March 10, 2013

From Gary V. Womack... Persecution Begins


ACTS 4
Persecution Begins

Peter & John, after healing a lame man, had been preaching the gospel inside the temple grounds (on Solomon's porch)

Acts 4:1-4 Peter & John put in jail overnight - then tried next day

Mt. 10:16-20 In Jesus' limited commission, He warned of persecution.

Captain of the temple: In charge of the 24 courses of priests, elders, scribes and to maintain peace in the temple.

Sadducees: Denied the resurrection (Acts 23:8)
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vs. 5-6 Peter & John put on trial before the Sanhedrin

Rulers (chief priests), elders, scribes: 24 courses of each made up the Sanhedrin 72 total +

Acts 3:17-20 Peter & John's preaching charged their leaders as guilty.  This is why they had layed hands on them.

High priests - Annas (father-in-law of) & Caiphas. Aaronic priesthood was to be  a lifetime  appointment, but Roman rule appointed high priests as they chose.

Annas is the legitimate height priest, Caiphas was appointed by Rome

These 2 men were familiar with Jesus Christ from His trial:

Jn. 18:12-14, 24 Jesus was taken first to Annas, then to Caiphas
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vs. 7 This was a good question.

1 Pet. 4:11 "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone
ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all
things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong
the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."
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vs. 8-12 Jesus is identified as "the stone which you builders rejected.

Psm. 118:22

The chief priests and elders questioned Jesus' authority too & He identified Himself as the rejected chief cornerstone.

Mt. 21:23, 42-43 "Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, 'By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?' "
(42) "Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes ' (43)
Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing fruits of it."

vs. 12 There is no other name under heaven...by which we must be saved.

This excludes Mohammed, Buddha, Joseph Smith, or any other.

Paul rebuked the Corinthians for following men:

1 Cor. 1:12-13 "Now I say this, that each of you says, 'I am of Paul,' or 'I am of Apollos,' or 'I am of Cephas,' or 'I am of Christ.' (13) Is Christ divided?
Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
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vs. 13 Seeing their boldness, they perceived they had been with Jesus

Can the world identify us as being a follower of Christ?

Do we spend enough time with Him in His word & prayer to be so identified?

When Peter denied Jesus in the high priest's courtyard:

Mt. 26:73 "And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, 'Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.' "
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vs. 14-16 They couldn't deny the miracle. They had seen this man daily at the temple - everyone knew him.
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vs. 17-22 The Sanhedrin try to intimidate them by threatening them.

We might ask, "by what authority" did they forbid them to preach in the name of Jesus Christ.

Note - They did not forbid them to teach at all, just not in the name of Jesus Christ.

However - If they couldn't proclaim what they had seen and heard, then there was no message to preach.

1 Cor. 15:12-19 Herein are the consequences of preaching anything other than the gospel - we become liars proclaiming a message without hope.

vs. 23-30 The prayer of the disciples - for praise to Him, for boldness to speak through His power, and for His help.

Their reaction to the threat was joy to be worthy to suffer:

Jas. 1:2-4 "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (4) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

Their praise to God was acknowledged by quoting from Psm. 2

Psm. 2:1-ff A prophecy foretelling of oppositions to Christ and His overcoming them by His great power - In His power He laughs at their feeble attempt to fight against Him.

Isa. 40:21-24 The great and powerful are but mere stubble before God.


INVITATION

Where will you place your trust? In Him who can take away sin.

Mt. 10:28-31 In Jesus' limited commission, He reassures the apostles and tells them where to put their fear, their reverence & their trust.

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