The First Persecution of The First Persecution of the Churchthe Church

Acts: The Unfinished Story of the Acts: The Unfinished Story of the Church Series [10]Church Series [10]

Acts 4:1-22Acts 4:1-22

April 29, 2012April 29, 2012 Pastor Paul K. KimPastor Paul K. Kim

THREE PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON THE FIRST PERSECUTION IN ACTS 4

• The focal point of Luke’s narrative is NOT on the persecution but on the advancement of the gospel (4:1-22).

• The Holy Spirit caused the church to pray facing the threat in order to prepare them for further persecution (4:23-31).

• Amidst the persecution, the church was marked by radical generosity and love—sharing all things in common (4:32-37).

WHAT WERE THE KEYS TO PETER & JOHN’S BEING A BOLD WITNESS IN PERSECUTION?

1) Peter and John had the confidence in the name of Jesus as the only way of salvation.

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has

been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel

thatby the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom

God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.

11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation

in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (vs.8-12)

WHAT WERE THE KEYS TO PETER & JOHN’S BEING A BOLD WITNESS IN PERSECUTION?

1) Peter and John had the confidence in the name of Jesus as the only way of salvation.

11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders,

which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven

given among men by which we must be saved.” (vs.11-12)

Their confidence in Jesus’ Name was threefold: (1) as the healer of the crippled beggar; (2) as the risen Lord who has become the cornerstone; (3) as the only way of salvation.

They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion

a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to

shame.”Romans 9:32b-33

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”Romans 10:13

 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.John 14:6

WHAT WERE THE KEYS TO PETER & JOHN’S BEING A BOLD WITNESS IN PERSECUTION?

1) Peter and John had the confidence in the name of Jesus as the only way of salvation.

11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation

in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (vs.11-12)

Their confidence in Jesus’ Name was threefold: (1) as the healer of the crippled beggar; (2) as the risen Lord who has become the cornerstone; (3) as the only way of salvation.

They were filled by the Spirit of Jesus who is risen—they were provided with the Spirit-given courage.

The lesson for us is to live out our own confidence in the Name of Jesus as the only way to salvation as the risen Lord.

WHAT WERE THE KEYS TO PETER & JOHN’S BEING A BOLD WITNESS IN PERSECUTION?

2) Peter and John have had intentional training and communion with Jesus.

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived

that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And

they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man

who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the

council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with

these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. (vs. 13-16)

WHAT WERE THE KEYS TO PETER & JOHN’S BEING A BOLD WITNESS IN PERSECUTION?

2) Peter and John have had intentional training and communion with Jesus.

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived

that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (v.13)

The Jewish religious leaders were astonished by Peter and John in a similar way they had experienced with Jesus.

They saw the profound impact of Jesus with whom Peter and John spent three years as their teacher and master.

The lesson here for us is to be soaked in this profound impact also by intentional training [apprenticeship] and intimate communion with Jesus.

The Path to BoldnessWhat makes a person bold for the truth is being utterly sure that he has seen God's truth. What makes a person clear and forthright is a good heart that has no desire to slip anything in under the fog of ambiguity. Or another way to say it is that boldness and clarity come from spending time with Jesus. Jesus is the truth we need to see, and Jesus is good—radically good. The more you have real dealings with him, the more confident you become in the truth, and the more good you become in not wanting to exalt yourself or protect yourself with impressive words. You just want to speak the truth for his sake and speak it with boldness and clarity—no fog, no haze, no bluffs, no evasions, no runarounds, no clever camouflaging of indecisiveness… you don't have to be formally educated or unusually skilled in order to be bold and forthright and clear in what you say for Christ in public. What you need is real fellowship with Jesus.

- John Piper

WHAT WERE THE KEYS TO PETER & JOHN’S BEING A BOLD WITNESS IN PERSECUTION?

3) Peter and John have chosen to listen to God rather than to men.

17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So

they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is

right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go,finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all

were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed

was more than forty years old. (vs. 17-22)

WHAT WERE THE KEYS TO PETER & JOHN’S BEING A BOLD WITNESS IN PERSECUTION?

3) Peter and John have chosen to listen to God rather than to men.

19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go,finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all

were praising God for what had happened. (vs. 19-21)

The religious leaders could NOT deny three things: (1) the healing of the crippled beggar, (2) the boldness of the uneducated Peter & John, and (3) the resurrection of Jesus.

Peter’s question is also the one we should ask ourselves.

Our lesson here for us is to make a pre-decision to listen to God without wavering rather than to people.

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE

1. How would it affect my life if I really live out the conviction—that there is salvation in no one else but only in Jesus?

2. In this coming week, how will I practice intentional training and intimate communion with Jesus?

1. In what areas do I need to stop listening to people and start listening to God?