Unexpected Advice

Unexpected Advice

Acts 5:29-42

Does the LORD ever use non-believers or pagan people to speak truth or accomplish His will?

In the Old Testament prophecy of Habakkuk, the LORD said He would use Babylon, which was a “ruthless” and “dreaded” nation, to achieve His purposes and correct Israel.

The LORD is not the author of sin, and He doesn’t create evil; however, He does work things out for good, and sometimes, He uses an evil situation or an evil person to accomplish His will.

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. NKJV

The LORD’s sovereignty can be a difficult truth to process because at times, He uses miracles to change a situation, but at other times, He works in ways we don’t understand.

Please open your Bibles to Acts 5.

Last time, in the Book of Acts, we studied how miracles happened as an answer to the early Christian's prayers, as the Church was keeping the main thing, the main thing.

The Sadducees were slow to learn, and they were so hard-hearted that they did not recognize the LORD’s hand at work.

Peter told them he was given a job to do by Jesus, and he was not going to let their threats stop him from following the plan.

We ended the sermon talking about some things in our lives that can cause spiritual cataracts.

We need to keep short accounts with Jesus and make sure we are surrendered to His Spirit so we can see things with His eyes.

We read “And believers were increasingly added to the Lord.”

Even though some people were apprehensive about following Christ after the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, the church kept growing, even though being a Christ-follower was costly.

Today, we will hear Peter’s defense to the religious leaders, and we will also see how the LORD allowed a non-believer to speak truth, even when he probably didn’t realize he was doing it.

I. Peter’s defense.

Read Acts 5:29-32

Last time, the Apostles were set before the council with an attempt to intimidate them and stop them from preaching about Jesus.

Acts 5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,

Acts 5:28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!"

In Acts 5, it seems the religious leaders were accusing the Apostles of two things: disobedience to the Sanhedrin and trying to blame them for the murder of Jesus Christ.

Here, in our passage, Peter stood up as the spokesman for the Apostles and gave a defense to the charges.

1. The charge of disobedience of the religious leaders.

Peter pleaded guilty to the first charge from these leaders.

Notice, “We ought to obey God rather than men”. When the angel broke them out of prison in Acts 5:19-20, the angel told the Apostles to go out and preach the Gospel.

Peter’s first defense is similar to how he answered in Acts 4:19.

Acts 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.

Acts 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." NKJV

The religious leaders were concerned with man’s opinion not the LORD’s and they were constantly afraid of the majority of the people overthrowing their authority.

Believers are to obey the law of the land, except when those laws directly contradict the Word of God. Peter and John were compelled to speak about the things they had seen and heard.

2. The charge of accusing the Sanhedrin of killing Jesus.

First, let’s talk about who raised Jesus from the dead because Acts 5:30 says, “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus.”

The Greek word “God” in Acts 5:30 is Theos, referencing the Godhead, the trinity according to Strong’s G2316.

God the Father raised Jesus to life: Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead).

God the Spirit raised Jesus to life. Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. NKJV

Jesus raised Himself to life: John 2:19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." NKJV

All 3 members of the Trinity raised Jesus; who killed Jesus?