"THE BOOK OF ACTS"

The Persecution Begins (4:1-31)

INTRODUCTION
  1. Following Peter's healing of the lame man, and his second gospel sermon...
    1. Religious leaders in Jerusalem became greatly disturbed - Ac 4:1-2
    2. While many people believed, with believers numbering 5000 - Ac 4:4
  2. This conflicting reaction led to the persecution of the church in Jerusalem...
    1. What was the nature of this persecution?
    2. What lessons might we learn from it?

[The fourth chapter in Acts will answer such questions. So let's begin by reviewing...]

  1. THE ARREST OF PETER AND JOHN
    1. BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNCIL...
      1. Peter and John taken into custody - Ac 4:1-4
        1. By the priests, captain of the temple, and the Sadducees
        2. Who were upset by their preaching in Jesus the resurrection from the dead - cf. Ac 23:8
        3. Kept overnight until the next day
        4. The number of those who believed came to be about five thousand
      2. Their appearance before the Council (Sanhedrin) - Ac 4:5-7
        1. Before the rulers, elders and scribes
        2. Before Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, along with other family members of the high priest
        3. Peter and John challenged to explain by what power or name they have acted
      3. Peter's response as led be the Spirit - Ac 4:8-12
        1. Were they being judged for doing a good deed to a helpless man in making him well?
        2. It was by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth he was made whole
          1. Whom they crucified - cf. Ac 2:23,36; 3:14-15
          2. Whom God raised from the dead - cf. Ac 2:24,34; 3:15
          3. The stone rejected by the builders, now the chief cornerstone - cf. Ps 118:22
        3. There is salvation in no other name under heaven - cf. Mt 1:21; Jn 14:6
    2. THREATENED NOT TO TEACH...
      1. The council's reaction - Ac 4:13-18
        1. What the council saw
          1. The boldness of Peter and John - contra Jn 20:19
            1. Perceived as uneducated and untrained men
            2. Realized as having been with Jesus
          2. The man who had been healed
            1. Standing with Peter and John - cf. Ac 3:11
            2. Against whose healing nothing could be said
        2. What the council reasoned
          1. A notable has occurred, evident to all, none could deny
          2. To prevent further spread, to threaten the apostles
        3. What the council did
          1. Commanded Peter and John
          2. Not to speak at all or teaching in the name of Jesus
      2. Peter and John's reply - Ac 4:19-20
        1. Shall they listen to the council or to God? - cf. Ac 5:29
        2. They cannot but speak what they have seen and heard - cf. Ac 1:8; 2:32; 3:15
      3. Peter and John released - Ac 4:21-22
        1. Upon further threatening, but finding no way of punishing them
        2. Because of the people, who glorified God for what had been done - cf. Ac 3:9-10
        3. For the man who was healed was over forty years old (lame from birth) - cf. Ac 3:2

        [Thus the persecution against the Jerusalem church begins with threats (Ac 4:18,21) How did they respond? What can we learn from their response? As we continue, we read of...]

  2. THE PRAYER FOR BOLDNESS
    1. PETER AND JOHN RETURN...
      1. To their brethren - Ac 4:23
      2. To report all that had been said to them - cf. Ac 4:18
    2. THEIR PRAYER...
      1. Addressed to the Lord God, Creator of all things - Ac 4:24-28
        1. Who prophesied by the mouth of His servant David - cf. Ps 2:1
        2. Of the nations' rage and plotting against His Christ - cf. Ps 2:2-3
        3. As fulfilled by Herod and Pilate, by Gentiles and Israel
        4. Who did according to His predetermined purpose - cf. Ps 2:4-6; Ac 2:22
      2. Asking for all boldness in the face of such threats - Ac 4:29-30
        1. That His servants may speak His word
        2. That His hand might stretch out
          1. To heal, to do signs and wonders - cf. Ac 4:33; 5:12,15-16
          2. Through the name of His holy Servant Jesus - cf. Ac 3:16; 4:10
    3. THE ANSWER...
      1. The place in which they were assembled was shaken - Ac 4:31; cf. Ac 2:2
      2. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit - cf. Ac 2:4
      3. They spoke the word of God with boldness - cf. Ac 4:29
CONCLUSION
  1. The persecution against the church began with threats...
    1. Warned not to speak nor teach in the name of Jesus - Ac 4:18
    2. Which Peter and John were determined not to heed - Ac 4:19-20
  2. The response to this persecution was two-fold...
    1. Fellowship with one another - Ac 4:23,32; cf. Ac 12:5,12
    2. Prayer through which they received boldness - Ac 4:29,31; cf. Ep 6:18-20

Should we experience persecution, may we likewise respond with fellowship, prayer, and boldness...!