The book of Acts is marked by an outbreak of God's word confirmed by signs and wonders through the acts of the apostles who received the empowerment of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost in Chapter 2. And from there, the gospel continued to spread and flourish through men and women who were empowered, filled, and anointed by the Holy Spirit.
Mark 16:17- And these signs will follow those who [d]believe: In My name, they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they[e] will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” PROTECTION, MANIFESTATION OF GOD’S POWER THROUGH MIRACLES, SIGNS, AND WONDERS. THIS IS WHAT PETER AND JOHN IN THIS STORY HAVE EXPERIENCED AND WITNESSED!
Background: (Slide 3) In Chapter 3, Peter and John miraculously healed a 40-year-old man who was born lame (4:22) sitting at the Gate Beautiful while this man was trying to earn a living by begging those who entered the temple to pray. We don't have much information about how advanced medical science was then. Still, the age of the man suggests that man-made knowledge cannot undo what this man was born with – lame (3:2). The physical condition of this man limits his mobility and makes him dependent on others. V2 says that someone must put this man beside the Temple Gate daily so he can beg for a living (v3-5).
Peter and John happened to be going in, but before the duo could enter, the lame man asked them for money. But this man did not receive money from Peter and John. Instead, this man receives a miracle.
(Slide 4) 3:6-8 – Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God. (9-10)
It is a miracle for someone born crippled to walk for the first time in his life. The power of the Holy Spirit at work in Peter and John gave what this man needs, not money but the power and the ability to earn cash by restoring his whole life. In Australia, people who want to work until 70 or older may do so, although people can retire as young as 67. So, this man at the age of 40 still has a good number of productive years of employment if he desires, shy of 27- or 30 years fruitful years.
When God begins manifesting His power through signs and wonders, Satan throws into panic! Not long from there, the Devil sends his allies to sabotage God's power's manifestation. And Paul says, the devil does this through rulers and authorities who do not believe in God (Eph. 6:12)12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. BIBLE SCHOLARS SAY THE SANHEDRIN IS THE SENATE AND THE SUPREME COURT OF THE JEWISH NATION. THEY WERE THE ONES WHO INTERROGATED PETER AND JOHN.
4:13 Peter and John, fishermen by trade, had never received formal theological or rhetorical training in the rabbinical schools; they were ordinary men with no special training.
WOULD PETER AND JOHN BE INTIMIDATED BY their positions and political power?
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5) INTERROGATION: (Acts 4:5-11)
Question (4:5-7) “By what power, or in whose name, have you healed this cripple?”
Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: Rulers and elders of the people!
Answer: (4:8-11)
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stands here before you whole.
(Slide 5): "He was healed in the name and power of Jesus Christ.”
(SLIDE 6): BOLD WITNESS – uncontrollable/unstoppable/ (v20) “as for us, we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen (visible) and heard (audible) ---------
(SLIDE 7): BOLD – PARRHESIA (par-rhay-see-ah)/confident – not human quality but a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit. As the apostles stood there with the healed cripple, speaking with authority, the council members recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. Their boldness was possible only because they were filled with the Holy Spirit (4:8; cf. 4:29, 31; 9:27–28; 13:46; 14:3; 18:26; 19:8; 26:26; 28:31)
The healed man let everybody know that he was healed. An impossible dream had come true! He testified by deed: walking and jumping! He testified by word: praising God! He recognized that it was God who had healed him. Peter did not seek or receive any credit. The focus and the glory were on God.
.The people in the Temple who saw it could neither ignore nor doubt the power behind Peter's use of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. They all had known this lame man, and now they saw him whole. They were as surprised as the others had been three months earlier when they heard the tongues spoken on the Day of Pentecost. And they were just as ready as the others to listen to Peter's explanation.
Even up to now, the Holy Spirit has not stopped working. Without the Holy Spirit, there would be no church, no evangelistic impact, no miracles, and no expressions of the power of God. For it is not by human means, human power, or human might, but by the limitless power of the Holy Spirit that the kingdom of God advances on earth. Jesus builds His church through the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:12-32 – THE HOLY SPIRIT’S POWER CONTINUE IN THE CHURCH. The signs and wonders continue. In Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira – were struck dead on their feet when they lied against the Holy Spirit
The Apostles Heal Many
12 The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. 14 Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. 15 As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. 16 Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil[a] spirits, and they were all healed.
The Apostles Meet Opposition
17 The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, 20 “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”
21 So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching.
When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council[b]—the full assembly of the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought from the jail for trial. 22 But when the Temple guards went to the jail, the men were gone. So they returned to the council and reported, 23 “The jail was securely locked, with the guards standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!”
24 When the captain of the Temple guard and the leading priests heard this, they were perplexed, wondering where it would all end. 25 Then someone arrived with startling news: “The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!”
26 The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them. 27 Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. 28 “We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!”
29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross.[c] 31 Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. 32 We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”
FOR THE SECOND TIME – in verse 28 of C5, they were told to stop talking about Jesus. Jewish law specified that the guilty were to be warned and released at the first instance of a wrong or illegal action. The second time they did wrong, they were to be beaten with rods (5:28, 40). With this official order, the council would have legal grounds to impose more punishment in the future should the apostles choose to disobey.
We can’t help it. We must obey God rather than any human authority.
It is not an offense to God to not obey human authorities (Romans 13), whom He allowed to rule when their LEGISLATIONS clash with God's – goes against the word of God – ABORTION / KILLING BABIES / MERCY KILLING, AMONG MANY OTHERS! To have obeyed the council’s command would have been to disobey God.
You ask, why would Peter risk his life for Jesus? Is this man from Nazareth, son of a carpenter, worth his life? What must have been his experience of Jesus? What was Jesus like? Peter was an eyewitness.
The goodness of God – Peter was in the inner circle of Jesus. He was with Jesus when Jesus was transfigured (Matthew 17)
The Transfiguration
17 After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then, there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased. Listen to him!"
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
He was the first Spirit-filled preacher in Pentecost. Peter was there when Jesus fed 5000 people (2 fish and 5 loaves of bread) and 4000 people (7 loaves and a few small fish) with 7 large baskets of leftovers (Mark 8). Peter was present in every healing miracle, every preaching, and every teaching session by Jesus. Peter was an eyewitness! That’s his story.
These men had indeed "been with Jesus" (4:13), and he had completely transformed their lives. They had lived with him, witnessed his resurrection; they had experienced the filling of the Holy Spirit. And so they said, “We cannot stop telling about the wonderful things we have seen and heard.”
YOU CAN’T HELP IT. THE DEEDS OF GOD ARE WORTH TELLING.
The mighty acts of God are too powerful to hide. And who can stop the Lord Almighty? He is the Lion of Judah
- It will come out no matter how much you try to hide it.
- There are countless ways and proof that God exists. His deeds are one of those.
- Your very life is tangible, undeniable proof that God is real and He exists.
(Slide 9) – The man who was healed was in awe. What must have been going on in his head?
Luke, a physician, gives details—such as the bones of the feet and ankles receiving strength, Peter grasping him by the right hand, and the fact that it was a birth defect. Furthermore, long, drawn-out physical therapy did not seem to be called for, as it comes after much orthopedic surgery today.
But in moments, the invalid was leaping and running around. He didn't even have to teach himself to walk, which is surprising given that he had never previously learned how. What must he have done to deserve such kindness? Nothing. Just nothing but the goodness of God.
Why would God, who sits on the throne, even think of you and me?
Psalm 11:4-5 – The Lord is in his holy temple. The Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked those who love violence he hates with a passion.
God meets us at the crossroads of our lives. In God, there is no dead-end, just re-route or detour. God is there to uphold us with his righteous hands. God is there to defend us.
Psalm 7:10, God is my shield, saving those whose hearts are true and correct.
APPLICATION:
“Boldness.” We all need it. How the early believers received this boldness: they were filled with the Spirit (vs. 8 and 31), they prayed (v. 29), and they relied on the Word of God (vs. 25–28). You and I may have boldness in our walk and witness if we feed on the Word, pray, and surrender to the Spirit. We may have boldness on earth because Christ gives us boldness in heaven (Heb. 4:16 and 10:19).
A CHURCH GROWTH REPORT
[4] However, many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
LIVES CHANGED FOREVER! WE CAN’T HELP IT. WE CAN’T HELP TO TELL THE WORLD WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD.
