Acts 4:1-12

Coming back from Thanksgiving, we dove right into learning, observing the apostles Peter and John, the effects of being with Jesus (i.e. of walking with Jesus; of being rightly related to Jesus; of being savingly related to Jesus). With an introduction to the reaction of the present authorities (vv 1-3, 5-7), we saw in the apostles:

1. The zeal to teach and proclaim the truth in the Name [of Jesus Christ] (v 2)
-They had been teaching (substance) and proclaiming (heralding authoritatively) in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. [Notice also that what the authorities believed influenced how they behaved (c.f. Matthew 28:11-15)?]

2. The willingness to suffer [unjustly] for the Name (v 3)
-Unlike Peter in a previous similar situation (c.f. John 18:10,11), they were acting more like Jesus.
-It is also good to note that persecution does not, indeed cannot, thwart the work of God in causing sinners to repent (c.f. 3:26)

3. The courage to speak of the truth about the Name (vv 5-9)
It seems that the apostles were before the Sanhedrin (c.f. v15), and in speaking
-it was by the Holy Spirit (as promised in Luke 12:11,12)
-it was following the teaching and method of Jesus (not themselves) [Notice that they pointed out the good that had been done in making someone well]

4. The boldness to continue to speak the old old story of the Name (vv 10-12)
As was their practice with all others thus far, they declared
-Christ crucified (the apostles were direct with these authorities)
-That God raised Him from the dead – in superiority and contrast to these authorities
-Everything as according to the Scriptures (in verse 11, they refer to Psalm 118:22)
[Do the above 3 sub-points remind you of 1 Corinthians 15:3,4?]
-The exclusivity of salvation in Jesus…in all the world (again, c.f. Luke 12:4-10) [This shows salvation as the design of God, and thus He defines it!]

Remember the question posed when we ‘zoomed out’…were the apostles being rebellious or submissive? (maybe we’ll consider that this week). Maybe the answer lies in considering to whom this would have related. First of all, we need to consider The Name in all aspects of our lives. [Have you been with Jesus (in the word and prayer)? Are you walking with Jesus? Are you rightly related to Jesus? Are you savingly related to Jesus?]

Peter went on to write an epistle to believers, even to us in our day, and it is a fitting conclusion as we consider a man who learned, lived and taught these truths; consider 1 Peter 3:13-18.