Sermon Tone Analysis

It may not be easy

There are things in this life that are not easy

(insert illustration; college) - put in a slide to illustrate it.

Being a Christian is not easy either is it?

Luke chapter 14 speaks of counting the cost (see Lk14:28)

Need to summarize Lk14

inviting and loving the disadvantaged (vv.12-15)

Pick up your cross, count the cost and follow (vv.25-33)

Then Jesus in another place gives the Apostles some words of encouragement even in the midst of trouble (Jn16:33)

In our passage tonight, as we look at an overview of Act4 persecution begins this being

Our passage tonight comes on the heals of the healing of the lame man (Act3:10, 9)

Now there is a great disturbance

They could not deny what they were seeing

Tonight as we go though this passage we will see

Persecution begins (vv.1-12)

Persecutions demands (vv.13-22)

Persecutions results (vv.23-31)

I. Persecution Begins

The arrest (Act4:1-4)

There was a great disturbance within the priests, the guards, and the Sadducee's because of the preaching of the resurrection from the dead of Christ.

Arrested and jailed overnight (v.3); for the other problem besides the preaching on the resurrection is people were believing, after hearing the message, and the men who believed grew to be about 5,000 (talk about church growth)

The preaching of the resurrection can be further seen (Act23:8)

The appearance (Act4:5-7)

Standing before the rulers elders, scribes, high priest and those of high priestly descent.

What was the challenge (v.7)? - by what power, by what name? - did not deny that the miracle happened (lame man) but under whose name, and by what power.

The response (Act4:8-12)

Think about what are they being judged for?

- healing a sick man?

For doing a good deed?

- have you ever been judged harshly for doing a good thing?

If not, you may one day and you should be ready, prepared for it.

As to the name they wanted, He tells them (v.10)

Jesus Christ the Nazarene, you know the stone that was rejected (v.11) for then that all important verse (v.12) there is no other name

Parallel passage about the crucifixion (Act2:23, 36, 3:14-15)

Act

Then there is

And

But God raised from the dead (Act2:24, 34, and again 3:15)

Add to that

Cornerstone passage comes from (Psm118-32)

Psm118:32

No other name passage has parallels too (Mt1:21; Jn14:6)

Jn

II.

Persecution: The Demands

Let’s look at the counsels Response

What they saw (vv.13-18)

Act4:1

They saw the boldness (confidence) of Peter and John (v.13)

They saw that they had been with Jesus (v.13)

They saw the healed man with them (v.14)

They perceived they were uneducated men, that had been with jesus and had with them the man they had healed in the name of Jesus and they could not deny it and they had nothing to say in reply.

What the counsel reasoned

The miracle, they could not deny it, it was evident to all

It was impacting and convicting and people were believing

They wanted to stop the spread of this any further and that leads us to:

What the counsel did

Commanded them (v.18)

What the Apostles did (vv.

19-20)

Who are we to heed (listen to) you or God (v.19)

We cannot stop (v.20)

So the question on who they should heed is really a rhetorical question isn’t it.

For the accusers would agree listening to God was vital.

Another good verse to consider (Act5:29)

Notice in (v.20) what was said (other scriptures used (Act2:3, 2, 32))

They cannot stop speaking about what they have seen; and heard (Act2:3, 2:2, 2:32)

They saw tongues as of fire

They heard a noise like a violent rushing wind

They were witnesses of the resurrected Christ!

What the counsel did next (vv.21-22)

They let them go (v.21) after threatening them

The people were glorifying God so the counsel had to be careful (Act3:9-10)

So, we have seen the arrest, the appearance and the response now this leads us to the results.

III.

Persecution: The Results

Peter and John, the return (Act4:23)

They went to report all that had been said to them (Act4:18)

Have you ever been asked, told, commanded not to speak the name of Jesus or of your faith?

If not, you maybe told that sometime, be ready for it.

Peter and John the prayer (Act4:24-28)

They addressed the Lord of all creation!

Who spoke (prophesied) through servant David (Ps2:1-6)

Psm2:1-3

Spoke of the nations in an uproar, and they take a stand against the Lord’s anointed (Jesus) who was yet to come.

But God had a plan,according to His predetermined purpose to instill His King

They pray for boldness; to have confidence (Act4:29-30, 5:12, 15-16)

boldness, confidence in the face of the threats.

To heal, to show signs and wonders at their hands as servants of Jesus

The answer to the prayer (Act4:31) 4:32

Place was shaken, they were all filled and spoke boldly!

So in the midst of the beginning of persecution they were of one accord praising God and prayed to continue with boldness and God heard them and responded to them.

Concluding this

They were warned, but they heeded not

The response was continued fellowship (Act4:32)

The answered prayer gave them power, gave them a new boldness.

May we have the same attitude they had if we face persecution at any time, may we respond with fellowship, prayer and boldness!

(Be bold today: Lead to invitation) (insert invitation slide)

(end recording)

(insert exit slide)