THE CHURCH CONFRONTS THE CHURCH
1. Last Thursday it was announced that people have banded together for a lawsuit.
2. Some who were affected on 9/11 are going to sue people they believe are linked with terrorism.
3. Seven international banks are being sued.
4. Other organizations are also named in the lawsuit.
5. More than 600 people are seeking about 1 trillion dollars.
6. The people involved in this lawsuit are facing some big hurdles.
7. The case is being waged against people who are wealthy and powerful.
8. From some of the reports the plaintiffs will be trying to get classified material from congress.
AS WE LISTEN TO THE REPORTS ABOUT AVERAGE PEOPLE
DOING
A. Acts 4:1 refers to two of the apostles (Peter and John).
B. According to the opening verse in this chapter these men “spoke unto the people.”
C. What they said is found in verse 2 – READ .
D. The apostles said that Jesus had returned from the dead.
E. Saying that Jesus was no longer in a grave made some people very angry.
F. The first part of the second verse says some people were “sore troubled.”
G. This expression means that people were “greatly annoyed.”
H. The Sadducees (the men described at the end of verse 1) did not believe in the resurrection.
I. Since the apostles were teaching about a resurrection these leaders were far from pleased.
J. They were so angry that they cast the apostles in jail (verse 3).
2. The apostles were held over for trial; they appeared before a court on the following day.
3. This trial was interesting because of the people who conducted it.
4. Notice verse 5 – READ .
5. There were “rulers,” “elders,” and “scribes” at this trial.
6. People who were high priests were there too (verse 6).
7. The rulers were the priestly members of the Sanhedrin.
8. The “rulers” included the high priests as well as the “senior priests.”
9. The “elders” were men who were picked by the people.
10. These men were usually selected based upon their wisdom.
11. The “scribes” were people who copied the law.
12. They also kept track of things too like marriages and contracts.
13. In verse 15 we have another important detail – READ .
A. The apostles appeared before the “council” (the Sanhedrin—Jewish Supreme court).
B. The word “Sanhedrin” meant “to sit together.”
C. The people who were part of this group sat in a semicircle.
14. We sometimes sit in a semi-circle.
15. We may be playing some games, having a meeting, or something else.
16. These men sat in a semi circle so they could face each other.
17. According to Josephus the people who were brought before them were dressed as mourners.
18. As
we look at Acts 4 we read about some of the most important leaders in first
century
19. These men had assembled together and were sitting in a semi-circle.
20. If all the Sanhedrin was present there were at least 70 men in this circle.
21. Based upon what we know, these men sat on a raised platform.
22. As these men were in the elevated area and sitting in this circle something happened.
23. The events described in verse 7 occurred – READ .
24. Some people are scared when they are brought before a judge.
25. Being before a judge and a dozen jurors is enough to frighten others.
26. The apostles did not appear before a single judge.
27. Neither did they appear before a judge and a dozen jurors.
28. They came before dozens of important people.
29. When the apostles appeared they would have been placed below the judges.
30. They looked up at the judges and the judges looked down on them.
31. The apostles were standing in the same place where Jesus had stood.
32. The Lord had faced many of these same people.
33. Both Jesus and the apostles were examined by some of the highest officials in the land.
34. WE CAN LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO SUE PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH TERRORISM AND CONCLUDE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME WINNING THEIR CASE.
A. As hard as winning this case will be, think about the apostles.
B. These were brought before some of the most powerful people in the land.
C. They were set “in the midst” (verse 7) of this group of people.
D. These men were then interrogated.
E. I want to read verse 7 one more time – READ .
35. Notice the verb “inquired.”
36. This word is used 12 times in the New Testament.
37. In some places it simply means a request for information.
38. In this passage it is defined as “demanding.”
39. The officials insisted that they receive some answers.
40. The picture is made even more graphic by the verb tense.
41. Luke used the imperfect tense.
A. This indicates that the apostles were hit with a barrage of questions.
B. These men didn’t simply asked questions.
C. They drilled the apostles with one question after another.
D. Imagine facing a group of 70 or more people who don’t like you.
E. These people have the power of society behind them and they are putting you on trial.
F. During this trial you are hit with questions on right after another.
42. This is essentially what happened to the apostles.
43. The people who were rich and powerful seemed to have the upper hand.
44. Notice again who is described and what is said about them.
45. In Acts 3:11 we read about Peter and John.
A. They “they” in Acts 4:1 still describes these two men.
B. Who were Peter and John?
C. They were men who lacked a theology degrees from the Jerusalem seminary.
D. These men were fishermen.
E. The text describes them in the middle of verse 13 – READ .
F. Peter and John were not stupid; they were, however, men who lacked a good education.
G. They were not cut from the same cloth as the judges who were looking down on them.
46. With Peter and John was someone else.
47. We are told about this third person in verse 14 – READ .
48. In the previous chapter we read about a lame man who was healed by Peter (3:6).
49. This man appeared with the apostles when Peter and John were questioned.
A. This information presents us with a rather unusual picture.
B. Some of the mightiest men in the land came together in a courtroom.
C. These men demanded answers from men who lack a good education.
D. The refined put the unrefined on trial.
E. Those who were accustomed to the good life were questioning someone who had been a beggar.
50. IF THE KIND OF TRIAL DESCRIBED IN ACTS 4 WERE BEING CONDUCTED TODAY (AND IN SOME RESPECTS IT IS WITH THE 9/11 VICTIMS), WE WOULD PROBABLY EXPECT THE PEOPLE WITH POWER AND MONEY TO FARE VERY, VERY WELL.
A. Notice how things turned out on this occasion.
B. Verses 8-12 – READ .
C. Some might have been too intimidated to say anything
in the presence of such great judges.
D. Peter was asked a question (verse 7). People wanted to know what kind of authority
he had.
E. Peter he fired off some answers.
F. Peter may have been impulsive but he had some
backbone.
G. Notice verse 10 – “be it known unto you all, and all
the people of Israel.”
51. The judges saw that Peter was bold (13a).
52. They saw the man who had been healed (14a).
53. My favorite part of this account is at the end of
verse 14 – READ
14b.
54. The latter part of verse 16 is also encouraging – READ 16b.
55. As we live our lives we will not enjoy the kind of
access to the Spirit that the apostles had.
56. Peter was called upon to give an answer and the
Spirit helped him.
57. We may lack the ability to respond as well as the
apostles, but we still have something else.
58. We can have the kind of conviction and faith
possessed by the apostles
59. We can stand firm even though the people we are
standing against seem to be greater than we are.
A. There are times when one or more parts of our faith
is challenged.
B. It may be in a classroom.
C. Students often look up to teachers.
D. After all, who is supposed to know more—a student or
the teacher?
E. Sometimes teachers use their position to intimidate
students.
F. Teachers have heckled students who believe in a
literal seven day creation.
G. There are some members of the church who ridicule
the idea of a 7 day creation.
H. People with degrees in science ask how we can
believe such a thing.
I. Some Christians cringe when people who are
important/powerful challenge their faith.
60. There are talk where people debate religious
leaders.
61. People with power and authority try to shout down or
humiliate people who say they are Christians.
62. This isn’t new.
This is the very type of thing we read about in Acts 4.
63. Peter and John knew that they had the truth.
64. Even if they appeared before the most important
rulers in the land they would not back down.
65. These men held to their convictions no matter what
the cost.
66. Jesus did the same thing.
A. On the one hand there was the Lord.
B. Like the apostles He had virtually no status when
compared to the politicians and rulers.
C. Other people such as Pilate and Herod possessed a
great deal of secular power.
D. These people used their power.
E. They humiliated, mistreated, and mocked Jesus.
67. In looking at the gospels we find that the Lord
stood His ground.
68. Jesus could have tried to negotiate with Pilate.
69. Pilate said he had the power to release or free the
Lord (Jn. 19:10).
70. Jesus did not budge.
71. He knew what was right; He knew the truth; and He
stayed true to His convictions.
72. As our children enter into another school year this
is a lesson to send with them.
A. Our young people have been taught what is
right. They have been exposed to the
truth.
B. No matter who challenges them, they need to remember
that they have found the right way.
C. Some teacher may not believe that.
D. Some principal may not believe that.
E. A school board may not agree with them.
F. At work the boss or everyone else in the shop may
not believe it either.
73. The same may be true in our family relationships.
74. Our brothers,
sisters, mothers, fathers, husband, wife, or children may not believe.
75. Whether it is a family member who does not agree
with us or someone who is powerful, the point is unchanged.
76. We have found the truth and we will not be deterred.
77. The apostles refused to flinch.
78. What about us?
Do we know that we have found the right way and are committed to it all
costs?