"It’s All About Jesus”

Acts Ch. 4

The Early Church started out strong. Things were exciting and thousands of people were following Jesus. There were mighty signs, wonders, healing, etc.… going on all the time. The Church was experiencing phenomenal growth; but all of a sudden, things began to change dramatically. The “Honeymoon” phase was over and opposition to the Church began to grow.

I want us to realize and know that it is not if, but

when opposition from the enemy will come.

One of the greatest comedy teams in early American movies were two men who couldn't have been more opposite; Englishman slender man, Stan Laurel and American thick man, Oliver Hardy - "Laurel and Hardy". For almost 30 years these two paired up to provide some of the best slapstick comedy around the world. Together, they stared in over 100 films and their work greatly influenced other great comedians that followed them like Jerry Lewis, Peter Sellers and Dick Van Dyke.

One of Laurel and Hardy's great lines that they used over and over again throughout their performances was this simple line said by Ollie towards Stanley - " Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into "

As we read our passage this morning, we can imagine John looking at the Apostle Peter and saying those same words - "Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into."

Peter and John had just been both praised by some and accused by others of healing the lame man. While others thought it was an act of God, the authorities in the Temple were not sure and so they had Peter and John arrested. I guess that is what you do when you think someone has done a miracle that you might consider unorthodox - you have them arrested. Since it was nearing the evening hours, they decided that it would be best to allow the two men to cool their heels in the local prison for a night. They would decide what to do about them the next morning when the whole Sanhedrin would be able to convene.

Verse 2 says “(they were) greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming IN Jesus the RESURRECTION from the dead.” (PAUSE) So… what’s wrong with that? Do you believe in the resurrection of the dead? So, do I. But the problem was... the Sadducees didn’t believe that. And they got pretty ticked off at those who did believe it!!

“The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead and so they were very SAD U SEE” (I worked on that one all week).

let’s pray.

ILL: There’s the true story of a southern church that had been stressing the importance of witnessing to people. One particularly slow young man named Jimmy in the congregation took the idea to heart, but he wasn’t quite sure how to do it. Then, that Sunday, a skeptic visited the church, and the boy approached him and asked if he wanted to become a Christian. The man looked coldly at him and said "NO! I have no intention of becoming a Christian." The young man was quiet for a moment, then responded: “Well, then you can go to hell” … and he turned and walked away.

The starkness of the boy's sincerity and bluntness shook the man and ultimately, he turned his life over to Jesus. (PAUSE) You can go to hell!

Do you suppose that young man was trying to insult the visitor? Me neither. I think that what that young man was telling the skeptic was the truth: If the man refused to turn to Jesus… he’d go to hell.

NOW, HOLD THAT THOUGHT. As we go thru today message….

A quick review the background of our story this morning. In Acts 3 we read about Peter and John going to the Temple to pray... but on the way they met a lame man and they healed him. This man was so excited about being healed that he began walking and leaping and praising God… and he also begins to draw a crowd… because everybody there KNEW him, and they were shocked to see that he could now walk.

Peter never one to let a good crowd go to waste, begins to preach. He tells the people that there was a reason this man could walk… and that reason was Jesus. This was Jesus, the Messiah that Israel had waited so long for… and then THEY KILLED HIM. Which bring us to Acts ch.4

1)The Court was Corrupt. Acts 4:5-7 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”