ACTS 4

1 The priest and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadduces came to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.

2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

3 They seized Peter and John and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.

 4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

5 The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.

 6  Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas John, Alexander and the other men of the high priests family.

7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them.By what power or by what name did you do this ?

8 Then Peter filled with the Holy Ghost said to them. Rulers and elders of the people. 

9 If we are being called into account today for a act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed

10  Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified but who God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

11 He is the stone you builders rejected which has become the capstone.

12 Salvation is found in no one else for their is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them there was nothing they could say.

15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.

 16 What are we going to do with these men ? They asked ? Everybody in Jerusalem knows they have done a outstanding miracle and we cannot deny it.

17 but to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people we must warn these men to speak no further to anyone in this name.

18 Then they called them in and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

 19 But Peter and John replied. Judge for yourselves whether it is right in Gods sight to obey you rather than God.

20 For we cannot help but speaking about what we have seen and heard.

 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.

22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

23 On their release Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

 24 When they heard this they raised their voices together  in prayer to God. Sovereign Lord, they said you made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David. Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain ? 

 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.

27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate meet together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your Holy Servant Jesus whom you anointed.

28 They did what your power and will  had decided beforehand should happen.

29 Now Lord consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.

31 After they prayed the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his posessions was his own, but they shared  everything they had.

33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and much grace was upon them all.

34 Their were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 

 35 and put it at the apostles feet and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

 36 Josept a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas  which means Son of Encouragement,

37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles feet.

But Peter and John replied, Judge for yourselves whether it is right in Gods sight to obey you rather than God. Acts 4:19

 And the smoke of their torment rises for  ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image or for anyone who receives the mark of his name. Revelation 14: 11

THE SECOND FILLING

 Thomas J. Grace

During the same meeting still taking place from Chapter 3 which had been going on now for three hours, Peter has already told of the death and resurrection of Christ. He has called for repentance and told how all sins will be forgiven because of the sacrifice of Christ. The crowd has stayed with him and listened for several hours and many are already believers.  Did others speak to the crowd also maybe Thomas told how he would not believe until he put his fingers in the nail holes of the hand of Christ, and then thrust his hand into the side of Jesus where the soldier pierced Him. Mary Magdalene might have told how she went to the tomb and Jesus spoke to her. Many others may have testified about the resurrection visits of Christ. But while the apostles taught about Christ outside the temple others inside the temple have made other plans for Peter and John.                                                                                                      

      1 The Sadducees have come out with the captain of the temple guard and approached them while they were speaking. God did not warn them of the danger they would soon be in. 2  The Sadducees were upset when they heard about the resurrection of the dead. Jesus spoke to them about this when they asked Him about the woman who married seven brothers. Jesus reply was Matthew 22:29 You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God.   This is a issue that will divide the Pharisees ans Sadducees several times as we will see Paul use this question at his trials to cause a division between them.

     4  Peter and John are taken to jail overnight for a speedy trial in the morning.  It must have been convient to have security guards that can arrest citizens because they are saying something you disagree with. Can you imagine that happening to you here at home today. Soon it will be possible as we know the one world religion will not tolerate the Christian faith. In the last days those who will not accept the mark of the beast Revelation 13:16,17 And he cause all both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to recieve a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that have the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. There will be arrest and jails and quick trials for those who do not agree to worship the beast.

      5 That day five thousand men believed in Jesus Christ as their Savior, there must have been women in the crowd that we are not told about. There were women among the one hundred and twenty on the day of Pentecost and women who became believers among the three thousand that believed that day also. No one scatters this night as in the garden when Jesus was arrested. They might have spent the rest of the night praying and baptizeing all the new believers.  There was no one there saying Lets go back to Egypt. The apostles did not face this problem as Moses did people willing to return to their previous slavery rather than trust God for their safety. Just as Moses took the people out into the wilderness to begin a new nation the apostles were beginning a new church without leaveing Jerusalem. As we saw God had hardened Pharohs heart  each time Moses spoke to him we will also see the hardness of the heart of the Pharisees and Saduccees as the apostles are brought before them.

     We will see how the Pharisees and Saducces are as dangerous to the new church as Pharoh had been in the land of Egypt. It is unfortunate because it is these people who Jesus came into this world to be their own Savior.  Gods Holy Spirit would overcome their fears as they trusted Him alone for their safety. 6  The rulers and elders arrive.  Annas the high prieat, Caiaphas, John ,Alexander and others prepare to question them. 

      7 They ask the question By what power or what name did you do this? Unlike Jesus who remained quiet while Pilate spoke to Him and while at the trial before the very same men Peter spoke up quickly and boldly. Perhaps Peter remembered the words of Christ when He warned them Luke 21:15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.  9 Peter filled with the Holy Spirit answers them, he might have expected a resurrection question because this seemed to be the complaint the night before. Peter will be happy to answer this question By what power and name have you done this? 9 Peter asked are you concerned about a act of kindness in the healing of this man. People dont get arrested for kindness, Peter now addresses the same Sanhedrin that only months ago had sentenced Christ to death. He must have been aware that this could also quickly happen to him.

     10 It is by the name Jesus Christ of Nazareth once again fully identified and Peter must add Whom you crucified and God raised from the dead. Two powerful statements that will not win him any friends at this trial. This man is healed and stands before you, he did not run away he was there to testify how he was healed. 11 Peter quotes David Psalm 118:22 that Jesus was the stone you the rulers rejected that God has made the capstone. 12  Salvation by no other name but Jesus not by Abraham, Moses, David or any of the prophets, not by your good works or by following the law. Only by faith in Christ will you have salvation, forgiveness of sins and eternal life. This realy puts most of the work of the Sanhedrin out of business and out of power. 

      We see the name of Jesus clearly stated and identified several times as Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Now we hear Peter state clearly the reason for such statements as he tells us their is no other name  by which men might be saved.  There will be no one in the past or in the future that can do what Christ has done. The work of our salvation was completely accomplished in the life of Christ, His sacrifice death on the cross, His resurrection from the dead, and His ascention to heaven. There is no other man or name by which you might be saved only belief in Christ will provide the forgiveness we need and make us children of God. There is only one Savior for all mankind it is your decision to believe or reject in this world during your life the gift that Christ has provided for you. 

     13 They saw the courage of Peter and John they were astonished and realized these men had been with Jesus. They were astonished because most people brought before them admited they were guilty, begged for forgiveness, accepted their punishment and left as quickly as possible, this was not a friendly court. 

     14 Because the healed man was present in the court as evidence of a man who they had also seen for many years outside the temple who they might have given alms to many times they could not say anymore about him. They do not question him or order him to make a sacrifice at the temple for the healing God had done. They  still have not asked Peter and John about the resurrection.  

     15 Peter and John are ordered to leave while they have a confrence about this matter. Saul may have been at this meeting and later gave this information to Luke. 16 They have done a outstanding miracle and we cannot deny it. They were still able to deny that Jesus Christ was the Son of God our Savior. 17 We must stop this from spreading any further. We will warn these men not to speak any more in this name. 18 The apostles are called back in and told not to teach in the name of Jesus. 19 Peter says Shall we obey you or God? He might have left without any punishment at all but decided to challenge them further by asking them to judge for yourselves who we should obey. This question will be put to them again by there own great teacher Gamaliel. 20 Peter declares we will not stop teaching what we have seen and heard he tells them he will not obey their commands. 21 They made a few more threats then let them go with no punishment, not even told to stay away from temple.

     22 The healed man was over forty years old.  He had the chance to leave the apostles but he came to the trial knowing he might have been charged and punished with them. 23 Peter and John report back to the people gathered together who spent the day in prayer for them to be released and told them of the threats made against all who speak in the name of Jesus. Their were no false witnesses as there were in the trial of Jesus and will be at the trial of Stephen.

     24  Without a meeting to decide what to do about these threats, and with no thought of leaveing Jerusalem or any other form of not teaching in the name of Jesus. They begin to pray not for protection or safety their prayers address the  Sovereign  Lord who made heaven, earth and and all people and creatures. They were reaching for all the power of God as they prayed for new strength to go on with their work. 25 They talk of Davids words coming from the same Holy Spirit that has taught them about Christ and given them the power of God necessary to tell others about salvation through Jesus Christ. There can be no doubt that David knew and understood that His Savior would suffer in this world as the Spirit spoke to him in the Psalm 22, and here in Psalm 2:1,2 Why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain. The kings of the earth take their stands and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.

     This also speaks of the last days and we see the difference between kings and rulers seperated here as leaders of nations and rulers perhaps of false religions. We will see nations gather against God in a great war against Israel. We will see anti Christian groups and false prophets in our time in government and courts removeing the word of God and prayer from our society.

     27 Back to Peters problem He has seen Herod King of Israel and Pontius Pilate the Roman Govenor Plot against Christ. Luke 23:12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends before this they had been enemies.  Had Pilate recieved and orders from Rome concerning the activities he may have reported to Rome about a prophet named Jesus Christ. Pilate did represent Rome which was the greatest world power at the time led by men who did declare themselves to be gods. Certainly Herod and the High Priest with the Sanhedrin were in full action to conspire against Christ and form mobs that shouted to Pilate Crucify Him. They also arranged for false witnesses to testify against Jesus Christ.   All lthough we hear about the High Priest and all the others in the plot to crucify Christ we do not hear anything about the false witnesses again they were not identified or mentioned again we do not know of their fate.  We read earlier about a warning from a Pharisee Luke 13:31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said Leave this place and go somewhere else, Herod wants to kill you. So Herod who had not yet even met Jesus already had a plan to kill Him.

     Soon after the birth of Jesus King Herod had made a plan with the three wise men to locate the child Jesus and that Herod would kill. Matthew 2:8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find Him , report to me, so that I may go and worship Him. When the wise men did not return because a angel told them not to go back to Herod, Herod took further action. Matthew 2:16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. We see plans to kill Christ from birth during his ministry  involveing kings and rulers. 28 We do know that Christ did suffer and die as was foretold and there were people needed to carry out what was Gods plan, this is why these men are still being given the opportunity to repent and accept Christ as their Savior.

     The cause of the arrest was not to punish the apostles but to put them in the court the only place where the Sanhedrin might listen to the message of forgiveness and the love of God. These men heard about repentance and were given a opportunity to recieve Christ as their own Savior. Later we will see that many of the priest become believers. 29 Now Lord consider their threats lets remember that these are dangerous people who will act again to cause harm and stop the spread of the gospel. They do not pray for escape or safety but ask for great boldness to speak Gods word. They recognize they must reach more people and will need greater power than the Sanhedrin. 30 They ask to heal, perform miracles, show sign and wonders by the name of Your Holy Servant Jesus. Isaiah 52: 13 See My Servant will act wisely, and He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.  They are asking for absolute power which could not be denied proveing that Jesus Christ is the Son Of God who reigns in heaven now at the right hand of God. These would not be miracles to please and gather crowds but would prove all their testimony about our Lord Jesus Christ as Savior of all mankind.

     31 The room shakes which did not happen on the day of Pentecost could this shakeing be evidence of Gods  power coming in such a powerful force that the ground moved. We do not hear of anyone being hurt or falling down as the power of the Holy Spirit fills the people. Just as they prayed they began to speak the word of God boldly. Now there are over eight thousand believers in Jerusalem telling about Jesus and praying for people in the name of Jesus. Every day in the city and outside the temple the word of God was spreading, people were being healed in the name of Jesus. The believers are filling the whole city with the name of Jesus and the Sanhedrin is aware of this growing threat to their religion. They will make new plans to stop the apostles.  On the day of pentecost the apostles did not know what would occur when the promised Holy Spirit would arrive.

     Now we see a second filling for the apostles  and others there and what might have been a first filling for many people there. This time they prayed and asked for special gifts and powers greater than what they already had or were aware of. In their prayer they described their need for this new power and stated the use of this new power. When we become believers we also recieve the Holy Spirit which we often dont understand until the Spirit becomes our teacher. We like the apostles must pray for greater power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit stateing our needs and the service to the Lord we are prepared to undertake.

     32 All believers were of one heart and mind who were willing to provide and share what each had with one another  so that each one would be fully prepared to spread the word of God. 34 The apostles with great power taught of the resurrection of Jesus and many new believers were added to the church and Gods grace was upon them all.  See how quickly in both Holy Spirit fillings the apostles and all others were quickly out on the streets preaching and teaching the word of God and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

     There was no delay then and in our last days when Christ could be here any time and millions that must hear Gods message we must pray for the power of the Holy Spirit and work quickly to reach the lost before the return of Christ. 34 ,35 God had provided for many of the needs and the believers helped by selling their lands and brought the money to be used to provide for the needs of all the believers. We do not read of request for donations or any collections of money other than volunters.  This new church will not recieve manna from heaven or pray for God to give them quails to eat as the people in the wilderness had. The grace God had given them caused this willingness to share with one another.

     36 ,37 Barnabas sells a field and brings the money and puts it at the feet of the apostles feet. We see here a church fully active in evangelism with all believers working and spreading the story of Christ. As they testified to the resurrection of Christ the power of God becomes greater more people are healed and more people become believers. We do not read of anyone telling the stories of Jesus feeding the five thousand, or raiseing Lazarus from the dead. It is the death and resurrection of Christ and His Place in heaven today that has caused miracles and led thousands to believe in the name of Jesus.

CHRIST LOVES YOU. AMEN. COME LORD JESUS