Been With Jesus

Been with Jesus

Acts 4:1-17

Michael Rogers told a story from over 200 years ago of a man in civilian clothes who rode past a small group of tired and battle-weary soldiers.

They were digging out what appeared to be an important defensive position, but their leader wasn’t helping at all.

Their leader just shouted orders and threatened to punish the group if the work wasn’t completed within the hour.

The stranger on horseback asked, “Why aren’t you helping?”

Their leader said, “I’m in charge! The men do as I tell them”. He added “Help them yourself if you feel so strongly about it.”

To the mean leader’s surprise, the stranger got off his horse and helped the men until the job was finished.

Before he left, the stranger congratulated the men for their work and approached the confused leader.

The stranger said, “You should notify top command next time your rank prevents you from supporting your men – and I will provide a more permanent solution”.

The humbled leader recognized the stranger as General George Washington and was taught a lesson he would never forget!

1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." NKJV

Please open your Bibles to Acts 4 as we continue that study.

Last week we saw how the radical transformation of a crippled beggar was attractive to the people there that day and it provided an opportunity for the proclamation of the Gospel.

Peter reminded the crowd that the LORD was more than able to perform the miracle of healing, after all, there are thousands of testimonies in Israel’s history about the LORD’s miracles.

We also learned no to steal God’s glory! Pointing people to yourself, instead of the LORD is blasphemy and idol worship!

We learned that we are made right with the LORD when we trust in Jesus’ shed His blood, as He sacrificed His life for us.

The lame man went from a broken, needy person, to a child of God, leaping and praising the LORD in a moment's notice.

The LORD saved and transformed us for eternal life and a relationship with Him, but He also saved and transformed us so we would become a witness for Christ.

Today, we will see how the religious leaders were upset because of this miracle so when Peter gave a defense for what had taken place, they realized he had been with Jesus.

I. The religious leaders were mad.

Read Acts 4:1-6

In Acts 4, we see the Priests, the Sadducees, the Rulers, elders, scribes, and others from the family of the High Priest.

Also present was the captain of the Temple, Annas the High Priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander.

James Montgomery Boice said, “They were declaring: We have the power. If you are allowed to preach, as you have been preaching, it is because we have permitted you to do it.

“Anytime we want, we can arrest you and carry you off to jail.”

These religious leaders were mainly upset for two reasons…

1. Peter and John were preaching Jesus, as the Christ.

Although these religious leaders had witnessed the fulfilment of Messianic prophecies by Jesus, they were more concerned with losing their positions than finding Messiah.

Peter was not arrested for teaching dangerous theology, or for an uprising, but for teaching Jesus as Messiah, God the Son.

There were around 7000 priests at this time, as well as the offices of High Priest and Chief Priest. The Sadducees were the wealthiest families and controlled the office of High Priest.

2. Peter and John were teaching about Jesus’ resurrection.

The Sanhedrin was council of religious leaders that was ruled by two groups, the Pharisees and Sadducees, who were aristocrats that were more concerned with politics than religion.

The Pharisees held to the belief that oral tradition had equal authority to the written Word of God, but the Sadducees only considered the written Word to be from God.

There was another difference with the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The Sadducees didn’t believe in angels, miracles, or the resurrection from the dead. That’s why they were sad, you see!

When Paul was being questioned in Acts 23:6, But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!"

Acts 23:7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.

Acts 23:8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection — and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. NKJV

• It was the Sadducees who got angry over Jesus cleansing the temple and teaching on the resurrection.