Lesson #08

ACTS 4
LESSON #08
THE FIRST PERSECUTION AND ITS RESULT

• MEMORY VERSE: ACT 4:12

• PETER HAS PREACHED TWO SERMONS AND GOD HAS PERFORMED ONE MIRACULOUS HEALING THROUGH PETER. CHAPTER 4 OF ACTS FOLLOWS IMMEDIATELY CHAPTER 3, FOR NOW WE SEE THE REACTION TO PETER’S SECOND SERMON.

• READ ACT 4:1-4 REACTION TO PETER’S SECOND SERMON:
• PETER’S SERMON IN THE TEMPLE BROUGHT 5,000 MEN (AND PERHAPS MANY MORE WOMEN AND CHILDREN) TO SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST.
• THE HEALING AND PREACHING CAUSED SUCH A CROWD IN THE TEMPLE THAT THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS WERE SUMMONED CONCERNING THE DISTURBANCE.

• NOTICE THAT IT IS THE SADDUCEES WHO OBJECTED MOST TO WHAT PETER PREACHED.
• BEFORE THE CRUCIFIXION, IT WAS THE PHARISEES WHO WERE JESUS’ WORST ENEMY. BUT THEY GOT THEIR WAY AND HAD JESUS CRUCIFIED.
• NOW JESUS’ WORST ENEMY IS THE SADDUCEES.
• WHAT WAS IT ABOUT PETER’S SERMON THAT THE SADDUCEES FOUND MOST OBJECTIONABLE?
• IT WAS THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS THAT UPSET THEM. WHY?
• THE SADDUCEES DID NOT BELIEVE IN THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. THEY THOUGHT THAT ONCE A PERSON DIED, THAT WAS ALL THERE WAS. DEATH IS LIKE SNUFFING OUT A CANDLE.
• THE SADDUCEES WERE ALSO UPSET BECAUSE THE DISCIPLES TAUGHT THE PEOPLE. THIS WAS THE JOB OF THE SADDUCEES.
• THEREFORE, THE DISCIPLES NOT ONLY ENCROACHED ON THE JOB OF THE SADDUCEES, BUT ALSO CONTRADICTED THE STANDARD SADDUCEE DOCTRINE OF NO RESURRECTION.

• PETER AND JOHN ARE ARRESTED BY THE TEMPLE GUARDS WHO WERE CONTROLLED BY THE SADDUCEES.

• READ ACT 4:5-14 PETER AND JOHN BEFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE SANHEDRIN
• ANNAS AND CAIAPHAS WERE THE HIGH PRIESTS WHO CONDEMNED JESUS TO DEATH.
• ANNAS WAS THE HIGH PRIEST FOR 9 YEARS STARTING IN 6 AD. HE WAS A VERY WEALTHY SADDUCEE. HE WAS REPLACED BY HIS SON-IN-LAW, CAIAPHAS, THAT BECAME THE LEGAL HIGH PRIEST. HOWEVER, ANNAS HAD GAINED A GREAT DEAL OF POWER AND RETAINED POWER OVER THE SANHEDRIN EVEN THOUGH HE DID NOT RETAIN THE LEGAL POSITION.
• JOHN AND ALEXANDER, MENTIONED IN VERSE 6:
• JOHN WAS ANNAS’ SON AND BECAME THE LEGAL HIGH PRIEST IN 36 AD. HOWEVER, ANNAS RETAINED POWER UNTIL 66 AD.
• THERE IS NO INFORMATION ABOUT ALEXANDER.
• THE BIG QUESTION:
• BY WHAT POWER AND UNDER WHAT NAME HAVE THE DISCIPLES PERFORMED THIS MIRACLE?
• PETER’S EXPLANATION FOR THE MIRACLE (5-12)
• NOTICE THAT THE BIBLE IS CLEAR TO TELL US THAT PETER IS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN HE SPEAKS.
• PETER IS A CHANGED MAN SINCE WE SAW HIM IN THE GOSPELS, FREQUENTLY SAYING THE WRONG THING AT THE WRONG TIME. NOW HE SAYS EVERYTHING RIGHT BECAUSE HE IS NOW UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
• GOD PERFORMED THE MIRACLE OF HEALING THROUGH THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST:
• THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT NAME:
• PETER ALREADY TOLD US THAT WHOSOEVER CALLS ON THE “NAME” OF JESUS CHRIST WILL BE SAVED (ACT 2:21)
• NOW PETER TELLS US THAT THE MIRACLE WAS DONE IN THE “NAME” OF JESUS CHRIST. (ACT 4:9-10)
• THEN IN ACT 4:12, PETER TELLS US THAT THERE IS NO OTHER “NAME” OF IMPORTANCE UNDER HEAVEN FOR SALVATION.
• VERSE 12 EXCLUDES ALL OTHER RELIGIONS AND PHILOSOPHIES FROM SALVATION TO ETERNAL LIFE.
• DOES THIS MEAN THAT THE NAME OF JESUS IS A MAGIC FORMULA? NO, THOUGH, SOME PEOPLE THINK SO.
• TO THE JEW THROUGH THE OLD TESTAMENT AND AT THE TIME OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, A PERSON’S NAME WAS VERY IMPORTANT.
• THE NAME WAS AN EXTENSION OF THE PERSON, HIS REPUTATION, AND HIS CHARACTER. IT WAS A PROPHETIC STATEMENT OF WHO HE WAS AND WHAT HE WOULD DO AND BE IN LIFE.
• REMEMBER THAT THE ANGEL TOLD MARY WHAT TO NAME HER BABY. IN MAT 1:21 MARY IS TOLD TO NAME HIM “JESUS” AND THEN TOLD WHY. “HE SHALL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.” THE NAME, JESUS, MEANS, = “JEHOVAH SAVES”.
• THEREFORE, FOR US, IT IS NOT SO MUCH THE NAME THAT IS IMPORTANT AS THE CHARACTER AND PERSON TO WHOM THAT NAME WAS GIVEN BECAUSE THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE NAMED JESUS THEN AND THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THAT NAME TODAY.
• THIS MEANS THAT SALVATION, HEALING, BAPTISM, PRAYER, AND MIRACLES, ALL DONE IN THE NAME OF JESUS, ARE BASED ON HIS NATURE AND CHARACTER AS THE SON OF GOD IN POWER AND AUTHORITY SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,THE FATHER.
• BOLDLY, PETER MARVELS THAT THEY ARE BEING EXAMINED BY THE SANHEDRIN FOR DOING A GOOD DEED. (9)
• BOLDLY, PETER TELLS THEM THAT THE HEALING WAS DONE IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST WHO IS NOW RAISED FROM THE DEAD. (10)
• PETER IS NOT INTIMIDATED BY THE POWER OF THE SANHEDRIN, FOR HE BOLDLY TELLS THEM THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR JESUS’ DEATH.
• PETER TELLS THEM THEY REJECTED THE FOUNDATION STONE ON WHICH GOD WOULD BUILD HIS KINGDOM. THAT STONE IS JESUS CHRIST. NOW THAT REJECTED STONE (CHRIST) HAS BECOME THE CORNER STONE OF THE CHURCH.
• PETER USES PSA 118:22 TO SHOW THESE LEADERS THAT HAVE FULFILLED PROPHECY BY THEIR REJECTION OF JESUS CHRIST.
• HOWEVER, HE IS GIVING THESE LEADERS ANOTHER CHANCE TO REPENT AND TURN TO JESUS WHEN HE TELLS THEM THAT THERE IS SALVATION IN NONE OTHER. (12)
• NOTICE PETER CLEARLY SAYS THAT ALL RELIGIONS DO NOT LEAD TO GOD.
• NOTICE THAT PETER CLEARLY KNOWS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE STONE ON WHICH THE CHURCH IS BUILT AND NOT PETER, HIMSELF, AS SOME HAVE INTERPRETED MAT 16:18.
• IT IS THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST THAT MAKES MIRACLES POSSIBLE, SALVATION POSSIBLE, PRAYER POSSIBLE, AND THE BUILDING OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH BODY POSSIBLE.
• THE REACTION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SANHEDRIN:
• THE WELL-EDUCATED, RELIGIOUS LEADERS KNEW THE DISCIPLES WERE NOT EDUCATED TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY WERE.
• HOWEVER, THEY MARVELED AT PETER’S WORDS.
• HIS MANNER OF LOGICAL ARGUMENT REMINDED THEM OF JESUS WHO HAD STOOD BEFORE THEM JUST MONTHS AGO.
• BEING CONTROLLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES YOU THINK AND ACT MORE LIKE JESUS. THE SPIRIT GIVES YOU POWER.
• JUST MONTHS BEFORE, PETER WAS HIDING IN THE SHADOWS AFRAID TO VOICE HIS ALLEGIANCE TO CHRIST WHEN A MAID ASKED IF WAS ONE OF THE DISCIPLES.
• BECAUSE THE HEALED MAN STOOD WITH PETER AND JOHN, THE MEMBERS OF THE SANHEDRIN COULD NOT DISPUTE AN OBVIOUS MIRACLE. THEY, THEREFORE, CONFERRED AMONG THEMSELVES AS TO WHAT TO DO WITH PETER AND JOHN.

• READ ACT 4:15-22 THE COUNCIL’S DECISION AND THE REPERCUSSIONS ON THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL.
• THE SANHEDRIN DECIDED THEY COULD NOT DENY THE MIRACLE.
• THE CONCERN OF THE SANHEDRIN:
• THE NEWS OF THE MIRACLE WAS AT THAT MOMENT SPREADING THROUGH THE CITY. PEOPLE WOULD GET EXCITED ABOUT IT AND HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE TEACHING OF THE DISCIPLES WHO PERFORMED THE MIRACLE.
• THE SANHEDRIN WANTED TO STOP THIS GROWING MOVEMENT OF “JESUS” PEOPLE.
• THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD PUT A STOP TO JESUS’ TEACHING WHEN THEY CRUCIFIED HIM. HOWEVER, THAT HAS ONLY MADE HIS DISCIPLES BOLDER AND THE PEOPLE MORE INTERESTED. IF 3,000 PEOPLE, AND THEN AT LEAST 5,000 PEOPLE, CONVERT FROM JUDAISM IN ONE DAY, THEY HAVE A BIG PROBLEM.
• THE SANHEDRIN SOLUTION:
• THE SANHEDRIN RESORTS TO THREATS AGAINST THE DISCIPLES WHO CONTINUE TO PREACH AND TEACH IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
• SATAN’S MOST OBVIOUS TACTIC IS INTIMIDATION.
• INTIMIDATION ATTEMPTS TO MAKE THE STRONG AND BOLD FEEL WEAK AND INADEQUATE.
• REMEMBER THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES THE BELIEVER BOLD AND POWERFUL FOR THE LORD. (ACT 1:8)
• INTIMIDATION ATTEMPTS TO CAUSE PERSONAL FEAR.
• REMEMBER THAT FEAR IS THE OPPOSITE OF FAITH AND THE BELIEVER IS TOLD TO LIVE BY FAITH AND NOT FEAR. (GAL 2:20 GAL 3:11)
• THE DISCIPLES’ REPINES:
• PETER AND JOHN DECIDE THAT THEY CANNOT HELP BUT SHARE THEIR PERSONAL TESTIMONY BECAUSE:
• THE MATTER COMES DOWN TO OBEDIENCE TO ONE’S LEADERS OR OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S COMMAND.
• OBEDIENCE TO ONE’S LEADERS:
• THE BIBLE TELLS US WE ARE TO OBEY THOSE IN AUTHORITY OVER US. (TIT 3:1 HEB 13:17)
• OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S COMMANDS:
• THE BIBLE ALSO TELLS US TO OBEY GOD. (HEB 5:9)
• WHEN OBEDIENCE TO THESE TWO ARE IN CONFLICT, YOU SHOULD CHOOSE TO OBEY GOD RATHER THEN MEN. WE WILL SEE THE DISCIPLES COME TO THIS SAME EXACT CONCLUSION IN ACT 5:29.
• HOWEVER, IN COMING TO THAT CONCLUSION TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN, YOU ARE ALSO SUBMITTING YOURSELF TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT DECISION.
• THEREFORE, YOU MUST BE PREPARED TO SUFFER THOSE CONSEQUENCES BEFORE MAKING YOUR DECISION.
• WHAT DOES VERSE 21 ADD TO THE STORY?
• NOTICE THAT VERSE 21 SAYS THAT GOD WAS GLORIFIED THROUGH THE MIRACLE. THEREFORE, THE SANHEDRIN DECIDES NOT TO OPPOSE GOD DIRECTLY.

• READ ACT 4:23-31 THE POWER OF UNITY AND PRAYER IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
• PETER AND JOHN, RELEASED BY THE SANHEDRIN, RETURN TO THE CHURCH AND REPORT THEIR EXPERIENCES. THEN THEY HAVE A GREAT PRAYER SERVICE.
• WHO PRAYS THE PRAYER OF VERSES 24-30?
• THIS IS THE PRAYER OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN ONE ACCORD. (24)
• THE SUBJECT OF THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH IS BOLDNESS TO SERVE GOD FOR HIS GLORY:(24-30)
• THEY PRAISE JESUS WHO THEY KNOW AND SAY IS GOD AND CREATOR. (24)
• THEY REFER TO FULFILLED PROPHECY:
• READ PSA 2:1-12
• THE FULFILLMENT OF PSA 2 BEGINS WITH THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST. OPPOSITION AGAINST GOD WILL GROW OVER TIME UNTIL THE SECOND COMING.
• THE OPPOSITION BY THE SANHEDRIN IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE PERSECUTION TO COME.
• THE FIRST SPECIFIC PETITION IN THE PRAYER APPEARS IN VERSE 29.
• NOTICE THAT THEY DO NOT ASK GOD TO STOP THE PERSECUTION FOR THEIR OWN COMFORT.
• THEY ONLY ASK FOR BOLDNESS AND COURAGE TO DO GOD’S WILL AND PREACH THE WORD THROUGH THE PERSECUTION.
• THEY ALSO ASK FOR FAITH AND POWER TO DO HEALINGS, SIGNS, AND WONDERS FOR THE LORD.
• THE POWERFUL RESULTS OF THIS PRAYER MEETING:
• “…THE PLACE WAS SHAKEN…” (31)
• DOES THIS MEAN SHAKEN PHYSICALLY LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE, OR SHAKEN SPIRITUALLY?
• I THINK THIS IS A SPIRITUAL SHAKING WHERE EVERY PERSON THERE FELT THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
• “…THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT…” (31)
• WHY WAS IT NECESSARY THAT THEY BE FILLED AGAIN WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN THEY WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST?
• THIS IS NOT ANOTHER BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT OCCURRED ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST WITH SPEAKING IN TONGUES.
• A CONTINUAL RE-FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NECESSARY BECAUSE AS HUMANS WE LIVE IN A DIRTY, SINFUL WORLD CONSTANTLY TEMPTED AND INFLUENCED BY THE PAGAN WORLD.
• A FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT MEANS TO BE CONTROLLED BY, GUIDED BY, EQUIPPED BY, AND EMBOLDENED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO DO SOMETHING FOR CHRIST AND HIS KINGDOM. (31)
• THEY PREACHED THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST BOLDLY. (33)
• REMEMBER THAT THIS WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT OF THEIR PREACHING IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.

• READ ACT 4:32-36 UNITY IN THE EARLY CHURCH
• WHY DO WE NOT SEE MORE PRAYER MEETINGS LIKE THIS TODAY?
• THE PRIMARY REASON IS THAT WE ARE NOT IN ONE ACCORD.
• NOTICE HOW MANY TIMES IT TELLS US THAT THIS GROUP WAS IN UNITY. (24, 32)
• A UNITY OF HEART
• A UNITY OF SOUL
• A UNITY OF MATERIAL POSSESSIONS

• LUKE INTRODUCES US TO BARNABAS WHO SOLD LAND AND DONATED THE MONEY TO THE CHURCH.
• BARNABAS BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT LATER IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.
• FROM THIS PASSAGE WE KNOW HE IS A LEVITE FROM THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS, AND HIS NAME MEANS = SON OF CONSOLATION.

HOMEWORK
ACT 5
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER FORCORRECTION.

• APPLICATION OF ACT 4
• IF YOU WERE TO HONESTLY EXAMINE YOUR OWN HEART IN PRAYER MEETINGS, HOW MUCH OF THE TIME ARE YOU:
• BORED?
• RESTLESS?
• DISTRACTED?
• IMPATIENT?
• IN ONE ACCORD?
• WHAT CAN YOU DO THIS WEEK TO CHANGE YOUR NEGATIVE ATTITUDES TO POSITIVE ATTITUDES?

• PREPARATION FOR ACT 5
• READ ACT 5:1-42
• HOW DID PETER LEARN OF ANANIAS’ DECEPTION?

• WHAT UNIVERSAL TRUTH DOES THIS STORY TEACH US THAT APPLIES TO LIFE TODAY?

• WHY DO YOU THINK THE JUDGMENT ON ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA WAS SO HARSH?

• WHY IS THE STORY OF ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTANDING THE CHURCH AGE?

• MEMORY VERSE: ACT 5:29