Acts 4
In chapter four Peter and John are called before the Sadducees. Before we look at Luke's narrative, it would be helpful to take a look at the layout of Jerusalem, including its gates.
While Israel has done a remarkable job of maintaining the layout as it was in the first century. Even so, there are significant differences as one can note from the graphic below.
There are two gates of special interest as we study Acts. The slide below show current photographs of the Golden Gate and the Lion's Gate. With these images in mind lets open Acts 4...
Acts 4 beginning at verse 1: "The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, 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; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
We think that church denominations are a modern invention. Even in the first century the Jewish religion was comprised of two major denominations and a few minor group (ie. Essences & Zealots). The two major factions were the Sadducees and the Pharisees. The slide above illustrates the primary differences between them. Who were the Sadducees?
The Sadducees were a family of priests who claimed to be descendants of Zadok, the high priest during the reigns of David and Solomon. 1 Kings 1:39: And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon. In the days of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 44), the sons of Zadok were entrusted with the Temple. As a result, the Sadducees had authority including the selection of the high priest, and command of the temple guard. This continued throughout the existence of the second temple. The Sadducees held the majority of seats in the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court of justice.
What was the Sanhedrin? In the Gospels and Acts, the Sanhedrin is always referred to as “the council” and the Sadducees were the chief priests. Over the years, the aspirations of the Sadducees went from spiritual to political. They became wealthy aristocrats who protected their social position by acting as men pleasers first to the Greeks and then to Rome.
How did they differ from the Pharisees? Both groups were chastised by Jesus for various reasons. In Mark 7:5-9 we read, "5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the command-ments of men.
What gave them the authority to arrest Peter and John? Why were the priests and Sadducess “greatly disturbed” in verse 2? The Sadducees were offended by Peter and John for two reasons: First, that these unschooled fishermen would present themselves as teachers of the Scriptures. And secondly, that they preached the resurrection of the dead. Continue reading from verse five:
5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
The High Priests ask a good question in verse 7 and Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answers them in verse 8:
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being 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 whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind 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. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
The Holy Spirit provided Peter with an answer that the Sanhedrin could not defend. Peter simply quoted Psalm 118:22, "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner." By answering in this way the Sanhedrin was baffled and needed to confer privately. In doing so, we learn that their motive was simply to prevent them from speaking about Jesus. Jesus is our cornerstone. We continue at verse 18:
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help 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.
Were Peter and John being rude in verses 19-20? When is it appropriate for us (you and I) to engage in civil disobedience? Why do the Temple elite want Peter and John to stop teaching? Peter again responds with Psalm 2:1-5. Continue reading at verse 23 to learn the outcome of this story...
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the 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 rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met 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 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.
The important thing for us to remember is that the Apostles relied on the filling of the Holy Spirit. This same Spirit is ready, able, and willing to fill us. When we act and speak under the authority and guidance of the Holy Spirit we can speak boldly and without fear. Luke finishes off chapter 4 with a brief summary of the early church. Another good message for our congregation:
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. 36 Joseph, 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.
What do we learn in chapter four about the early Church? What do we learn from the early Church? Have you ever experienced the Holy Spirit providing you with the words to say? How do we draw the line between being meek and being bold? When you were a child, who taught you the most about prayer? Why do you think God uses evil men to fulfill His plans? What do you make of role of the early Church as describe in verses 32-37.
The uprightness and generosity of Barnabas is set in sharp contrast to the scheming couple we read about in chapter 5.