Acts 4: Shakin' it Up
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
https://albertmohler.com/2020/01/29/briefing-1-29-20
In 1985, Neil Postman wrote a book, the title, Amusing Ourselves to Death. The subtitle of the book, “Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business.” Neil Postman was arguing, 35 years ago, that the American mind was being transformed and debased by a spectacular form of mesmerizing entertainment in the form of television. And he was looking at the statistics of American television viewing back in 1985 when the country only had three broadcast networks, and when you were looking at television, it had only a minor fraction of the options that viewers have today. Neil Postman's point, made back in 1985, is that America was becoming a culture of absolute amusement at the expense of truth and meaning. In 1985, there were 3 broadcast networks.
In his book he compares the dystopian future as portrayed by George Orwell’s book 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s book Brave New World. Orwell’s book focused on censorship and content controlling the masses. Huxley’s book focused on benign entertainment to control the masses.
Postman summarized it like this, "What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared is that there would be no reason to ban a book for there would be no one who wanted to read one." He continued, "Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information, Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passively and egoism. Orwell," he said, "feared that the truth will be concealed from us. Huxley feared that the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance."
I open with this not to prove that Huxley was right and Orwell wrong. Or to make you feel guilty for watching TV or Youtube, but to illustrate that in the midst of this media/entertainment rich culture that we live in the truth of rings true: “there is no other name under heave which men can be saved.” And this truth, will bring persecution. Our passage tonight is the first persecution of the church. And we will see, they will not only pass the test, but crush it under this theological truth.
Then (Acts 4:1-31)
Then
The fundamental teachings and practices of the church remained the same in the midst of oppression and persecution.
Church Grows Despite Opposition ()
The leaders were “greatly annoyed” because they were teaching the resurrection of Jesus.
“Greatly annoyed” - used twice in the scriptures. Second time in the book of Acts by the apostle Paul in .
As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
“teaching the people”
Not something that customarily happened. Again, we’ll see that these are the hicks from the sticks breaking tradition and teaching the people directly.
Not only what they are doing is annoying.
“resurrection of the dead”
But also what they are teaching in annoying them.
The Sadducees, who didn’t believe in the resurrection would have been especially annoyed. and
And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.
There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,
Tested, Arrested, but Still Growing
number grows to 5000.
This would be a accumulation rather than new 5000 men. Either way the number continues to grow.
Start with 120 in :15
3000 souls at Pentecost in :41
Daily additions in
Up to 5000
5000 should be a nostalgic number for the disciples
The disciples had to distribute the bread to the crowd of 5000 in .
On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” And they did so, and had them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
The Miracle All Must Have ()
The Test (5-7)
While it is a test, it feels like Luke signaled to the reader that a fastball is coming right down the middle of the plate, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
This is a public setting…by God’s providence.
You can feel as if you are there…Luke slows things down for us.
Question tees up a home run.
“in their midst” - like a circle of judgment
“Annas and Caiaphas” from
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
They have been around for quite some time. Since before Jesus was born. Again, this was a joint ruling of Annas and Caiaphas, but they have been hard heart from the beginning. While they haven’t seen everything, they saw and heard a lot and yet did not repent.
Question
By what power?
or by what name?
Did you do this?
Refers back to . The same power Jesus did his work. This is not the spirit’s time in sun, he’s been around and working the entire time.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The Disciples, Like Jesus Pass the Test (8-12)
“filled with the Holy Spirit” - is the foundation of answer given to the Sanhedrin (8a)
Jesus too, was filled with the spirit, during his time of testing in
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness
But how did the disciples pass? It wasn’t skill or confidence it was the Spirit.
“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”
The Greater Miracle (8b-10)
Cripple Man
a reference back to the previous chapter ()
It was “by means of” the name of Jesus Christ
This is the third time that Peter has reminded them that this Jesus, they crucified.
Rejected Stone
Peter quotes
Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
Stone that was rejected.
Peter is saying to them, this is the one that you’ve been waiting for. Jesus, is the stone that is rejected.
For further context see
just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”
This is the only acceptable means of building the new temple. - Gary Timmons
Exclusive Salvation
, might be the clearest presentation of the exclusivity of salvation through Christ alone in all the scripture. The rest of the scriptures illustrate this for us. The Old testament, using as an example point forward to a figure, a rejected stone, who will bring salvation. The New Testament point back to the cross and resurrection to illustrate that this is the one who was promised.
No other religions, self helps, diets, workouts, friends, money, pleasure, will find salvation. We don’t need saving from our oppressors, we need saving from our God.
Damage Control (13-22)
Sanhedrin have a problem:
Boldness of Peter and John
Uneducated, common men (hicks from the sticks…fisherman from Galilee)
They had been with Jesus
healing man standing next to them
They have nothing to say out loud.
“Let’s take this offline” - code for I don’t know what to do here.
It cannot be denied. A fact that isn’t unique to the disciples today. We should not be ashamed to voice the same concern. Today, people have an easier excuse to dismiss with 2000 years of history distancing themselves from the crucification. But the facts remain: Jesus is the only way. He is who the scriptures point him out to be.
They issue a warning
Peter demonstrates
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly, the right hand of the Lord exalts, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”
Dismissed without punishment (this time)
Man was 40 years old (not neglected, an undesirable, an unlikely candidate)
Power of Prayer! (23-31)
Word soaked prayer
Starts with a reference to creation: “who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them”
Move to David in
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
They see the forces mounting an attached against their king, not themselves.
It is the world forces, both Jew and Gentile, who execute your plan.
Lay on a heavy does of the sovereignty of God in orchestrating the death
Ends with a plea of boldness to continue the work of redemption.
There is no plateau. It’s not the time for a building campaign. It is time to work.
Shakin’ it up!
the place was shaken (literally)
But they are shaking things up in the world. The world would never be the same because of the ministry of the Spirit.
Always
The church must remain to proclaiming salvation through Christ alone and prayer not matter who opposes us.
The message can not change. The method might (see and Paul before the Gentiles) but the message can not.
Salvation is miracle.
God, liberating the hearts of the captive is still and greatest miracle. The bible describes this process regeneration.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Now (Application)
Practical steps:
Don’t be afraid to drop the Gospel in causal conversation as it comes up. It’s ok if people think you’re weird. Tell them, the coronavirus is the plan of God to open the eyes of the wicked to their own mortality and turn to Jesus for salvation.
Pray for the lost.
Parents pray for your kids. They aren’t born into your belief. They have the difficulty of reaping the rewards of faith without having faith. The bible commands us to love our children and raise them in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
Pray for your lost co-workers.
Pray. Pray. Pray.