use to the church than to themselves.
Being prayerful people, they willingly sold some of their possessions and gave them to the church.
This afforded the church to provide "unto every man according as he had need." (vs 35 above)

One of those who followed that example was a converted Levite, named Joses Barnabas.
He sold some land, and brought the sale price to the church, publicly giving it for whatever the church decided.

Take note, here is a RICH man who's heart is softened by God's Holy Spirit.
He saw some of his fellow Christians in need, and sought to apply (out of his abundance) some help.

After 32 years of ministry, I could tell you of many men who have followed the example of Joseph Barnabas!!

The fact is God's Holy Spirit works in believers causing UNSELFISHNESS,
AND He causes Christians to have a GIVING spirit!

Before reading the rest of the story, let me say that God does not cause EVERYONE to sell out and give away!
But God DOES cause every Christian to have a GIVING spirit!

2 Cor 9:7 says, "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

While some have more and are able to give more,
ALL have SOME and are able to GIVE some!

We are to get alone with God, and prayerfully search our hearts as to what HE would have us to give.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW!

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