August 17, 2025 a.m. Acts 4:1-13 “I’ve been with Jesus”
As you all probably know, school has already started or is getting ready to start. I read about a little boy who got into a lot of trouble. The teacher asked the students what they’re favorite animal was. And when it got to the little boy he said it was a chicken because he LOVED FRIED CHICKEN. The other kids laughed and the teacher didn’t think it was funny so she sent him to the principal’s office. The principal told the little boy he kind of agreed with him and thought it was funny but he ended with, “Don’t do it again.”
So the next day the teacher asked the children what they’re favorite LIVING ANIMAL WAS. The kids answered a dog, cat and so on and when they go to the little boy he said his favorite living animal was a CHICKEN because you can FRY CHICKENS. The kids all laughed and the teacher didn’t and so back to the principal’s office he went. The principal said, “Now I see your point and it’s kind of funny but ... “Don’t do it again.”
And so the next day back in class the teacher asked the children who they’re favorite PERSON was. The kids answered that it was their mama or daddy or grandma. And when it came around to the little boy he said ... “Colonel Sanders because he makes the best fried chicken!!!” And back to the office he went.
You know, if you spend any amount of time with people, it doesn’t take too long to figure out some things about them. What they LIKE and what they don’t LIKE.
What’s IMPORTANT in their life and what doesn’t matter.
I guess there can be no doubt that FRIED CHICKEN was pretty important to this BOY. It was all he could think about.
And hey, I get that, I like fried chicken too. It seems like young people now-a-days like their Chick Filet. But give me a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken Original Recipe and I am GOOD TO GO. They can keep their Chick Filet.
But getting down to business here, we’re gonna read out of the Book of Acts, Chapter 4. And we’re gonna see what was important to the Apostles Peter and John. What made a HUGE IMPACT in their lives. So let’s begin reading at Verse 1 and we’ll read through Verse 13.
“And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
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 stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
Chapter 4 is a continuation of the story we find in Chapter 3, Peter and John are walking up to the Temple and they are entering in at the Gate called Beautiful. And setting there at that gate is a fellow who has NEVER been able to walk. No doubt it’s what we would call today Cerebral Palsy. He has been carried there by someone who must have cared about him.
And he is BEGGING for ALMS. He’s asking people to have PITY on him and give him money. And so as Peter and John approach the man he asks them to give a little. But here’s the deal. They had NONE to give. ZERO. They were BUSTED BROKE!!! But they knew a GOD who owned everything. They knew a GOD who would SUPPLY every NEED they had. Man I love this story. Verses 4-6 of Chapter 3 tell us,
“And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”
And STRENGTH came into his ANKLES and FEET and he JUMPED UP and WALKED. And he began PRAISING GOD. And, NO DOUBT, it made quite a SCENE. I would have LOVED to have been there and seen that.
And so looking there at Chapter 3, Verses 12-26, this gives Peter an OPENING to PREACH to the people there at the TEMPLE ... JESUS. He PREACHED JESUS to them!!! He PREACHED the DEATH, BURIAL and RESURRECTION of JESUS to them. And here’s what happened. People began trusting in Jesus for SALVATION. In Chapter 2 we see the number is around 3000 but now it’s up to 5000.
And so Peter and John are ARRESTED and put in JAIL until the morning when the COURT will hear their CASE.
The last line of Verse 13, there in Chapter 4, is what I want to bring my message on this morning.
“and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” REPEAT I want bring a message, “I’ve Been with Jesus” And so before we go any further let’s go to the Lord in Prayer.
Brother ____, would you lead us?
And so Peter and John are setting there in JAIL and in the morning they will STAND BEFORE the SANHEDRIN COURT to be JUDGED. This was nothing but INTIMIDATION. The very people that had sat in JUDGMENT of JESUS just a short time earlier, would now set and JUDGE them. Look at these JOKERS. ANNAS was FORMER HIGH PRIEST but he still held a lot of INFLUENCE over the people. And then you had Caiaphas who was the son-in-law of Annas and now he is the current High Priest. Then you had two fellows by the name of John and Alexander. We’re not exactly sure who they were but they, no doubt, wielded a lot of INFLUENCE. And then you had “as many as were of the kindred of the high priest”
More family members of Annas and Caiaphas. That’s a REAL UNBIASED GROUP HUH? It sounds like Brother Peter and Brother John are SUNK. But they had ONE THING GOING FOR THEM. THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS!!!
I. And so look there in Verse 7. A QUESTION was ASKED.
“By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?”
Now I don’t know what kind of ANSWER these HIGHLY EDUCATED MEN of the SANHEDRIN COURT EXPECTED but it sure wasn’t what they got.
Maybe they thought that Peter and John would HIM HAW around. “Well, we’re not sure. We might have mentioned the name of Jesus.”
Maybe they thought that they would BEG for mercy. “Oh please don’t have us CRUCIFIED like you did Jesus. We won’t do it again.”
Maybe they thought that Peter and John would take the CREDIT for this miraculous HEALING. “We just grabbed him by the hand and he stood up. Really there was nothing to it.”
THAT’S NOT WHAT THEY GOT. Peter spoke with BOLDNESS. He was FILLED with Holy Ghost and he didn’t hold anything back. I’m gonna put it in Oklahoma Terms.
“Hey you YAHHOOS. You want to know HOW this man was able to walk? It was by the POWER of JESUS CHRIST. The SAME JESUS that you had CRUCIFIED. The SAME JESUS who GOD RAISED from the DEAD. The SAME JESUS that by HIS VERY NAME is this man HEALED.”
WOO-WEE, I can just imagine the look on their faces. “I thought we was DONE with Him.” But listen, Peter and John had all of this BOLDNESS because they had been with Jesus.
Can I ask you the same question that was asked of Peter and John? By what POWER or NAME are you living your life today? What is IMPORTANT to you? I hope it’s more than just eating Fried chicken. I hope it’s more than just Living your life. Day in and Day out. This is the question. What are you trusting in to make it to heaven? I hope you don’t have an answer like, “Well, I try to be a good person.” OR “I think I’m as good as the next fellow.” Or even, “I believe in God.”
Listen folks, those answers are NOT enough. You have to TRUST in JESUS. It’s by HIS POWER. It’s by HIM DYING on the CROSS for our SINS. And it’s by HIS RESURRECTION that we can have ETRNAL LIFE. It’s NOTHING that you can do or I can do. It’s what JESUS already did. And it’s by BEING with Jesus that you are SAVED TODAY. It’s the ONLY WAY.
II. A Statement was made. Look how this Sanhedrin Court could not understand what was going on. Look at Verse 13,
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled;”
“Woe, this doesn’t make any sense. These IGNORANT, UNLEARNED, SMELLY, HILLBILLY, FISHERMAN are a force to be reckoned with.” You see, instead of INTIMIDATING Peter and John, Peter and John were INTIMIDATING them. The TABLES had been turned.
Look at Verse 11. “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.”
BOOM. Here these UNLEARNED, IGNORANT MEN are quoting scripture. The TEACHERS are being TAUGHT!!! Peter and John were quoting Psalms 118:21-23
“I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.”
You ULTRA RELIGIOUS GUYS didn’t even recognize who Jesus was and so you had Him crucified. YOU MISSED THE BOAT. JESUS is the ONE who HEALED this man and HE is the ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN.
Verse 12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
You see, Peter and John had been with Jesus and it CHANGED THEM. These HIGH FOLUTIN JEWISH LEADERS just couldn’t understand the CHANGE that had taken place in Peter and John’s life.
Can I tell you something today. This is important. WHEN and IF you’re willing to spend some time with Jesus, He will change your life.
2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
And I want to say this right here. If there is NO CHANGE maybe you’re NOT in Christ. Maybe you haven’t spent anytime with Him. Because if you do, He will make a change.
I was thinking about this. Your OLD FRIENDS, you know, the ones you used to run around with, they won’t understand the CHANGE in your life. Why? Because you’ve been spending time with Jesus.
And something else. I really believe this. You’ll be able to say “NO” where in the PAST the Temptation was just TOO GREAT. Why? Because you’ve spent time with Jesus.
And one more thing. YOUR LIFE will be a TESTIMONY to others. You’ll have doors open for you to share Jesus and what He has done for you. It’s hard to argue against a PERSONAL TESTIMONY of the CHANGE JESUS has made in your life.
And all of this COMES when you have been with Jesus. It truly is AMAZING. Or as the Jewish Leadership said. THEY MARVELLED!!! Yes, the CHANGE JESUS MAKES in a person’s life is a MARVEL. Some of you folks setting here today are a MARVEL. You are AMAZING. You are NO DIFFERENT than the man who had been CRIPPLED ALL of his life but can now WALK. You have been CHANGED because you’ve been with Jesus!!!
III. And so a QUESTION was ASKED. Then a STATEMENT was GIVEN. And lastly, MOUTHS WERE SHUT. Oh I like this part. Look at Verse 14 of Chapter 4,
“And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.” Well Shut My Mouth.
Back in Chapter 3 we saw the man being healed. And in Verse 8 he immediately STAND UPS and start JUMPING around. He is PRAISING GOD as he WALKS into the TEMPLE. Something he had never done before.
Then on down in Verse 11 of Chapter 3 we see him standing there HOLDING PETER and JOHN. I can imagine him right in the middle there with a BIG GRIN on his face and his arms around Peter and John’s shoulders. Standing there like best buddies.
And now it’s the NEXT DAY. Peter and John are being TRIED by the Sanhedrin Court and who is standing next to them? This fellow who had been HEALED. Like I said earlier, it’s HARD to argue against a PERSONAL TESTIMONY.
“And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.”
I can just imagine Old Peter saying, “What’s the matter, the cat got your tongue?” THEIR MOUTHS WERE SHUT!!!
I want to finish up by reading Verses 15-20 of Acts 4.
“But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
Oh boy what a mess this Sanhedrin Court was in. How could they SAVE FACE? This just didn’t turn out the way they thought it would. They thought they could INTIMIDATE Peter and John. They thought they could SCARE THEM bad enough to keep their mouths shut. But it all BLEW UP in their face. Why? Because Peter and John had been with Jesus.
I don’t know what’s going on in your life today. I don’t know what TRIALS you face. I don’t know what BURDENS you’re carrying today. I don’t know what the ENEMY is doing to you today.
Later on John recorded Jesus saying that the ENEMY, the THIEF is coming to STEAL, KILL and DESTROY. That’s found in John 10:10.
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:”
So there’s NO DOUBT that he would like to do EXACTLY THAT to you today. But Jesus finishes up that passage by saying,
“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
So basically there’s your choice today.
You can SPEND TIME with the ENEMY, the DEVIL and he will STEAL EVERYTHING that means ANYTHING to you. He will KILL YOU, both BODY and SOUL. And eventually he will DESTROY EVERYTHING that is good in your LIFE.
OR ..... You can spend time with Jesus. And Jesus will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. That’s EXACTLY what happened to the Disciples. That’s exactly what happened to Peter and John.
And that’s EXACTLY what will happen in your life if you’ll TRUST HIM as your Savior.
Let’s Pray
