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). Heralding in the Homes (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.
• TRANSITION: Pressure can either work for us or against us.
• In our Bible passage today, the young Church will be put ‘under pressure’.
• But it will be a different type of pressure to the one you saw in your last study.
• You recently looked at verses 1-16:
• Where we saw opposition or ‘pressure’ to the Church from within.
• The problem was at the sad story of Ananias and Sapphira,
• They sinned and were punished because of their dishonesty, deceit, and hypocrisy,
• Today in verses 17-42:
• We will see another type of opposition or ‘pressure’ to the Church,
• This time it comes from outside forces, the religious authorities.
Note:
• We will read the passage as we go through it one section of a time,
• But if you read the passage before you came out today,
• Did you notice during the Bible reading of 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 full English 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.
• e.g., Solomon’s Colonnade (vs 12).
• e.g., The public Jail (vs 18-20):
Place #1. Joy in the Jail (vs 18-20):
Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
Ill:
• Did you know that cats can’t taste the flavour of sweetness?
• That’s right. Felines cannot taste sweet.
• It’s like their tongues are colour blind to sugar.
• No wonder cats are so grumpy all the time!
• They can taste sour, bitter, saltiness, and meatiness, but not sweetness!
• So next time you see a dog barking at a cat,
• Who knows, maybe the dog is just trying to cheer the cat up!
• TRANSITION: Some people don’t have a lot of joy,
• Like a cat they can taste the sour, bitter things in life but not sweetness!
• As followers of Jesus, he gives us joy!
• The fruit of the Spirit is, “Love, joy…” (Galatians chapter 5 verses 22-23)
• Happiness may depend on relationships or circumstances,
• But joy can be constant whatever our situation.
• Because our joy is centred, it is fixed in an unchanging God!
Now these apostles have gone from freedom to captivity,
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 place,
• Every prisoner wears a drab uniform,
• And whatever anyone says to you, prisons are not very pleasant places,
• They always leave you feeling miserable.
• TRANSITION:
• Now these apostles have gone from freedom to captivity,
• The freedom and the opportunities to share their faith,
• •The freedom and the opportunities to use their spiritual gifts in building up the Church.
Prison cells are designed to restrict your movements and contact with other people.
• If you are stuck within four walls,
• Humanly speaking your opportunities to serve God are virtually zero!
• Now to the casual reader it might seem that someone has put the brakes on their mission!
• Or have they?
• Even though they are restricted to a prison cell,
• We are going to see that God's will is still being done!
• God can use ‘all things’ (even bars, bricks & mortar) 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!
Miraculous escape (vs 19-20):
“But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.””
• Angels are supernatural creatures, spiritual beings, messengers & agents of God,
• From the first chapters of Genesis to the closing verses of Revelation,
• Angels play an important role in the Bible narrative.
• Angels are powerful, fascinating creatures,
• That appear in many different ways and in many different situations.
• According to Hebrews chapter 1 verse 14,
• “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
• The Bible doesn’t give any precise descriptions of what angels look like,
• They often appear in different forms.
• Some angels appear as normal men and others as those dressed in white light.
• The word “angel” comes from the Greek word “angelos,” which means “messenger.”
• And this angel delivers his message, sets them free and then disappears.
Place #2: Teaching in the Temple (vs 21-26).
“At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.
When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So, they went back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to.
Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.
• Note: the new location - from the jail to the temple.
• On their release they go straight back to the temple full of excitement and joy,
Ill:
• A few months ago, there was a sign outside a garden center/nursery that read:
• "It’s spring! We’re so excited, we wet our plants!"
• (a play on the English sounding words pants/underwear and plants)
• TRANSITION:
• Well Peter & John had just experienced the incredible power of God first-hand.
• Supernatural deliverance and an angelic being instructing them to go,
• You could say they were a bit excited!
• Note:
• In verse 20 they were instructed to, 20 “Go…and tell the people all about this new life.”
• And in verse 21 we read, “As they had been told, and began to teach the people.”
• Notice: They are not to go back and talk about the angel & their supernatural encounter,
• That is a human reaction to their experience.
• They have a bigger and better message than that to proclaim!
• NIV: “about this new life.”
• KJB: “the words of this life.”
• J.B. Phillips New Testament: “Tell the people all about this new life!”
Ill:
• Author Tim Chester describes his feelings to do evangelism,
• Like the end of a tube of toothpaste.
• You carefully role up the tube to squeeze out that last bit of toothpaste.
• He says,
“That’s how his evangelism so often feels.
I wrap myself in guilt until a tiny bit of Jesus squeezes out!”
• TRANSITION: In contrast to Tim’s honest admission,
• If we grasp the fact that we have, “words of life!”
• Evangelism should be more like a champagne bottle which has just gone off with a bang,
• The champagne is pouring out, down the bottle, up someone’s arm, into a glass,
• Onto the floor – fizzing and bubbling out everywhere!
• TRANSITION: We live in a world of spiritually dead people,
• (“dead in your transgressions and sins,” Ephesians chapter 2 verse 1)
• And you and I have the words of life!
• There may be better preachers and evangelists than me & you,
• But there is no better message! So, let’s go with confidence!
But notice that not everyone was happy with the apostles evangelising!
• 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. Courage before the Court (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,
• Because of that word 'Sanhedrin':
Ill:
• The 'Sanhedrin', was the highest authority in Jewish affairs,
• It met in the Court Room in Jerusalem.
• 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!”
• TRANSITION:
• 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”.
• Such is their hatred towards Jesus Christ,
• They are unable or unwilling even to acknowledge or speak his name.
• 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 Sanhedrin then bring their charges against the apostles (vs 28b):
• “You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching”.
• To paraphrase their words and attitude,
• “You have disobeyed us by constantly telling people the message of Jesus.”
• And if that was not bad enough, don’t miss their next statement!
• “You are making us guilty of this man’s blood”.
• That is, you keep blaming us for the death of Jesus!
Ill:
• At Speakers Corner, Hyde Park, London,
• I get asked this question often, who killed Jesus Christ!
• I think the Muslims who ask the question, really want me to answer by saying the Jews!
• But I always answer it this way – show mw a cross or I use a cross that I have.
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 and turned it around for our good!
Peter and the apostles reply to the Sanhedrin’s question (vs 29).
• They give the same answer they gave last time they were brought before the court.
• (Chapter 4 verse 19) "We must obey God rather than men!"
• Peter tells the Sanhedrin that they cannot do anything but preach this message,
• They are men on a mission, men who are committed to following their given orders,
Then Peter goes on to give 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'.
• Every Christian should be a good citizen of their country,
• But…when the laws of that country clash with and contradict God’s word,
• We then say no! We are under a higher authority,
• We march to the beat of a different drum!
Note:
• The wisdom and tact of Peter.
• He uses this occasion to evangelise,
• To present to these religious leaders the good news concerning Jesus Christ:
• Note 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).
With those words, Peter has now touched one raw nerve too many!
• Verse 33 records the reaction of the Sanhedrin:
• And it is not a good response, to say they are angry is an understatement.
• "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 because he had the respect of the council,
• They were prepared to listen to him.
Gamaliel (vs 34) can diffuse this volatile 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).
Ill:
• 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,
• Theudas & Judas were two of those would be messiahs.
• TRANSITION:
• 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".
Note verse 40:
• His speech spared the apostles lives,
• But they were still punished by being whipped before being released!
Place #4: Heralding in the homes (vs 41-42).
“The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 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.”
• These last 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.
• “in the temple courts and 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 to answer questions,
• And as people came to faith, and to pray together.
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, the marketplace,
• 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 in homes,
• 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:
In his book, ‘Why Christians Sin,’ J. K. Johnston writes.
“Christ met unbelievers where they were. He realized what many Christians today still don't seem to understand. Cultivators have to get out in the field. According to one count, the gospels record 132 contacts that Jesus had with people. Six were in the Temple, four in the synagogues and 122 were out with the people in the mainstream of life.”
• TRANSITION:
• Wherever we are, and whatever our circumstances,
• Let’s use the opportunity to, “speak words of life!”
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=c9gm4zkunyu7PJRkn3xqTf7RgKiyGgTH
