Evidence That You Have Been With Jesus Series

Evidence That You Have Been With Jesus

Acts 4:13-21

When I was in the road construction industry, one of my vendors was a huge fan of Alabama football. Even though I made it abundantly clear that I could not care less, he would spout out useless facts and statistics every time he came into my office. Even in the off season, football was still his main topic of conversation. He could tell you all about the current recruiting class, the schedule for the following year, and many other topics surrounding the Crimson Tide.

It doesn’t take long when speaking with someone to find out what they are most passionate about. Within a few minutes of conversation you can tell how they spend their time and what their interests are. This is true in church life as well. When a group of believers have been a part of a special event there is often a renewed zeal that is apparent in their life.

For example, when certain Christians spend a few days at a spiritual retreat; after several days of worship, prayer and Bible study, there is often a revived interest in the things of God. Entire churches sometimes experience this kind of renewal after a week-long “revival” meeting. As a result of assembling together for several days, worshipping, praying, and listening to powerful and convicting sermons there is ample evidence that the congregants have spent time with Jesus. When these things happen, these individuals cannot help but talk about what God has done (and is doing) in their lives.

While this kind of renewed zeal and passion for the things of God is encouraging, it should not be something that is only once or twice a year. Having a personal and powerful encounter with Jesus Christ is something that Christians should experience on a daily basis. Furthermore, when we have these experiences it will be apparent to everyone we encounter that we have been with the Savior.

This was the case for the Lord’s Apostles in our selected text. Peter and John were bold witnesses of Jesus who had spent ample time with Him and it was obvious to everyone, even the enemies of Christ.

The Apostles had been with the Savior for over three years; during that time He taught them and prepared them for this specific time in their lives. They had been equipped by Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit. He called them to serve Him, they were obedient to His call and as a result of their obedience they were seized, arrested and persecuted. However, they were not discouraged by their circumstances; rather than becoming disillusioned or bitter, they seized this opportunity to preach Jesus to the members of the Sanhedrin.

- I would like to look at this encounter and preach on the subject “Evidence That You Have Been With Jesus”

Peter and John had been preaching at Solomon’s Portico and when word reached the “the priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees”, they seized them and took them into custody. Peter and John spent the night in jail but their faithfulness to the Gospel produced much fruit. Verse 4 says that “many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.”

The following morning the members of the Sanhedrin assembled and asked the Apostles “By what power or in what name have you done this?” Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter spoke up and proclaimed to the council and to all who were in attendance that “Jesus Christ of Nazareth”, (the very man that they were guilty of crucifying) had been raised from the dead and that He was the one who healed the lame man. He went on to say that “This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

This is certainly not what the people expected, nor was it something that they wanted to hear. But the events of the previous day had put the members of the Sanhedrin in a difficult predicament. (v13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.)

Peter and John were uneducated and untrained fishermen from Galilee and the religious leaders could not deny the power and boldness that they possessed. Furthermore, they could not ignore the miracle in the life of the lame man. However, instead of believing the testimony of the Apostles, the Sanhedrin sought to suppress their message. They threatened them and tried to convince them to cease preaching in Jesus name. (v17 so that this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.” 18 So they called for them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.)