SCRIPTURE: ACTS 4
PETER AND JOHN BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN (vs. 1-22)
The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees were greatly disturbed because Peter and John were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. The people who heard the message believed and the number grew to about five thousand. So they seized Peter and John and put them in jail until the next day.
The next day, the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, Joh, Alexander and other men of the high priest’s family were there. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” (v. 7). 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 how 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.” (vs. 8-12).
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 (age 40 years old) 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 on what too do with Peter ands Joh. In order to stop them from spreading any further among the people, they warn these men not to speak to anyone 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.” (v. 20)./ 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.
THE BELIEVERS’ PRAYER (vs. 23-31)
After Peter and John were release, they 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 voice together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord, 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.” (vs. 25-26). 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.” (vs. 25-30). After they prayed, the place place where they met was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
THE BELIEVERS SHARE THEIR POSSESSIONS (vs. 32-37)
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his won, 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 up0on 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 apostle feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement) sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
THOUGHTS:
Peter proved from the Scripture in his sermon at Pentecost that Jesus was alive. Now he proved it by the miraculous healing of the beggar’s feet. The man was healed through the power of the name of Jesus. The Sadducees did not believe in resurrection, so they wanted to put a stop to the ministry of the apostles. This was the beginning of the official persecution of Christians. What will you do if someone tells you to stop sharing the gospel? Do you have the courage to witness for Christ at the risk of being rejected?
The believers depended on prayer when Peter and John were being attacked. They prayed for strength, healing and miraculous signs through the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. When we face opposition, we must direct our petition to the Lord through prayer.
When the believers prayed, they praised God, then they told God their specific problem and asked for his help. They did not tell God to remove the problem but to help them deal with it. This is a model for us to follow when we pray. We may ask God to remove our problems, and he may choose to do so. but we must recognize that often he will leave the problem and give us the strength and courage to deal with it.
The early church was able to share possessions and property as a result of the unity brought by the Holy Spirit working in and through the believer’s lives. They are willing to share and give because they adopt the attitude that everything they had came from God. As a result, there were no needy persons among them.