SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). Joy in the Jail (vs 18-20)
(2). Teaching in the Temple (vs 21-26)
(3). Courage before the Court (vs 27-40)
(4). House to House (vs 41-42)
SERMON BODY:
We use the word, ‘pressure’ in a variety of ways.
• e.g., We put air in our tires and check the pressure.
• e.g., You go to the doctors only to be told, “You have high blood pressure”.
• e.g., In sport athletes often say, “I work better under pressure.”
• e.g., When life is busy, we say, “I am under so much pressure.”
• e.g., At school or at work we can often face, peer pressure.
• Pressure can either work for us or against us.
• In our Bible passage today, the Church will be put ‘under pressure’.
• But it will be a different type of pressure to the one we saw in our last study.
• Last week we looked at verses 1-16:
• Where we saw opposition or ‘pressure’ to the Church from within.
• As we looked at the sad story of Ananias and Sapphira
• Today in verses 17-42:
• We will see opposition or ‘pressure’ to the Church from outside forces.
• This pressure will come from the religious authorities.
Note: Did you notice during the Bible reading that Acts chapter 5 is a series of places?
Ill:
• Joke - talking of places – I like the story of the man who went to a restaurant,
• On the menu it said, ‘They served breakfast at any time’.
• So, he ordered an English breakfast during the Reign of Charles 2nd!
• Now if you scan through Acts chapter 5 with me,
• You will see that a variety of places are mentioned.
(A). The Places:
• We noted last week that these Christians met in Solomon's Colonnade (vs 12).
• This was a long porch:
• Stretching along, the eastern side of the temple courtyard.
• It sounds grand and the architecture was magnificent,
• But if you were actually there,
• It would have felt anything but a dignified religious sight.
• Because it was full of the sick and the feeble, the diseased, the afflicted and the disabled.
• It was full of beggars, the unfortunates of society.
• All over the world you find beggars outside religious buildings,
• Because they know that those worshippers who enter these places,
• Are often generous towards them.
• So, this grand colonnade,
• Looked more like a cross between a card-board city and a General Hospital.
• Now the first place in today’s study is…
Place #1. The Jail (vs 18-20):
“They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail”.
Ill:
• Joke – talking of jail – I like the story of…
• The woman who was in court for stealing a tin of pineapples.
• The judge said he was going to send her to jail for every pineapple-chunk in the tin.
• At that point her husband shouted out; “She also stole a tin of peas!”
Okay, back to the serious stuff:
• Now what a contrast,
• The grand architecture of the colonnade to the grey depressing walls of a “Public Jail".
Ill:
• Now I have been to prison on many occasions,
• (don’t panic not as a prisoner but as a visiting speaker taking prison chapel services)
• Every prison I have ever been into is a depressing sight,
• Every prisoner wears a depressing uniform,
• Even today prisons are not very pleasant places, they leave you feeling despondent.
Notice another contrast between the prison and the colonnade,
• In the colonnade they had freedom to mix and mingle.
• Freedom and the opportunity to practice their faith and to use their spiritual gifts.
• In contrast, now in prison they are confined in a secure cell,
• Now their opportunities to serve God are limited, virtually zero!
• Now it seems to the casual reader,
• That someone has put the brakes on their mission!
• Or have they?
• Even though they are confined in a public jail,
• We are going to see that God's will is still being done!
• God is able to use ‘all things’ for his purposes and glory!
Ill:
• Alfred Hitchcock the famous film director always appeared in each one of his films,
• Normally it was just for a few seconds or minute (play ‘spot the Hitchcock’)
• In contrast Shakespeare never appears in any of his plays.
• Yet his presence is pervasive, in every act, in every line of dialogue,
• Bears the imprint of his pen,
• Shakespeare is the hidden genius behind all the characters,
• The genius behind each twist of the plot, the genius behind every poignant ending.
• Transition - now in much the same way – every Christian.
• Should be assured that God is very much in this story of their lives!
• At time he may seem to be absent, invisible,
• But be assured that he is arranging our circumstances for his purpose and plans.
• In those times when heaven seems silent to our prayers.
• Be assured God is just off stage, cueing the characters and orchestrating the drama.
• Though God may at times seem invisible, never forget that his will is invincible!
Note: All though the chapter in every impossible situation you will see God intervene.
• With the sick at the colonnade - God brings healing.
• When they are prisoners locked up in jail - God brings freedom.
Place #2: The Temple Courts (vs 21-26).
“At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told,
and began to teach the people”.
• Once again Peter & John have moved location, this time from the jail to the temple.
• They return back to the temple full of excitement and joy,
Ill:
• Joke: A sign outside a garden nursery:
• "It’s spring! We’re so excited, we wet our plants!"
• Well Peter & John had just experienced the incredible power of God first-hand.
• Verse 19 tells us that:
“But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.”
• Wow! They had encountered an angelic being,
• A spiritual creature who delivered them supernaturally form their prison cell,
• The angelic creature also gave them some instructs as well.
“‘Go, stand in the temple courts,’ he said, ‘and tell the people all about this new life.’”
• Now the previous version of the N.I.V. before it was revised,
• Translated verse 20 as: “and tell the people the full message”.
• K.J.B translates it, “all the words of this life.”
• In other words, they were not to tone things down or miss out the controversial bits.
• They were to preach “the full message”.
• And not be concerned about upsetting people!
Quote the Bible teacher and author Stephen Gaukroger:
“So much of this account …… contrasts with Church life today.
They were bold, direct, rude and produced a commotion wherever they went.
We are often timid, evasive, overly polite and produce a stifled yawn wherever we go”.
They apostles return to the temple full of joy, full of confidence, full of faith!
• We would say they are on a spiritual high,
• They could not wait to share the message of Jesus!
• But not everyone was happy,
• The jailers and the religious officials have the opposite emotions to the apostles,
• And so, they have them rearrested as soon as they can.
Place #3. The Court Room (vs 27-40).
“The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.”
• Although the actual building it is not mentioned by name,
• We do know where exactly where the apostles have been taken too,
• The reason being that word 'Sanhedrin':
• The 'Sanhedrin', was the highest authority in Jewish affairs,
• It met in the Court Room in Jerusalem.
• The Sanhedrin was the supreme council of Jews which controlled civil and religious law.
Ill:
• At the time of Jesus,
• The Sanhedrin was at its peak of power and influence,
• This court wrote the final word concerning civil and religious law,
• It could order arrests by its officers,
• But they had limited powers, e.g., they could not kill a man (capital punishment).
• But to the people of Jesus’ day, it seemed that they could pretty much do anything else!
• I have often said, “Nobody messed with the Sanhedrin!”
• There was a name for anyone who did, they were called, “Victim!”
The apostles are brought before the Court and cross-examined (vs 27)
• Verse 28a: Informs us of the Pharisee's charge.
• "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name".
• Notice their language: “This name”.
• They are unable or unwilling even to acknowledge or speak the name of Jesus.
• e.g., Reminds me of the story of the Prodigal Son,
• The older son says to his father, “this son of yours” he is unable to call him his brother!
• Likewise, the religious leaders are unwilling to use the name, ‘Jesus.’
The apostles are then told by the Sanhedrin of the charges against them (vs 28b):
• “You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching”.
• That is: you disobeyed us by constantly telling out the message of Jesus.
• And if that was not bad enough, “You are making us guilty of this man’s blood”.
• That is, you keep blaming us for the death of Jesus!
Ill:
• At least they understood the gospel!
• Message is simple, quote: Acts chapter 2 verse 22-24 & 36.
““Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him”.
“Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.””
Question: Who killed Jesus?
Answer: Fourfold – illustration using the four pieces that make up a cross.
• One: The Jews killed Jesus by rejecting him,
• Perverting justice with false accusations and handing him over to the Romans.
• Acts chapter 2 verse 23.
This man was handed over to YOU…and YOU, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”
• Two:
• The Romans killed Jesus by doing the physical act of crucifixion.
• Acts chapter 2 verse 23.
This man was handed over to you…and you, with THE HELP OF WICKED MEN, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”
• Three: Human beings killed Jesus.
• Because it was for our sins he died, “While we were still sinners Christ died for our sins”.
• Romans chapter 5 verse 8.
• Four: God the Father:
• Isaiah chapter 53 verse 10.
“Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.”
• TRANSTION: Yes, the Jews killed Jesus, but so did the Gentiles.
• Mankind is guilty of his death,
• And God has used our wickedness for our good!
Note: This is very much Déjà vu for the apostles:
• Acts chapter 4 verses 18 & 21.
• They had completely ignored the instructions of the Sanhedrin.
• Verse 29: Peter and the apostles reply to the Sanhedrin’s question,
• (The same answer as the last time they were brought before them Ch 4 vs 19).
• "We must obey God rather than men!"
• Peter tells the Sanhedrin that they are only following orders,
• They are men on a mission (Chapter 4 verse 19).
Then Peter gave the Sanhedrin the answer they did not want to hear:
• He and the apostles would disobey civil and religious law,
• If they thought it clashed with God’s law.
Ill:
• That word translated 'obey' in verse 29.
• Is an unusual word in the New Testament and not very often used?
• In fact, it only occurs four times altogether.
• It means: 'exclusive obedience',
• Literally: 'absolute, unquestioning submission'.
Peter then presents to these religious leaders the good news concerning Jesus Christ:
• Notice in verses 30-32:
• Peter describes God as; “The God of OUR ancestors (or fathers)”.
• Peter is starting his talk on common ground,
• He is saying his God is their God, he is not preaching new truth but old truth!
PETER THEN ANNOUNCES THREE THINGS GOD HAS DONE IN JESUS CHRIST:
• FIRST: God raised Jesus from the dead (vs 30).
• “God raised Jesus from the dead – whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.”
• SECOND: God exalted Jesus to his right hand (vs 31).
• “God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour.”
• ill: In Grand Prix language, we would say, “He is on the winning podium”.
• From that exalted position Jesus is able to give two things,
• Both of which were the exclusive gifts of God: “Repentance” and “Forgiveness of sins”.
• THIRD: God has given his Spirit (vs 32b).
• “…and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
• In this verse Peter really sets the cat among the pigeons by saying:
• We are witnesses of these things (we saw it happen, and we are testifiers of these events).
• And so is God’s Holy Spirit (He saw it happen, and He testifiers of these events).
VERSE 33 RECORDS THE REACTION OF THE SANHEDRIN:
• Peter has now touched one raw nerve too many!
• His words have caused an angry, a ferocious reaction by the Council.
• "They were furious and wanted to execute them".
Most of the Sanhedrin wanted to put the apostles to death:
• And I think they would have,
• If hadn't been for one man called Gamaliel verse 34:
• Once again when the apostles are in an impossible situation,
• When they are cornered, with no way out.......... God steps in!
• He steps in by working through this unbeliever called Gamaliel.
• Gamaliel was a Pharisee,
• He was a very respected teacher, an outstanding expert on the law.
• In fact, Acts chapter 22 verse 3 tells us,
• The apostle Paul studied under him,
• He was a kindly man, with a far wider tolerance than his fellow Pharisees.
• And he had the respect of the council, and they listened to him.
Gamaliel (vs 34) is able to diffuses the situation in two ways:
• First: he removes the offending item, i.e., the apostles from view,
• That was wise, not see the apostles is a bit like pouring water on a lighted fuse.
• Second: he uses reason not emotion,
• Gamaliel uses as his argument:
• Two individuals called: Theudas & Judas (verse 35-37).
• In those days Palestine had a quick succession of fire brand leaders:
• Who set themselves up, as the deliverers of their country,
• Some even claimed to be the Messiah.
• These individuals:
• Came into prominence, and soon faded away,
• The point of Gamaliel's argument is verses 38-39:
• "If their purpose is of human origin, it will fail.
• But if it if from God, you will not be able to stop these men.
• You will only find yourselves fighting against God".
Notice verse 40:
• His speech spared the apostles lives,
• But they were still called in and whipped, perhaps 39 lashes!
• (i.e., Deuteronomy chapter 25 verse 3).
Place #4: Heralding in the homes (vs 41-42).
• These two verses are quite incredible,
• Instead of squashing the apostles’ spirits by given them a good beating,
• It had the opposite effect, and they are even more joyous and eager to share.
“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah”.
• 'From house to house',
• These Christians knew they could not survive by big meetings alone.
• They needed smaller groups to build relationships,
• To discuss and chat through sermons and to pray together.
• I believe these are get togethers serves the same purpose as our Thursday house groups.
Let me state the obvious.
• Church, meeting together for prayer and study and fellowship is God’s idea not mine!
• It is God’s idea that is taught in the New Testament letters,
• And illustrated for us in living examples this book (history book of the Church).
• We will keep pushing it in this Church.
• This is how the early Church grew, this is how any Church grows,
• And it is the only way this Church will grow!
• Grow closer to God, grow closer towards one another,
• And grow numerically as God works in us and through us.
Notice: They did two things (vs 42), “teaching and proclaiming.”
• Teaching: I take that to mean they taught the believers,
• Proclaiming: I take that to mean they preached the gospel to unbelievers.
• They taught and proclaimed in public places i.e., colonnade,
• And they taught and proclaimed in smaller places i.e., homes.
The point I want to make by pointing out all these places is:
• Everywhere the Apostles found themselves,
• In the colonnade, the jail, the temple, the courtroom, or on the streets
• They made it count for Christ!!!
• For them it mattered not, WHERE they were,
• They reacted no differently whatever their surroundings,
• In prison and therefore in hardships, or in the temple or in each other’s houses.
• To them WHERE they were was not important:
• But rather WHO was with them, i.e. The Lord was with them! (That's what counted)
• In their changing circumstances, they had an unchanging God.
• And a message that fitted all people in all situations!
ill:
• Winston Churchill was asked by his old Harrow school:
• To go back and address the schoolboys, he was at this time 75 years old.
• The headmaster of Harrow school told the students.
"Be ready with your pen and papers, because you will hear things that you will never hear from anybody else, what a speaker".
• When the time came:
• They were all eagerly perched on the edge of their seats, pens and paper at the ready,
• Churchill stood up unbuttoned his jacket:
• Slid his glasses to the end of his nose,
• Placed his thumbs in his waistcoat pocket.
• And this was his speech; "Never give up, never give up, never, never, never give up".
• And then he sat down!!!!!
That's the massage of Acts chapter 5.
• It is so easy to look within at our circumstances:
• To sit there licking our wounds,
• To feel sorry for the rough deal we have been given,
• We can easily get overwhelmed by the situation.
• Or we find strength in God to handle the pressure and grow through it.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=IJwzefVzRBdX3N0wIm3nTuVWrdBxxM9S
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/W5K0OF8SvQs
