Acts 5:27-32 Riders of Storms
1. We may call the early disciples Riders of the Storm conflict, controversy, cruelty, corruption,
They were riders of the storms because of their Faith
• In the book of Acts we learn about the strength of their faith
• They encountered religious hardships, political struggles and great persecution
• Despite these issues they met together, they followed the teaching of the apostles, sharing possessions, praying in the temple and praising God. Because of this, the Christian community grew rapidly. Acts tells us that “day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved” (2:47).
2. They rode out storms by just having Faith
• One day, Peter and John went up to the temple. There, Peter healed a crippled man. Peter faith was in Jesus. He said, silver and gold have I none but such as I have I thee in the name of Jesus rise up and walk.
• Peter had great faith because he spoke to the people about the power of Jesus to heal and forgive.
• A group of religious leaders came to them, “much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead” (4:2).
• Faith gave them power. The religious leaders arrested Peter and John and put them in custody. When questioned about the source of their power, Peter said, “this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead” (4:10).
3. The early Disciples faith rode the storms of Fear
• They were fearless because of faith in Christ. The leaders who arrested them were amazed and initially did not know what to do. They ordered Peter and John to stop teaching in the name of Jesus.
• Peter and John were so empowered by their faith they refused to stop speaking about him.
• Peter and John said, “we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard” (4:20). The leaders threatened them, but then let them go.
4. Although storms kept coming so did faith keep growing
• Peter and John prayed with the other followers of Jesus, and “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness” (4:31).
• The apostles went out, with great power, to give their testimony to the resurrection of Jesus.
5. When storms come so does Faith arise
• Because the apostles healed the sick the high priest and the Sadducees threw the apostles in prison.
• But in the middle of the night, an angel of the Lord freed them.
• The religious leaders rounded them up again and brought them back to the high priest and the religious council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us” (5:27-28).
• Peters Faith rose up answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority” (v. 29).
• Peter and John could not stop talking about the good news of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
6. The Rider of the Storm Peter
• He offered a powerful statement of faith: “The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him” (vv. 30-32).
• The religious leaders were enraged by Peter’s words and wanted to kill the apostles. But Gamaliel calmed the storm by saying to the leaders, “I tell you … let them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them — in that case you may even be found fighting against God!” (vv. 38-39).
• Like Peter and the apostles, we must obey God rather than any human authority. This means having the courage to put God first, in terms of ministry and mission.
• When we welcome strangers, visit people in prison, feed the hungry and care for the sick, we are putting God first.
