Acts 7:1-43

Note: Today there’s a lot of Scripture, but few notes on it. The point of this Scripture is simple. So read on…

 

Then the high priest asked him, "Are these charges true?"

 

To this he replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. `Leave your country and your people,' God said, `and go to the land I will show you.'

 

"So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child. God spoke to him in this way: `Your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,' God said, `and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.' Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.

 

"Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt; so he made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.

 

"Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our fathers could not find food. When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit. On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph's family. After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all. Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died. Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.

 

"As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt greatly increased. Then another king, who knew nothing about Joseph, became ruler of Egypt. He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our forefathers by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die.

 

"At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for in his father's house. When he was placed outside, Pharaoh's daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.

 

"When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his fellow Israelites. He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, `Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?'

 

"But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, `Who made you ruler and judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons.

 

"After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to look more closely, he heard the Lord's voice: `I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.' Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

 

"Then the Lord said to him, `Take off your sandals; the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.'

 

"This is the same Moses whom they had rejected with the words, `Who made you ruler and judge?' He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He led them out of Egypt and did wonders and miraculous signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the desert.

 

"This is that Moses who told the Israelites, `God will send you a prophet like me from your own people.' He was in the assembly in the desert, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers; and he received living words to pass on to us.

 

"But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. They told Aaron, `Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt--we don't know what has happened to him!' That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and held a celebration in honor of what their hands had made. But God turned away and gave them over to the worship of the heavenly bodies. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets:

 

  " `Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? You have lifted up the shrine of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile' beyond Babylon.

 

When the high priest asked Stephen whether the charges were true, Steven did not enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. Instead, he began to share his understanding of the Scriptures. He had been charged with speaking against the temple and against the Law/Moses. In this section, see whether what he says about Moses is true or not – whether it matches the teachings of the Old Testament Scriptures or not. This is the only way to judge whether the charges against Stephen were true. Notice 1) that Stephen sets up the historical background for Moses by talking first about Abraham and the patriarchs, 2) that Stephen points out the Israelites’ rejection of Moses, and even of God, and 3) that Stephen prepares to defend his exaltation of Jesus through Moses’ own words about a “prophet like me.” Personally, I find Stephen “not guilty” of speaking against Moses.

 

Father, may I and all Your people know Your word well, like Stephen did. Even when we are accused of wrongly interpreting it, may we do like Stephen did and simply turn again to Your words. May we state honestly and openly what You have said and leave it up to others whether to receive Your words or not. But may we, may I, be faithful to You by holding persistently and faithfully to Your words. Thank You for Your words, which make it so that we can know the truth about Jesus Christ and proclaim Him boldly as we speak Your words and not merely ours.

 

Acts 6:8-15

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. And yet they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God." And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and dragged him away, and brought him before the Council. And they put forward false witnesses who said, "This man incessantly speaks against this holy place, and the Law; for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us." And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.

 

These verses say very little about Steven and quite a bit about his enemies. But here is what we know about Steven: a) he was performing signs and wonders among the people, and b) his arguments with his enemies came by the Spirit and with wisdom. He was doing what Jesus’ disciples do: doing His Lord’s works and speaking His Lord’s words.

 

His enemies, these men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen, could not handle Steven’s arguments. Steven defeated their arguments by wisdom and the Spirit. But they were not willing to concede defeat. So instead they stirred up a dangerous mob by spreading the word that Steven was blaspheming Moses and God. They dragged him before the Council. And they set false witnesses against Steven. Their charge was that Steven would not stop speaking against the temple and the Law. Their support for these charges was that Steven predicted that Jesus would destroy the temple and change Moses’ customs.

 

Steven was ready. When the Council looked at him, his face looked like an angel’s. Whether that means that Steven was at peace, or that it was full of purpose, or that he showed no fear, or whatever, Steven was ready to answer these charges. He was ready because Jesus had given him the Holy Spirit and wisdom. He was ready to explain how his teachings actually upheld the teachings of Moses and the Law. He was ready to explain how his understanding of the temple followed God’s understanding. He was not there to blaspheme Moses and the God; Steven was there to proclaim the Jesus who fulfilled their teachings.

 

Father, thank You that You have given me the truth in Jesus Christ. Thank You that because I have Jesus, I have Your Spirit and wisdom. Thank You that because I have Jesus, I can understand what Moses prophesied. Thank You that because I have Jesus, I have a right view of the temple. Father, thank You that because You have given me a relationship with Jesus, I can be prepared to exalt You in any situation. Just like Steven. May all Your children learn how much they have and how prepared they are, simply because they have Jesus. May Jesus be so exalted in our eyes that we are always ready to talk about Him to our friends, family, neighbors and co-workers – let alone to a mob or court! Jesus, You are so good. I am so glad to know You!

 

Acts 6:1-7

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

 

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

 

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

 

Father, thank You for showing us that people’s physical needs are important. At the same time, thank You for making it clear that it would be wrong for us to serve people’s physical needs while neglecting of Your words. As Your people protected the apostles’ ability to serve out Your words and to pray, Your words were able to spread. And because Your words spread, more and more people in Jerusalem became disciples of Jesus Christ – even the priests were turning to Jesus! Forgive us for ever exalting our physical services so highly that we excuse ourselves for neglecting to serve Your words to people. May we understand – because You teach us rightly – that we must serve people both by Your words and by deeds. And may we understand – because You teach us rightly – that only as we continue to serve Your words will more people become Jesus’ disciples. Forgive me for ever speaking as though people’s actions are more important than Your words. Your words give life! Help me and all Jesus’ disciples to share life with those around us.

 

Acts 5:33-42

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

 

His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

 

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

 

These religious leaders who had been so offended that the apostles were blaming them for Jesus’ death (as though they would never have killed a man) are now ready to kill the apostles for their “insubordinate” accusations!

 

But God used a man named Gamaliel to protect His disciples. Gamaliel spoke simply, reminding the other religious leaders that the movements of men eventually end, but that God’s purposes will be accomplished. What is astonishing is that he was able to convince the other religious leaders to let the apostles go on the basis of the possibility that their words and deeds really came from God! The other religious leaders are ready to kill the apostles, but they admit to Gamaliel that these men could be heaven sent!

 

So the religious leaders flogged the apostles and again commanded them to stop speaking in Jesus’ name, then let them go.

 

Hear again the simple, forceful testimony of the Scriptures about the apostles: The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

 

Rejoicing. Rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for Jesus’ name. We might find that odd. But remember that this took place probably within a year of Jesus’ death. And the disciples had not been worthy of suffering for Jesus on that day. One had betrayed Him. One had denied Him. None had stood up for Him. All of them had disassociated themselves enough from Jesus that no one felt a need to punish them.

 

But now, after Jesus’ resurrection, after Jesus has given them the Holy Spirit, the apostles are faithful. They are so faithful that even in the face of pain and punishment they continue to exalt Jesus. And finally… FINALLY… they suffer for it. The religious leaders count them worthy of suffering for Jesus’ name because the apostles have persisted in proclaiming that the risen and exalted Jesus is the Christ, both the Lord and the Savior of all men. Men have heard the message clearly: Jesus is Lord. And those who oppose Jesus now oppose the apostles – the same apostles who had fled when Jesus was suffering. So the apostles rejoice! They rejoice because they are learning to be faithful to the Jesus they love, and their suffering proves it!

 

And rather than turn back now, rather than flee again from Jesus and being associated with Him, they never stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

 

That’s what love and faithfulness toward Jesus looks like.

 

Father, help me to love Jesus the way the apostles did. Help me to be so faithful to Him that all men I encounter know who my King is and know the source of my hope. Help me to tell everyone that Jesus is the Christ, the one who deserves their obedience and the one who saves them from their disobedience. Help me to be so faithful that I hold on to Jesus even in the face of suffering. Help me to be encouraged by suffering for Jesus, knowing that any suffering means I am learning to be faithful to Him. Help me always to teach and proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Christ – even when men receive it as bad news and hate me for it.

 

Acts 5:17-32

But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy; and they laid hands on the apostles, and put them in a public jail. But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, "Go your way, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." And upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and began to teach. Now when the high priest and his associates had come, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought. But the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned, and reported back, saying, "We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside." Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this. But someone came and reported to them, "Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!" Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, lest they should be stoned). And when they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles answered and said, "We must obey God rather than men. "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. "And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."

 

Two times in 24 hours the apostles were arrested. The first time they were thrown in prison, but an angel let them out and told them to go preach in the temple courts. The second time they were brought before the Sanhedrin and charged with disobedience and hateful accusations. What was their response?

 

Peter and the other apostles defended their disobedience to the Sanhedrin quite simply: “We must obey God rather than men.” In fact, they also defended their ongoing charge that the Jewish leaders were among those guilty for Jesus’ death by saying that this was simply what God had given them to tell people.

 

And then they continued to proclaim the truth: God raised Jesus up. God exalted Jesus to His right hand as Prince and Savior. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given us who are obeying Him.

 

From the apostles’ viewpoint, every confrontation was another opportunity to proclaim the glorified Jesus and the good news of the gospel. Yes, they kept charging the leaders with Jesus’ death… but why? Because like everyone else, the religious leaders’ only hope was to realize that they had made themselves enemies of God’s exalted Prince and to humble themselves before this Jesus. The religious leaders’ only hope was to call on Jesus to be their Savior – the very thing Jesus was eager for them to do. As the apostles’ said here, God exalted Jesus to His right hand as Prince and Savior to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. If these ruling men would only see that they needed to repent before this divine Prince, if they would only see that Jesus was willing to forgive them of their sins, they would also be saved. This was the good news the apostles announced everywhere!

 

Father, thank You. Thank You that we have a message of good news even when men fight us. Even when men are upset with what we are saying, we can continue to say it both to obey You and in the hope that they will realize their need to humble themselves before You. Thank You that even the most offensive words we can speak to people (“You are a sinner and have made yourself God’s enemy.”) are intended for salvation – are intended to lead men to repentance. Help me, my family, and my brothers and sisters in Christ to obey You and speak the words that You have given us to say. Only in Your words can anyone find life and salvation! Thank You!

 

Acts 5:12-16

The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.

 

In Acts 4:23-30, Luke began to describe the believers’ response to Peter and John’s arrest and the threats they faced: they prayed to God for help. In Acts 4:31-5:11, Luke described what the response was: God enabled them to speak the word of God boldly and share their goods with one another generously.

 

But we also saw Ananias and Sapphira die when they tried to lie to the apostles and, ultimately, to the Holy Spirit. No man laid hands on them; God killed them as He spoke to them through Peter. The conclusion was that great fear came upon the whole church and all who heard of these things.

 

From this Luke leads us into a further description of how the apostles did miraculous signs and wonders. God was confirming His power through the apostles – mostly His power to save, to restore, to heal, but also His power to judge. Jesus was confirming through the apostles that this movement was propelled forward by the hand of God.

 

So the believers continued to meet together in a place called Solomon’s Colonnade. It could be that no one else dared to join them because of the religious leaders’ threats. Peter and John had, after all, been threatened by the religious leaders, and people might have been afraid to stand up and say that they believed God was really working among this new movement. But it seems more likely that their fear of joining came from a recognization that there was some kind of power at work among the disciples – some kind of great power, and those who did not yet believe in Jesus were afraid to come near for fear that something like what happened to Ananias might happen to them.

 

But many men and women who saw this power at work believed the apostles’ testimony that Jesus was the exalted Christ, sent by God and doing these works. They joined the other believers; only those who did not believe were too afraid to join them. And because they recognized that Jesus was saving people from their diseases through Peter and the other apostles, they brought their sick out into the streets to be healed as Peter’s shadow fell on them. Even people from Jerusalem’s surrounding towns brought sick and demon-oppressed people to be healed. Luke’s testimony is that they were all being healed!

 

How was this happening? What was going on? It is just as Peter said in Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else [but Jesus], for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Peter was not the amazing one. Jesus was. And is. Jesus was confirming that He was truly the Christ Peter said He was. Jesus was confirming that He was truly the Lord Peter said He was. Jesus was giving example after example of His saving power to the Jews through the apostles. He could save people from deformities. He could save people from sickness. He could save people from demons. So when the apostles testified that Jesus could save people from their sins and restore their relationship with God, they had to be telling the truth. It sounded almost impossible – but look at all the other impossibilities Jesus did through them! And on top of the promise of a restored relationship with God was the promise of a future resurrection – a total restoration of all creation! The sick who were healed might get sick again, but not after Jesus came back! Once Jesus came back, His saving power would be extended to His people forever! And the proof for now was the miracles Jesus did through the apostles. If Jesus had such power while away from earth and up in heaven, what would it mean when He visited earth again?

 

Father, thank You again for sending Jesus. And thank You for confirming through the apostles and the miraculous signs you did through them that Jesus has been exalted to Your right hand. Thank You for giving me the opportunity to respond, the opportunity to believe in this Jesus who saves sinners and restores the physically broken. Thank You that Jesus has this power to heal. May He continue to heal people in our time as evidence that He has the power to heal people forever. And may many people believe in Him and seek Him. May many people be restored to You through the power You have given Jesus as they hear the good news that Jesus died to save them. Father, be exalted through Your wonderful son, Jesus Christ!

 

Acts 4:36-5:11

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.

 

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.

 

Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."

 

When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

 

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?"

    "Yes," she said, "that is the price."

 

Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."

 

At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

 

Father, I have no idea why they did this. I mean, I have many ideas about their motivation, but Your word doesn’t tell us whether my ideas are right. What it tells us is that they lied. They lied to Your people, but even more importantly, they lied to You. Father, help me to be like Joseph – both generous and honest. And when I can’t be as generous, help me to be honest about it. May the truth reign in my relationships with my neighbors, with my Christian brothers and sisters, and most of all with You. Help me to remember that lies kill.

 

Acts 4:23-35

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 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?

  The kings of the earth take their stand

    and the rulers gather together

  against the Lord

    and against his Anointed One. '

 

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. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

 

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.

 

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

 

It has been amazing to see Peter and John’s boldness. But apparently they were not completely at ease. The religious leaders’ threats had some kind of impact. Peter and John went back and reported the religious leaders’ threats to the others, and they responded the way that Christians should respond: Recognizing their weakness, need, and (perhaps) fear, they prayed to God.

 

They praised God, acknowledging that He is all-powerful. He is the Creator. He made everything – including the disciples. They were His.

 

And then they noted that God Himself, through David, had predicted opposition to His Christ.

 

They again praised God for fulfilling His words. God had not only predicted opposition; God had brought it to pass as the Gentiles and Jews conspired together against Jesus.

 

And they asked for help as this opposition continued, now directed against them. They asked God to give them boldness to speak His words, and they asked God to keep doing His works in Jesus’ name. They asked God to stay on His program, and to help them in the midst of it.

 

The disciples recognized that they could not stand by themselves in the face of men’s threats. They did not simply get into a huddle, encourage each other, work themselves into a mindless frenzy, and break out into the world in their own strength to speak the words Jesus had given them to say. They knew that they needed God’s strength, even to speak God’s words in the face of threats.

 

God responded. He shook the place where they were meeting. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Talk about help! Talk about strength and power!

 

What were the results? They all spoke the word of God boldly. They were united with each other in heart, mind, and possessions (so much so that their needy people had all their needs met). The apostles continued to testify with power that Jesus had risen from the dead. This is what happens only by the power of God!

 

Father, we still need You to strengthen Your servants to speak and to stretch out Your hand to do Your works. Help us! Help me! I can’t help myself! I can’t make myself courageous enough to speak up when I’m scared. I certainly can’t do Your works – Your healings, Your signs and wonders. Lord God Almighty, carry out Your plans. Not mine. Yours. And use me and Your church. And strengthen me and my family and all Your church so that we can be useful to You. In Jesus’ name we ask for these things, because there is no other name given among men by which we must be saved. There is no other hope for such strength, such power to be poured out through us. So give us boldness to speak. And stretch out Your hands to do signs and wonders, even in the face of Your enemies’ threats and opposition. Amen.

 

Acts 4:13-21

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. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."

 

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

 

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. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

 

Peter and John were let go despite the leaders’ misgivings about them and their message. Why?

 

Was it because of their courage? No. Their courage astonished the religious leaders only because Peter and John were unschooled, ordinary men. Such people did not normally stand up so strongly for a deviant teaching. But these ordinary men boldly proclaimed that Jesus was the only source of salvation – pointing out that the religious leaders were involved in killing Jesus! Ordinary men feared religious leaders and their judgments, but not these men. So the leaders took note that these men had been with Jesus, who had so boldly opposed them until His death. But Peter and John’s courage certainly did not make the religious leaders want to set them free.

 

Was it because of the miracle? No. The religious leaders had arrested Peter and John, after all, following the miracle. They were opposed to Peter and John despite the miracle. The only thing that the miracle did was shut the religious leaders up. They could not deny that Peter and John had worked a great miracle, but they did not want to free them, either.

 

Why were the leaders so opposed to Peter and John, anyway? When we look at their private council, we see that the religious leaders wanted Peter and John to stop glorifying Jesus. They didn’t mind the miracle. But they hated that the Jesus they had helped to condemn was getting the credit for this miracle. They didn’t want Jesus to be honored at all! That was the problem they had with Peter and John.

 

And Peter and John wouldn’t back down! Even after a direct command from the religious leaders not to speak or teach at all in Jesus’ name, Peter and John stayed bold! They could not stop speaking about what they had seen and heard, they said. And they challenged the religious leaders’ authority, saying that the religious leaders were opposing God’s commands.

 

So the religious leaders – the priests and the Sadducees – did not want to let Peter and John go on the basis of their courage. They wouldn’t let them go because they had performed a miracle. Peter and John’s teaching about Jesus was offensive to them, and Peter and John boldly affirmed that they would keep telling everyone about Jesus! So why did the religious leaders let Peter and John go?

 

Because of the people. The people were glorifying God for the amazing miracle of healing given to this crippled man. The religious leaders were there to defend God’s glory, to guide people to worship the one true God. And Peter and John had led the people to do praise the one true God, not just by their miracle but by their teaching about Jesus Christ. The way they told people about Jesus did not oppose the true God; it magnified Him. It made Jesus the Christ, the promised servant of God. It magnified God as the fulfiller of His promises. And so the people, rather than being led away from worshiping the one true God, praised God all the more zealously as Peter and John taught them that Jesus was the source of God’s salvation.

 

The religious leaders could not oppose this. They could not prove that Jesus was not the Christ. They could not say that a wonderful healing had not taken place because of Jesus, and ultimately because of God. And they could not say that the people were being led astray, because they saw the people worshiping God with joy!

 

Father, may I proclaim Jesus in a way that magnifies You! Teach me to be bold and to speak the truth about Jesus no matter what others say. The glory that people will give you because of Jesus Christ and what He has done – that is my goal, my aim, my passion. May it silence any who might oppose me. May they be unable to deny the good that You have done through Jesus. May they note my courage – that it comes from Jesus. But most of all, may they see that teaching about Jesus exalts the true and living God in the midst of His people. Lord God, I honor You.

 

Membership with one, distance from another

A Romanian classmate was telling us today that in the 1990s, when Romania was working on joining the European Union, one of the great ethical issues that came to the fore was the policy toward homosexuals. To join the European Union, Romania had to agree to tolerate homosexuality – that is, to make it at least legal to practice homosexuality.

 

Until 1996, Romania had a more conservative president who resisted such requirements. But since then, the president(s) has valued membership with the European Union so highly that a number of ethical considerations have taken a place in the shadows.

 

Wow. Ethical considerations take a place in the shadows? Regardless of my viewpoint on the ethics I uphold, whether I am conservative or liberal, that should never happen. Ethics should never take a back seat to membership.

 

The power of membership. The power of belonging. Standing alone is painful. Not just hard. Painful. Scary. Uncertain. Even for a country in the midst of other countries.

 

But membership in one group means distance from another group. People in general should all ask themselves, no matter what their belief systems, whether the ethical values they hold are worth giving up for membership in a group – any group. Middle-school peers. College fraternity or sorority. Government. Military. Business. Club.

 

But especially for Christians, we need to ask ourselves when we join a new fellowship, when we become members of a new group, whether we are distancing ourselves from the church. From our believing brothers and sisters. Most importantly, from Christ.

 

We need to keep our values in line with His. Even if it costs us a beneficial membership. He is worth it.

 

 

 

Acts 4:5-12

The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"

 

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 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. He is

 

“ `the stone you builders rejected,

    which has become the capstone. '

 

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

 

When Peter was confronted and asked by what power or name (authority) he and John had healed the lame man, he was prepared. He was prepared because Jesus had given him the Holy Spirit just as he has given us the Holy Spirit, to tell people about our King Jesus.

 

First, Peter defined the question. The question was about an act of kindness (understatement, but accurate) done to a cripple, and the question is how this man was healed. But there’s something important to know about that word healed. It is the same word as saved. This man was healed; he was saved from his deformities and restored to health. So Peter says, “You ask how this man was healed? You ask how he was saved from what destroyed him?”

 

If that is the question, then the answer is simple: By the name of Jesus this man stands before you healed. Believe it or not, there were probably quite a number of men named Jesus in the apostles’ days, so Peter specified which Jesus he was referring to: The Jesus whom you crucified. The Jesus whom God raised from the dead. The Jesus you have rebelled against and made yourselves enemies of. The Jesus with all the power of God sustaining Him. By this Jesus’ name – by His authority, by His power – the lame man stands healthy before you leaders.

 

Peter continues, citing the Scriptures. The Scriptures had predicted these things. Peter identifies the religious leaders before him as the builders who rejected the stone mentioned in Scripture, Jesus Christ. And Peter attaches the truth that God raised Jesus from the dead to the prophecy that this rejected stone would become the capstone. It had always been God’s plan to make Jesus the Christ, and God had always known that the religious leaders would oppose Jesus and crucify Him. So Peter reminded these men of God’s words – the words of the God they claimed to obey and serve – to show them how they had been rebels.

 

Peter concludes with these words: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved

 

In other words, not only was this lame man healed by Jesus, but there is no other person who could have healed him. The word Peter used for healed was the word for saved. And Jesus’ salvation begins now. The lame man’s restored body was not only a picture of salvation; it was a part of it (albeit temporary). Jesus had saved him from his infirmity.

 

Do you understand how fully Jesus intends to save you? Yes, he wants you to stop sinning, and He saves us from our sins. But we are living in a world of sickness, decay and death. Even this lame man, whom Jesus healed, has since died. The salvation Jesus gave him from his infirmities was only a weak reflection of the full salvation Jesus intends for us all. Jesus saves us not just from our sins, restoring us in our relationship with the Father; Jesus saves us from the curse, from decay, from frustration in our work, from injustices, from sickness, from death! Now and then he gives us a glimpse of this full salvation by healing a man, as he did through Peter and John. But those miracles are temporary. We may ask for them, but Jesus has not told us that His full salvation comes now, so we can still rejoice and be at rest when Jesus does NOT heal in this life. Jesus has told us that His full salvation comes when He returns! That is our hope! And there is no such hope in any other person besides Jesus.

 

Why? Why do I have nowhere else to look? Because there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Look to Mohammad. Does he guarantee salvation? No. Can he? No. Look to any other religion, and see if there is any person pointed to who saves people the way that Jesus does, just for trusting in Him. God has only revealed one name on earth whereby men must be saved – only one name that guarantees salvation without my help and without yours. Not Jesus and Matt saved Matt. Jesus saved Matt. Jesus saves everyone. The only Savior is Jesus.

 

So when this man was healed, there was no question in Peter’s and John’s minds about the source of the salvation. Peter and John couldn’t restore a lame man’s walk. Only Jesus could. And He did. He offers His salvation even to His enemies if they will only trust in Him – an even better salvation than what we see in this lame man’s healing because it is a complete healing, restoration and salvation for every part of our lives: physical, relational, spiritual, emotional, cognitive, everything. And Jesus saves not just for this life, but forever.

 

Father, thank You for choosing to reveal even one name by which we are saved. We certainly cannot save ourselves, and if you had not revealed Jesus, we would be as good as dead. Help me when I read the stories about Jesus healing people and restoring their lives to see myself in the place of the cripples, the sick people and the dead. Help me to realize that every healing, every story of restoration, is a picture to me of the full salvation that Jesus has offered to me forever. May I not complain about my temporary pains and aches, my short-term sicknesses, my aging, my frustrations at work, my broken equipment – because one day I will be saved from all of this, given a body that can never perish or hurt, work that is always worthwhile, friends who are true forever, joy that never ends! May I place my hope fully in the grace that is to be given me when Jesus Christ is revealed, gladly suffering temporarily as I look forward to eternal bliss!