Plots

1. In Acts 4:25-26 we find a quotation from the Old Testament.

2. The context of this quotation involves persecution.

3. Jewish officials had put the apostles on trial for healing a man.

4. After these rulers made some threats, the people of God were released.

WHEN THE CHRISTIANS WHO WERE FREED WERE ABLE TO AGAIN JOIN FELLOW BELIEVERS, SOME APPEALED TO THE OLD TESTAMENT. CHRISTIANS QUOTED FROM THE SECOND PSALM. TONIGHT I WANT TO SHOW HOW PS. 2 AND ACTS 4 GO TOGETHER. AFTER THIS IS DONE THE INFORMATION WILL BE APPLIED.

1. If you have found Ps. 2 let’s look at the first three verses.

2. Psalm 2:1-3 – READ.

A. The psalmist predicated that some in the first century would “mediate a vain thing.”

B. That is, there would be people would try to outwit God.

C. The writer knew that rulers would decide to work together and plot against God.

D. God sent Jesus into the world but the rulers thought they could cancel God’s plan.

E. These people were so smug that they “took counsel against Jehovah” (verse 2).

3. The arrogance of the first century rulers is also found in Acts 4:25 (“rage”).

4. This word, which only occurs here in the New Testament, described a horse.

5. Some of us have seen a high spirited horse.

6. A horse can neigh and rear up its head for all to see.

7. This is the picture of the first century rules.

8. They were like a rebellious stallion.

9. They had their way of doing things and no one was going to tell them what to do.

10. They believed that no one had the right to impose a new religion on them.

11. No one was going to make them accept Jesus of Nazareth.

12. They were not going to let any person or group compete with their established religion.

A. David foresaw all these things and predicated what would happen in Ps. 2.

B. The Christians in Acts 4 saw the fulfillment of this prophecy.

13. In the next two verses of Ps. 2, we have God’s response to the proud and rebellious rulers.

14. READ Psalm 2:4-5.

15. God would laugh at the people who opposed Christ and the gospel.

16. Why would God do this?

A. The answer is found in Acts 4.

B. Let’s take a look at Acts 4:26 – READ.

C. The picture in this verse is best seen by comparing the ASV and KJV.

D. The KJV says “stood up.”

E. People stand up for different reasons.

17. Sometimes people stand up because they are leaving.

18. People may stand up to shake hands.

19. Others stand up because they are going to fight.

20. The last reason for standing up is the picture in this verse.

21. David predicated that these people would want to fight.

22. This is why the ASV translates it “set themselves in array.”

23. These people said that they were going to do battle with God.

24. They didn’t want Jesus and the gospel so they decided to make war against Christianity.

25. A second description of what these people did is in the middle of Acts 4:26.

26. The people “gathered” themselves together.

A. The word rendered “gathered” is a common term in the New Testament.

B. Sometimes it describes the gathering of people; in other places it describes things.

C. From Acts 4:31 on, each time this word is used it describes the gathering of the church.

27. Here it means that rulers banded together to oppose Jesus and heaven’s plan.

28. The force that came against God and the gospel did not consist of one or two people.

29. Several people came together to make war against God’s will.

30. The people who decided to fight against the gospel were powerful.

31. Those who fought Christianity had authority and influence.

32. A time came when even the great Empire of Rome opposed Jesus Christ.

33. God knew that the best efforts of the rulers would fail so Ps. 2 says He would laugh.

34. The enemies would be in a state of “derision.”

35. THE REASON THAT GOD WOULD LAUGH IS ALSO FOUND IN VERSE 26 OF ACTS 4.

A. You will probably be able to find the word “vain” in your translation.

B. This word means “without result, without profit, without effect.”

C. Here it describes people who had a goal that they did not reach.

36. The first century rulers were arrogant. They were like a neighing horse that rears up its head.

37. The opponents of the Lord joined forces together thinking that they could outwit God.

38. These men tried and tried to overcome the gospel.

39. They used all kinds of techniques to make war with God.

40. They insured that Jesus was put to death. That didn’t work.

41. They tried to seal His tomb. That didn’t work.

42. They tried to bribe the guards. That didn’t work.

43. They tried to stop the preaching by threats and beatings. These things did not work either.

44. In some places Christianity was banned.

45. Word was put out that those who were Christians would be executed.

46. People tried to discredit people like Paul and even destroy the Bible.

47. Officials tried everything they could think of but the gospel was not stopped.

48. God had a plan and it kept going forward.

49. The efforts to stop the gospel were all vain.

50. When we look at the contest between these men and God, we find another interesting word.

51. Let’s take another look at Acts (this point is in verse 25).

52. Luke used a word that is translated “imagine.”

53. This word is used three times in the New Testament.

A. Here the word describes a plot.

B. This term says that rulers devised a series of schemes against Jesus.

C. That is, there were a number of plans to disrupt God’s will.

D. I listed some of the plots that people devised and carried out.

E. An examination of the Lord’s life shows that other plots were made against Him.

54. In the Old Testament God predicated that there would be plans and plots.

55. God also predicated that each evil scheme would be defeated.

56. God was right.

57. The schemes, which came from some of the brightest people in this time, all failed.

58. THIS WORD THAT IS TRANSLATED “IMAGINE” HAS SOME SPECIAL RELEVANCE FOR US.

A. In addition to being used here, it is found in Mk. 13:11.

B. There the KJV translates it “premeditate.”

C. In Mk. 13 the word is associated with the destruction of Jerusalem.

59. Jesus said that during this time Christians would be persecuted for their faith.

60. Yet, He also said that divine help would be given to them.

61. Jesus said that His people would be “lead” to officials.

62. They would be “delivered up.”

63. But, Jesus also added that they would not need to “premediate” (same word) a defense.

A. This word presents to us a very, very interesting picture.

B. On the one hand there were leaders who plotted and planned against the Lord (Acts 4).

C. These men laid the best possible plans to defeat Jesus and His cause.

D. Yet, in spite of their best and most zealous efforts, they were a complete failure.

64. On the other hand, we find that Christians were told that they did not need to plot and plan.

65. During one of the most stressful times in history, God would provide supernatural help.

66. Those who did not plot and plan were victorious.

67. The people who did plot, plan, scheme, and tried idea after idea, failed.

A. Most of you who have played a game with me know that I like to win.

B. If there is a winning side I want to be on that team.

C. When we look at the spiritual side of life there are winners and there are losers.

68. The word imagine shows that having a plan does not necessarily make someone a winner.

69. If we want to be saved, we need to be on the right side—the Lord’s side.

70. This is one of the things that we learn from the word translated “imagine.”

A. I said that this word is used in three different places.

B. Since two of these places have been given, let’s look at the third.

C. This last passage is found in 1 Tim. 4.

D. Here the word is defined as “take great pains.”

71. In this passage we can probably best grasp the idea by combining the KJV and ASV.

72. Here is how the ASV renders the 15^th verse of 1 Tim. 4 – READ 1 Tim. 4:15.

73. The word we are looking at is at the start of the verse.

74. The ASV translates it “be diligent.” The KJV says “mediate.”

A. These renderings tell us what the leaders described in Acts 4 did.

B. They diligently worked against heaven’s plan.

C. These people spent some time “meditating” on plans and schemes to destroy Jesus.

75. To some the word “mediate” means many things.

76. Here it means more than silent reflection.

77. In Acts 4 it means that the religious leaders did everything they could to oppose what was right.

78. In 1 Tim. 4 the word tells Christians that they must plan and prepare.

79. The use of this word in 1 Tim. 4 shows that going to heaven is not like a routine task.

A. This is a goal that we need to have.

B. Being with God for eternity is something that we must strive for each day of our life.

C. The rulers described in Acts 4 “imagined” how they could destroy the Lord.

D. They thought up all kinds of ways and devices to trap Him.

E. They asked questions, they sent difficult people to Him, these men really worked.

F. The rulers set their minds to destroy Jesus of Nazareth. They were “diligent.”

80. The New Testament uses this same word to say to us, “set your mind on heaven.”

81. We do not need to scheme to get there, but we do need to plan and prepare for it.

82. If we want an incentive to help us as a Christian think about this.

A. According to Acts 4 & Ps. 2, the rulers did everything that they could to destroy the Lord.

B. Are we working as hard as they did, only our efforts are for the Lord?

C. If our efforts are less than those of the rulers, children of the devil work harder than we do.

D. The rulers “gathered together” and devoted all kinds of time and energy to Jesus.

E. It was the wrong type of work, but they did work.

F. If we are not doing a similar thing, this is beyond shameful. It is an absolute reproach.

83. The people who opposed Jesus give us a way of evaluating ourselves.

84. We can measure our efforts by their efforts.

85. How are we doing?

86. Have we become a Christian and are we trying to faithfully serve God?

87. These are serious questions that we each one of us must answer.

88. Are we ready to be the type of Christian who has the kind of zeal and determination described in Acts 4?