Philip Witnesses Beyond Jerusalem (Acts 8:4–8)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, July 14, 2024

You may or may not know the name “John Bunyon.” He lived from 1628-1688. You may know the great work, “Pilgrim’s Progress.” Bunyon wrote that and many other works while in prison for preaching without a license. John Piper writes:

In 1672, about fifty miles northwest of London in Bedford, John Bunyan was released from twelve years of imprisonment. As with suffering saints before and since, Bunyan found prison to be a painful and fruitful gift. He would have understood the words of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, three hundred years later, who, like Bunyan, turned his imprisonment into a world-changing work of explosive art. After his imprisonment in the Russian gulag of Joseph Stalin’s “corrective labor camps,” Solzhenitsyn wrote,

I turn back to the years of my imprisonment and say, sometimes to the astonishment of those about me: “Bless you, prison!” I . . . have served enough time there. I nourished my soul there, and I say without hesitation: “Bless you, prison, for having been in my life!” (The Gulag Archipelago, vol. 2, 617)

How can a man pronounce a blessing on imprisonment? Bunyan’s life and labor give one answer.

Ten years after they were married, when Bunyan was thirty, his wife died, leaving him with four children under ten, one of them blind. A year later, in 1659, he married Elizabeth, who was a remarkable woman. The year after their marriage, however, Bunyan was arrested and put in prison for not conforming to the High Church standards of Charles II, the nation’s new king. Elizabeth was pregnant with their firstborn and miscarried in the crisis. Then she cared for the four children as stepmother for twelve years alone and bore Bunyan two more children, Sarah and Joseph.

For twelve years, Bunyan chose prison and a clear conscience over freedom and a conscience soiled by the agreement not to preach. He could have had his freedom when he wanted it. But he and Elizabeth were made of the same stuff. Though he was sometimes tormented that he might not be making the right decision in regard to his family, when asked to recant and not to preach he said,

If nothing will do unless I make of my conscience a continual butchery and slaughtershop . . . I have determined, the Almighty God being my help and shield, yet to suffer, if frail life might continue so long, even till the moss shall grow on mine eyebrows, rather than thus to violate my faith and principles. (John Bunyan, 224)

Prison proved for Bunyan to be a hallowed place of communion with God because his suffering unlocked the word and the deepest fellowship with Christ he had ever known. He wrote,

I never had in all my life so great an inlet into the Word of God as now [in prison]. Those scriptures that I saw nothing in before were made in this place and state to shine upon me. Jesus Christ also was never more real and apparent than now. Here I have seen him and felt him indeed. . . . I never knew what it was for God to stand by me at all times and at every offer of Satan to afflict me, as I have found Him since I came in hither. (Grace Abounding, 121)[1]

Tim Keller shares:

The greater persecution and greater violence toward Christians and greater oppression and greater trampling toward Christians does not lead ever to violence in return. It doesn’t. It leads to greater love. It leads to greater joy.

The best example of Acts 8 today in the twentieth century actually is China, because after World War II when the Communist government took over, they threw all the Western missionaries out and they killed a lot of the Chinese pastors. They said, “That’s the end of Christianity in China.” Do you know what happened?

Ironically, it’s the very same thing that happened here in Acts 8, because actually the Chinese church had become too dependent on the Western missionaries. They were the providers, and the church was the customers. They brought in the money. They had their fingers on the controls, but when they got rid of the Western missionaries and they began to persecute the church, what did it do? It turned them all into people of mission. It turned them all into providers.

It turned them into people who preached the Word, who evangelized everywhere they went. It made the church indigenous, and the church just exploded in growth. In fact, as I said, over and over again if you try to kill the church, if you try to persecute the church, if you try to stamp it out, if you use violence on the church, it only makes it grow. The response is not growth in violence. The church doesn’t grow like that. It grows in love.^[2]

My theme today is the church scatters, and Philip proclaims Christ in Samaria.

Read with me Acts 8:4-8:

Acts 8:4–8 (ESV)

⁴ Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. ⁵ Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. ⁶ And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. ⁷ For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. ⁸ So there was much joy in that city.

1. Philip is one of those scattered proclaiming Christ (Acts 8:4-5).
   1. Philip is the first missionary named in Scripture and the first to be given the title “evangelist” (21:8).^[3]
   2. Pillar New Testament Commentary shares: In Acts, Samaria generally denotes the territory, not the city of that name (cf. 1:8; 8:1, 9, 14; 9:31; 15:3).^[4]
   3. Sproul: The early church spread the faith not through professional clergy but through the laity. All the people took the gospel to the outer regions of the Empire.
   4. I like what Tim Keller points out, The apostles became the stabilizing, verifying, and unifying element in a mission that moved to new areas and groups without their planning or control. That is a movement. In a bureaucracy, people at the top completely control everything, but in a movement where everybody owns the mission, everybody is participating in it, what happens is, even though you still need leaders, the apostles were stabilizing, verifying, and unifying.
   5. Yet there was a spontaneity about the church. All kinds of new initiatives bubbled up all over the place. The apostles didn’t send Philip to Samaria. He went. What happens is God uses the persecution to turn his church into a movement in which everybody is in mission, in which everybody is initiating.^[5]
   6. Most Jews didn’t like the Samaritans. They were enemies. There was a long history of violence between the people.
   7. Most people believe this goes back to when Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 B.C. At this time, the Israelites left, and the area intermarried with the Gentiles (gentiles are non-Jews), so the other Jews considered these Jews as half-breeds. They were not fully Jewish. But the problem may not date back this far. [6]
   8. Philip is unlike Jonah.
   9. Jonah was called to preach in Nineveh, but he was a racist prophet and refused to go. Through all of Jonah, he is unhappy.
   10. Philip goes to Samaria. The Samaritans and the Jews hated each other. They were mortal enemies.
   11. Yet, Philip goes to Samaria with the Gospel.
   12. Where is our Samaria? Who are people that we may not like, but God is calling us to be a Gospel witness to them?
2. Signs and wonders came about (Acts 8:6-8).
   1. The crowds paid attention as they heard and saw the signs (Acts 8:6).
   2. Philip did not change the message for the Samaritans, and he appealed for them to become followers of Jesus, not to convert to Judaism.^[7]
   3. Witherington III: Philip is being portrayed as the same sort of positive evangelizing figure as Peter—one who is powerful in word and deed, as Jesus himself had been (cf. 1:22). The reaction to these words and deeds was joy in that city.^17,[8]
   4. Unclean spirits came out.
   5. They came out with “shrieks” or “loud voices.”
   6. The expression unclean spirits refers to evil supernatural spirits which were ceremonially unclean, and which caused the persons possessed by them to be ceremonially unclean.^[9]
   7. Many more who were paralyzed or lame were healed (Acts 8:7).
   8. The people rejoiced (Acts 8:8)!

• Applications
  • Keller: The life and the joy of verses 5–8 follow the death and the misery of verses 1–4. Look at all the misery up there. There’s death. There’s destruction. Verse 2 says, “Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.” The word there means just agonizing grief. So in verses 1–4 there’s death, there’s destruction, there’s agonizing grief, and in verses 5–8, there are life and joy. Misery and death; joy and life.
  • Here’s what I want you to see. The joy in life doesn’t come in spite of the misery and death. It comes through it. The joy and the life come because of the misery and the death. The death has caused resurrection. How does this work? The pattern here is a gospel pattern. Here’s the irony. Saul sought the destruction of the church, and what did it lead to? The expansion of the church.
  • Saul sought to scatter the church, but all it did was it led to more gathering. He was trying to scatter it, but actually it just led to more gathering. He tried to kill it; it led to more life. If you try to put the church to death, it leads to resurrection. Here’s why it happened. If you go back to chapter 7 and you read about Stephen, that’s how it happened.^[10]
  • Where is our joy in Christ?
  • If we know Christ, is the joy of the Lord your strength (Neh. 8:10)?
  • Are we spending time with the Lord?
  • Can we be like these lay people and take the Gospel everywhere we go?
  • Four years ago, all the talk was about containing COVID-19. People talked about not getting too close, so people were not exposed. I believe we need to do the opposite with the gospel. We must get close and infect people with the Gospel. This means being servants, hospitable, building relationships, sharing what Jesus has done in our lives, praying for the lost, and having Christ-centered conversations.

Tim Keller shares:

Jesus Christ on the cross says, “I’ve become a leper for the lepers. I’ve become a eunuch for the eunuchs. I’ve become a thief for the thieves. I’ve become a coward for the cowards. I’ve become a bad husband for the bad husbands and a bad wife for the bad wives.” When Buddha was dying, they say he said, “Strive without ceasing.” When Jesus was dying, he said, “It is finished.” When Buddha was dying, he says, “Pay what you owe.” When Jesus was dying, he said, “I’ve paid what you owe.” Utterly different.^[11]

Praise be to Jesus!

Pray

[1] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/his-wounded-heart-bled-bible

^[2] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

^[3] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Ac 8:5.

^[4] David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 280.

^[5] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

[6] Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, pages 726-727.

^[7] William H. Marty, “Acts,” in The Moody Bible Commentary, ed. Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 1690.

¹⁷ Though joy sometimes can be a sign in Acts of a conversion having just taken place (cf. 8:39), it is unlikely this is the case here, for Luke has yet to relate the conversion of Samaritans. Here, then, we see the reaction of a city that had messianic hopes and was thankful for the healing of their relatives and friends. See Barrett, Acts, vol. 1, p. 404.

^[8] Ben Witherington III, The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1998), 283.

^[9] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Ac 8:7.

^[10] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

^[11] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

Do you think of perseverance? I am a student of history. Churchill shared:

An address at Harrow School, October 29, 1941: “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never give in.” Then he sat down.

—Winston Churchill^[1]

How about another example:

David McCullough writes about John Adams:

John Adams, had work to do, a public trust to uphold. The science of government was his duty; the art of negotiation must take precedence. Then, in a prophetic paragraph that would be quoted for generations within the Adams family and beyond, he wrote:

“I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study paintings, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.”[2]

We are looking at a passage in which Saul is still persecuting the church. Yet, the church is spreading the Gospel. They persevered.

My theme today is:

While the church is persecuted, they scatter, spreading the gospel.

1. In Acts 8:1-3 we see the persecution.

Acts 8:1–3 (ESV)

Saul Ravages the Church

8 And Saul approved of his execution.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. ² Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. ³ But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

AND IT CAME TO PASS…

“The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.” — Martin Luther

1. How did we get to this passage?
2. Two weeks ago, we talked about Stephen.
3. In Acts 6, Stephen was chosen as a deacon.
4. In Acts 6:8-15 Stephen is falsely accused.
5. Then, in Acts 7, Stephen gives a powerful defense. It was so powerful that he was stoned to death.
6. That brings us to Acts 8:1. They stoned him to death, and Saul approved of the execution.
7. In the previous verses, we see that they laid their cloaks at Saul’s feet.
8. Before we move on, verse 2 discusses people mourning over Stephen’s death. That is important. He was in heaven, but there is a time to mourn.
9. So, Paul, called Saul, is introduced. Quite an introduction, right?
10. We know Paul, don’t we?
11. Sometimes, Bible writers will introduce someone who will be very important later on. Luke is doing that right here with Saul/Paul. In the next chapter, Saul will be saved. Why is he called Paul later?
12. I believe Paul is a gentile name, and Saul is a Jewish name.
13. He will be called to be an apostle to the Gentiles, so it seems that we mainly see his gentile name.
14. The people scatter.

Look at verse 1: And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

1. The people scattered, but they scattered with the Gospel. Acts 8:1 uses a word for scattering seeds. So, the people scattered because of the persecution, but they planted seeds with the Gospel.
2. This is the shot heard around the world, meaning that the early disciples spread the Gospel. God used this to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles and now to us. Praise God.
3. Another thought:
4. The apostles stayed in Jerusalem.
5. Jerusalem was the home base. The leaders stay in the home base while the rest spread out.
6. But they originally did not spread out to share the gospel.
7. They spread out because of the persecution.
8. Look again at verse 3: But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
9. Saul is ravaging the church. He is going from house to house. He is dragging people off to put them in prison.
10. The people are scattering with the gospel. But don’t miss this. This is the introduction to one of the greatest minds and evangelists of church history.
11. Many years ago, I was serving as an associate pastor in Cincinnati. I was the coordinator of an interfaith clergy group. We came together to support an interfaith food and clothing shelter. This was interfaith, which means different religious groups were present. One day, a rabbi who taught at Hebrew-Union University spoke to our group. He said that Paul was the most influential man of the last 2000 years. So, here we have a rabbi, a non-believer, giving much credit to Paul. But this is how he is introduced.
12. Paul is “ravaging” the church.
13. Paul was like the terrorist.
14. No one is too far for Jesus to save.
15. In Acts 9, he will be saved.
16. Several years ago, I read a New York Times article about how a former ISIS leader was now leading worship at a Canadian church. Wow! The writer could not figure out what changed this man. Sure, he could write about the events, but could not figure out what changed his heart. The Holy Spirit changes people. That happens with Paul.
17. But for now, the church scatters.
18. They scatter with the gospel.
19. They later started the church of Antioch; we don’t know who started that church; it was not an apostle. It was a lay-driven movement. God brought it about because of persecution. The church of Antioch became a major sending church. In Acts 13:1-3, Paul and Barnabas are sent out from that church, but it seems that the church was started as a response to the persecution.
20. They scatter with the gospel.

Close:

So, study and be ready to give an answer boldly as Stephen did. Plant seeds of the Gospel everywhere you go and mourn the death of Christian brothers and sisters. Lastly, be encouraged as God is at work.

Prayer

^[1] Charles R. Swindoll, The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart and 1501 Other Stories (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2016), 438.

[2] McCullough, David. John Adams (p. 286). Simon & Schuster. Kindle Edition.

[3] (From a sermon by Stephen Sheane, The Table of Shewbread, 5/25/2011)

How Shall Christians Live (1 Peter 3:13-17)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, June 30, 2024

This Thursday, we celebrate Independence Day. Today, we celebrate Independence Day in our worship service.

I love history! I am a student of history. I love American history. Recently, I watched the Apple TV series “Masters of the Air.” It is a mini-series about the men who flew B-17s during WW II. It was an insightful show that gave me even more insight into what our soldiers endured. Of course, I read a lot of history as well. Watching that show made me even more proud to be an American. To be sure, America is not God’s chosen nation. We can and should be proud and good citizens. This is true whether the country shares our values or not. How do we live when the nation does not share our values? Well, how do we live either way?

Regardlss, of what nation we liveiand of whether or not the nation shares our values, Jesus is Lord.

I expect the world to be the world. We, as Christians, must take our faith seriously; why? Persecution is coming, and we are called upon to represent Christ.

I want to talk about 1 Peter 3:13-17 and show you that Peter gives his readers instructions on how to live as Christians when the country does not share their values.

If you brought a Bible, please turn to 1 Peter 3:13-17

Let’s read:

1 Peter 3:13–17 (ESV)

¹³ Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

1. Be zealous to do good:
   1. In verses 13-14 and 16-17, Peter encourages them to be zealous to be good.
   2. Let me say a few words about the situation in 1 Peter: This was written around AD 62-63, probably from Rome.
   3. There was sporadic persecution.
   4. Later, Peter was martyred, likely crucified, and maybe upside down. Legend is that he watched his wife crucified first, saying something like, “Remember our Lord.”
   5. There is a lot about persecution in 1 Peter (word “suffering” in 1 Peter: 1 Peter: 1:6–7; 2:12, 19–21; 4:12–19; 5:9–10).
   6. Now, the NIV says to be eager to be good. I like the NASB’s use of the word “Zealous” better. In verse 13, Peter communicates with a question: “Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?”
   7. Answer the question: honestly, how often do we face trouble for doing good? Not often. Certainly, there are occasions, specifically with children, when they are laughed at and made fun of for doing the right thing.
   8. Unfortunately, this is on the rise among adults as well. A few years ago, I spoke with another pastor, who said that our culture is becoming one that glorifies sin. That is so true.
   9. Peter does not deny that there are occasions when we will face trouble for doing good. Verse 14 acknowledges that, and we will come back to that in a moment.
   10. First, let’s acknowledge that Peter talks about being eager or zealous to do good. This is not simply doing the right thing by helping someone carry their groceries to their car. This is looking for opportunities to do good. At the time of Christ, the name “zealots” was applied to a party among the Jews, half religious and half political, founded by Judas the Galilean (Acts 5:37). These undertook to punish without trial those guilty of violating Jewish practices, under which pretext they themselves committed the greatest excesses of crime.^[1] These people were intense, and that is the word Peter uses to describe our good behavior.
   11. Now, look at verse 14: even if we suffer for doing good, we are blessed.
   12. Peter uses the term righteousness: If we suffer for righteousness, we will be blessed. To be righteous means to be “just,” to be “right.” To be righteous is the character that God requires of man. What God requires is grounded in what God is. God is righteous.
   13. Matt 5:10: Jesus says blessed are those persecuted for righteousness
   14. In verse 14, Peter also quotes Isa. 8:12 about not being intimidated.
   15. In verses 16-17, Peter reviews this idea.
2. How to be prepared:
   1. Now, look at verse 15 and see what Peter tells us to do to be ready for persecution and how to respond.
   2. Peter has already told us one way to be ready, hasn’t he? He told us to be good, more than that, to be eager to do good.
   3. Now Peter says to sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts. The NIV will say to “set apart Christ as Lord in our hearts.” Or “Revere Christ as Lord.” This means the same thing.
   4. If we are sanctifying Christ, this means that we are setting Him apart in our lives—or, actually, we are setting our lives apart for Him. To be sanctified means to be set apart for a purpose—this is like being holy. So, if we are revering Christ as Lord in our hearts, then we are giving Him prominence in our hearts and in our lives. Let’s stop right here.
      1. Are we doing this? Does Jesus have prominence in our lives?
      2. Is Jesus Lord of our lives?
   5. I must battle this, too. Don’t think I am only preaching to you; I must also apply this to myself.
   6. So, as we can see, the first step in being ready for persecution is living for Christ. This is holiness, making Jesus Lord of our life; this is surrendering to King Jesus. Men, this means becoming a man of God. Women, this means becoming a woman of God.
   7. We must live eager to do good, surrendered to Jesus, and learning about Jesus. That is the third and final step in being ready for persecution.
   8. Peter writes: “Always be prepared to give an answer or defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you.”
   9. In a devotion on Job 21, Swindoll writes this:

Chances are good that many of you who are reading these lines are currently the target of someone’s lying accusations. That can be an anguishing cross to bear. I’ve been there, so I speak from painful experience. Since this is an ongoing issue for many of us, it should be helpful to draw a few guidelines to follow based on the way Job handled his accuser.

Listen to what is being said, considering the character of the critic. Stay calm! You will be tempted to jump in and rashly react in the flesh, saying things you will later regret. Do your best to listen to what is being said. While doing so, keep in mind the character of the person who is the source of the accusation. Calmly take it all in. Job did that, which prepared him for his further response.

Respond with true facts and accurate information, knowing the nature of your accuser. Speak truth! Stay on the side of accuracy, regardless. The other person may be a former husband or former wife. He or she could be your previous or current boss, an employee, a neighbor, a pastor, or a friend. It doesn’t matter who the individual is. If you are being accused, you need to focus only on facts. Don’t react or ponder ways to retaliate. If you yield to either temptation, you’ll come off sounding like the accuser. God honors integrity. Maybe not immediately, but ultimately you’ll be vindicated. Remember David’s prayer: “Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity” (Psalm 26:1). Truth will prevail among people who traffic in it and make their decisions based on it.

Abraham Lincoln was told that he needed to fire his postmaster general. All kinds of accusations were being leveled against the man. Lincoln weighed rumor against hard evidence, and on July 18, 1864, he wrote Secretary Stanton a letter saying he was not going to do that because the information was based on hearsay, not accurate facts. In that letter he correctly concluded, “Truth is generally the best vindication against slander.” Wise response.

Stay with the truth. Don’t exaggerate it, don’t deny it, and don’t hesitate to say it.

1. Swindoll is writing about integrity and that is a vital part. It is also important to know the Bible. How we respond is important, it is important to know the facts and to know information about your faith.
2. Are we prepared?
3. I know that some of you are very prepared and that is great.
4. As Christians, we must be learners. We must be studying the Bible and studying books about the Bible.
5. But notice this: First Peter talked about being a Christian
   1. Be zealously good
   2. Make Jesus Lord in your life

• Then Peter talked about knowledge.

1. If we have knowledge without a Christian lifestyle we are hypocritical and aggressive. That is the next part of how to respond to persecution.
2. Peter says to respond with gentleness and respect or reverence.
3. How we respond is important.
4. I shared the following in the May-June newsletter.

Grace towards everyone, Faith towards God, Biblical wisdom towards everything.

I believe if we can keep those phrases in the forefront of our minds, we will be happier and more Christ-like.

Certain Bible passages convict me. Over the last few years, scriptures related to submissiveness, grace, forgiveness, and gentleness have been on my mind and prayer life. Also, the scriptures that are against being critical, grumbling, and complaining. Let me share a few:

Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)

A soft answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 19:11 (ESV)

Good sense makes one slow to anger,

and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Philippians 2:14–15 (ESV)

¹⁴ Do all things without grumbling or disputing, ¹⁵ that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…

1 Corinthians 13:7 (ESV)

Love bears all things, believes all things [this means love gives each other the benefit of the doubt], hopes all things, endures all things.

There are other passages, such as Gal. 5:22-23 and the fruit of the Spirit, but I will stop with those verses. So, think with me:

Grace towards everyone: God gives us grace. Grace means unearned favor. This is 1 Cor. 13:7. This means we give each other a break. We give each other the benefit of the doubt. God gives us grace. We give grace towards everyone. This means we do NOT grumble and complain. This means we live Eph. 4:32: Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. We get rid of the hyper-critical attitude. What if we get up each morning and pray: “Lord, help me to encourage others today.”

Faith towards God: without faith, we cannot please God (Heb. 11:6). We need to trust the Lord. The Lord is in control. Psalm 115:3: Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Sometimes, we grumble and complain, forgetting that the Lord is in control. For whatever reason, the Lord allowed the trial we are going through. We can trust Him. The Lord is faithful (Prov. 3:5-6).

Biblical wisdom towards everything: Everything we hear, read, see, and encounter must go through the lens of the Bible. James 4:4: You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Another verse is Romans 12:2: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

I want to write more, but I will stop at that, except to say: Those phrases flow together. Think of them backward: When you apply biblical wisdom towards everything, AND when you have faith in God, IT WILL be easier to give grace to everyone.

So, how do we live?

Be zealous to do good.

Set apart Jesus as Lord in your life.

Always be ready to give an answer of your hope, which is Jesus.

Do so with gentleness.

Grace towards everyone, faith towards God, Biblical wisdom in all things.

Pray.

^[1] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

Stephen’s Address Before the Sanhedrin (Acts 7)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, June 23, 2024

We are now in Acts chapter 7.

Remember that in the previous chapter of Acts, Stephen, the new deacon, was arrested. Stephen had been witnessing in his sphere of influence, and the people made up lies about him. They dragged him before the Jewish high court and put him on trial. In one way, Stephen is on trial. In another way, God is putting the Sanhedrin on trial. God is at work, even when we do not realize it.

How many of you have been affected by Christianity? Raise your hands if you have been affected or influenced by Christianity. Everyone, really everyone, whether you are a Christian or not, should have their hand raised. This all happened because of the martyr of Stephen. We are going to look at that today. We, as a church made up mostly of non-Jewish descendants, as far as we know, are here because of the aftermath of Stephen’s death. Sometimes we must wonder what God is doing, right? But sometimes we cannot know until a long time afterward. We live in the moment. This is true whether we plan or not, it has to be true. We must ask God to let us see the big picture and know that only God knows the big picture. Only God knows all and is not limited by time. We must think deeply and ask God to help us with a heavenly, spiritual, vision of reality. Swindoll gives a good illustration:

We are running shy of eagles, and we’re running over with parrots.

Content to sit safely on our evangelical perches and repeat in rapid-fire falsetto our religious words, we are fast becoming overpopulated with bright-colored birds having soft bellies, big beaks, and little heads. What would help to balance things out would be a lot more keen-eyed, wide-winged creatures willing to soar out and up, exploring the illimitable ranges of the kingdom of God . . . willing to return with a brief report on their findings before they leave the nest again for another fascinating adventure.

Parrot people are much different than eagle thinkers. They like to stay in the same cage, pick over the same pan full of seeds, and listen to the same words over and over again until they can say them with ease. They like company too. Lots of attention, a scratch here, a snuggle there, and they’ll stay for years right on the same perch. You and I can’t remember the last time we saw one fly. Parrots like the predictable, the secure, the strokes they get from their mutual admiration society.

Not eagles. There’s not a predictable pinion in their wings! They think. They love to think. They are driven with this inner urge to search, to discover, to learn. And that means they’re courageous, tough-minded, willing to ask the hard questions as they bypass the routine in vigorous pursuit of the truth. The whole truth. “The deep things of God”—fresh from the Himalayan heights, where the thin air makes thoughts pure and clear—rather than the tired, worn distillations of humanity. And unlike the intellectually impoverished parrot, eagles take risks getting their food because they hate anything that comes from a small dish of picked-over seeds . . . it’s boring, dull, repetitious, and dry.

Although rare, eagles are not completely extinct in the historic skies of the church. Thomas Aquinas was one, as were Augustine and Bunyan, Wycliffe and Huss. So were G. K. Chesterton, C. S. Lewis, Robert Dick Wilson, J. Gresham Machen, W. R. Nicoll, and A. W. Tozer.

Many of the reformers qualify, as do John Newton, George Whitefield, and a long line of nonconformists—original thinkers whose lives were interwoven through the treasured tapestry of the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries.

And in our day? We could name some . . . but they are increasingly rarer, as the “Entertain Me” philosophy of the public outshouts those who plead, “Make me think!”

Have you fallen prey to a similar mind-set? Do you find yourself contentedly sitting on your perch, pecking at dry morsels rather than longing for the skies? Think about it.[1]

1. Summary of Stephen’s message:
   1. I am now going to briefly summarize Acts chapter 7:1-8:4 and then highlight a few applications from the overall passage. I want you to notice the boldness of Stephen. I wish to show you the wisdom, insight, and spiritual leading of Stephen. I wish to challenge all of us to be prepared to speak as Stephen was prepared. I wish to encourage you that God is at work.
   2. Acts 7:1-8: High Priest confirms the crime; the beginning of Stephen’s defense; the promise to Abraham
   3. Acts 7:9-10: Joseph is exalted over Egypt
   4. Acts 7:11-16: The Patriarchs end up in Egypt
   5. Acts 7:17-29: Moses is introduced
   6. Acts 7:30-34: Moses encounters God
   7. Acts 7:35- 43: Moses leading the people; prophesy and transition to Jesus
   8. Acts 7:44-50: Transition to David and Solomon and the dwelling place of God
   9. Acts 7:51-53: Transition to the people of Stephen’s day; Stephen now directs attention to them; Stephen is assertive
   10. Acts 7:54-60: Stephen is stoned
   11. Acts 8:1-3: Stephen is buried; Saul is introduced

I want to read Acts 7:54-60. We are picking up after Stephen’s sermon to the Jewish High Court:

Acts 7:54–60 (ESV)

⁵⁴ Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. ⁵⁵ But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” ⁵⁷ But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. ⁵⁸ Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

• Notice Stephen’s wisdom, insight, and boldness.
  1. We do not need boldness or courage, not from God, if we are not being a witness. If you are persecuted, it is for living for Christ. Otherwise, it is not Christian persecution. Know that God has called us to be witnesses.
  2. Sometimes, we do not have great boldness or great courage because we are not diligently seeking the Lord to begin with, and because of that, we are not in the least ready to be a witness.
  3. We will look at that more in a moment. But think about this:
  4. The church is called the bride of Christ. Each of you, who are followers of Christ, you are married to Christ. He is the groom. Suppose that you get married to a man or a woman and you are happily married for a while!!! After a few years, you decide you do not wish to be that committed to your spouse. However, you do wish to remain married, but you do not want to get into all that marriage stuff. You wish to have intimacy occasionally; how about twice a year, at Christmas and Easter? And that is on your terms. Your terms only. Other times throughout the year, you wish to see your spouse if you are well-rested and feel like it. You never want to talk about your spouse, you might get made fun of! This goes on for a long time. You may even seek out some other men and women. Maybe, off and on, you will see your spouse every week, but only on Sundays. How do you think your spouse feels about this? Are you still married to your spouse? I guess only in a legal way. You consider yourself married, though all logic would say that you shouldn’t be identified with him or her. But this is exactly how many treat Christianity. We commit on Christmas and Easter or only on Sundays.
  5. Someone recently told me that people go through phases, so it is normal to stray from our faith off and on. I think, really, what if we treat our spouse that way? We are the bride of Christ. Commit to the groom. You will not be ready, or eager to be a bold witness if you treat Jesus that way. We are married to Jesus; we must be committed.
  6. If we are witnesses, we must pray that God gives us wisdom.
  7. Wisdom comes from God. Stephen had great wisdom, and we can see this in this message (Acts 6:10). We must seek the Lord for this wisdom.
  8. I will not receive the wisdom if I am not committed to Jesus, the one I am married to, more than once a week.
  9. If we are witnesses, we will need to pray that we are diligent to study to be prepared to be a witness (1 Peter 3:15).
  10. This does take preparation on our part. We must be committed to the groom. We must study the Scriptures and other things as well. Think about Daniel 1:17 and 20, which show that God gave wisdom and understanding.
  11. Listen to this from a wonderful pastor from the 20th Century.
  12. “My strong advice to you is to soak, soak, soak in philosophy and psychology, until you know more of these subjects than you ever need consciously think. It is ignorance of these subjects on the part of ministers and workers that has brought our evangelical theology to such a sorry plight. When people refer to a man as ‘a man of one book,’ meaning  the Bible, he is generally a man of multitudinous books, which simply isolates the one Book to its proper grandeur. The man who reads only the Bible does not, as a rule, know it or human life.”                                  -Oswald Chambers

Close:

So, study and be ready to answer boldly, as Stephen did. Plant seeds of the Gospel everywhere. Lastly, be encouraged as God is at work.

Stephen was martyred. Death, is it the end? No not at all.

“Held” Natalie Grant

Two months is too little
They let him go
They had no sudden healing
To think that providence
Would take a child from his mother
While she prays, is appalling
Who told us we’d be rescued
What has changed and
Why should we be saved from nightmares
Were asking why this happens to us
Who have died to live, it’s unfair
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We’d be held
This hand is bitterness
We want to taste it and
Let the hatred numb our sorrows
The wise hand opens slowly
To lilies of the valley and tomorrow
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We’d be held
If hope if born of suffering
If this is only the beginning
Can we not wait, for one hour
Watching for our savior
This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was that when everything fell
We’d be held
[Repeat Chorus]

No, NO, NO, death is not the end. Stephen was a martyr, and God used that to spread the Gospel around the known world. God was at work, and God is at work. I know of people who get sick, and through that sickness, a family member comes to know Christ. Never underestimate what God is doing.

We have a future in glory, which is what this book we call the Bible is all about. When we die as believers we meet Jesus in paradise. When we live, we are held by Jesus constantly.

I strongly believe the following: Sometimes we are thinking, “Why did you take this person from life? Why God?” Sometimes, we are even angry at God over death, and that is sometimes part of grief. That can be okay. But turn it around, our loved one is in paradise thinking, “Jesus, why do you leave them in suffering on earth for so long.” They are in paradise, and you can be as well.

Do you know Jesus?

God created us to be with Him (Gen. 1-2).

Our sins separate us from God (Gen 3).

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen. 4-Mal. 4).

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again (Matt.-Luke).

Everyone who trusts in Him alone has eternal life (John- Jude).

Life that is eternal means being in paradise forever (Rev. 22:5.  

[1]Excerpted from Come Before Winter and Share My Hope, Copyright © 1985, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. http://thejourneyisthelife.wordpress.com/tag/isaiah-40-chuck-swindoll-hope-rest/

Happy Father’s Day!

How are fathers portrayed in the media? I am talking about television programs. We watched most of the Home Improvement episodes as a family. It was a funny and good show, but I don’t like how it portrays the dad. Generally, in Home Improvement, the dad is NOT to be taken seriously. There are many redeeming qualities of Home Improvement. It does show the dad involved with his family. Tim works on the car with the kids. He teaches his sons how to work on the Hot Rod, those are good things. But he is the object of many of the jokes and not to be taken seriously.

Today, I want to challenge men to stand-up. Stand up for your family. Take leadership.

My theme today is:

As a father, and/or paternal influence, stand “in the gap” for God.

What does that mean? You are about to find out.

Ezekiel 22:30 (ESV)

And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.

1. What is the context of the passage?
   1. Context is critical.
   2. Ezekiel is writing during a time when the southern kingdom of Israel is being conquered by Babylon.
   3. Other passages across the Old Testament show that God caused the southern kingdom to be conquered because of their unfaithfulness to the Lord.
   4. Ezekiel shares about a systemic failure in Judah.
   5. As one source shares: Here, rather than surveying behaviors (as in vv. 6–12), Ezekiel surveys personnel. The issue is still impurity (a land … not cleansed, v. 24). This oracle almost serves as a commentary on 7:23–27 where prophet, priest, elders, and king mislead the city, although an even earlier “model” is found in Zeph. 3:3–4. The sum is a web of deceit, as these pillars of the community are seen as colluding.^[1]
   6. The pillars of community are colluding and leading the people astray.
   7. That is not unlike men, and dads in our society shirking responsibility.
   8. We are called to step-up.
   9. In Ezekiel 22:25 he writes about prophets conspiring and deceiving the people.
   10. Then, the priest, look at Ezekiel 22:26 (ESV) ²⁶ Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
   11. Verse 27 addresses the princes. They are getting dishonest gain.
   12. Then, back to the prophets: Ezekiel 22:28–29 (ESV)
   13. ²⁸ And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord has not spoken. ²⁹ The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice.
   14. This is a very sad passage.
   15. Then, we come back to verse 30: And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
   16. God found none.
   17. Verse 31 uses language to show that, therefore, the Lord will have them conquered.
2. Let’s look at the verse itself and the context together.
   1. Ezekiel 22:30: And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.
   2. God was searching for a man who would stand in the breach.
   3. This is the language of holding up a wall during a battle.
   4. One sources shares: There is no one to stand in the breach (cf. 13:5; Ps. 106:23) who might avert the destruction. Sometimes it takes only one courageous, righteous person to stop great evil, but there was no one.^[2]
   5. Imagine a wall during a battle. Back in that day, the city’s walls were really important. Those walls protected the people in the city. They protected the city.
   6. Think of a fortress and it has a wall.
   7. The wall is coming down. The men are to rush in and build up the wall. The men are supposed to protect those inside the city.
   8. Now, suppose these men leave. Instead of protecting the city, they flee.
   9. The men do the opposite.
   10. That is what God is saying. He found no one.
   11. Further, when we look at this passage in light of the context, the men did the opposite of protecting the city.
   12. Actually, they did not just leave, they helped tear down the city.
   13. Remember, verse 26: Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
   14. Notice that part of standing in the gap, the most significant part is spiritual. The prophet Ezekiel is not referring to the priest literally harming Israel physically, but these spiritual dimensions: profaning the holy things… no distinction between holy and common…. Disregarding the sabbaths.
   15. These things lead to the destruction of Israel. The spiritual destroys the city. The lack of the spiritual care destroys the city.
   16. Then, verse 27 was about the princes: Ezekiel 22:27 (ESV)
   17. ²⁷ Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain.
   18. I believe Ezekiel in talking about their lack of integrity is saying that is destroying the land physically.
   19. Ethics, integrity, and morals matter. They are of first importance.
   20. One writes: Government officials were supposed to protect people, the first function of government being the establishment of justice for everyone (Rm 13).^[3]
   21. And, of course, the prophets: They are not preaching truth.
   22. All of this is not holding up the wall. It is not rebuilding the wall.
   23. This is metaphorical language intended to show that God could not find any man who would “build up” Judah.

• Apply:
  1. This passage is NOT about God destroying us, the United States, for the lack of men to stand in the gap.
  2. No, this is about Judea about six centuries before Christ.
  3. However, we can indirectly apply the principle to us.
  4. God was looking for men to intercede.
  5. He was looking for men to seek Him, and to stand for truth. This is about men seeking the Lord.
  6. Throughout the Bible, God used men to stand up and intercede.
  7. The most famous example is Abraham in Genesis 18:22-31.
  8. In that passage, God was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, but Abraham intercedes.
  9. In Exodus chapters 32-34 Moses intercedes. That is after the people rebel and build a golden calf and worship it. The people are unfaithful to the Lord.
  10. Moses prays to the Lord and intercedes.
  11. So, how do we apply this?
  12. As fathers, grandfathers, and paternal influences, we must seek the Lord on behalf of our family, our church, our community.
  13. We must stand in the gap.
  14. This means we are in God’s Word.
  15. We stand for truth. Don’t be like those false prophets Ezekiel was writing about. Don’t be like those immoral princes. Don’t be like those priests that were not set apart for the Lord. No, we must stand for truth.
  16. We must pray for our family to know the Lord.
  17. We must talk to our family about the Lord.
  18. We must have the Lord, which includes His church as the center of our life.
  19. God could find no one to stand in the gap, but eventually, He would provide Jesus. 1 Tim. 2:5-6 shows this is pointing to Jesus.
  20. The ultimate answer is Jesus.
  21. Point your family to Jesus.

Closing:

I began the sermon by talking about Home Improvement. Tim Allen made another successful series, Last Man Standing. Allen plays a dad with three daughters. Many of you have probably seen it. Compare Home Improvement to Last Man Standing. In Last Man Standing, Allen plays a dad who is more serious, more mature, and very involved in leading the family in decision-making. However, very rarely does it show the dad leading the family in prayer, spiritual disciplines, devotions, and congregational worship.

We must stand in the gap. We must hold up the wall and point our family to Jesus. We must hold the wall and let our family run to the safe place and the safe place is a relationship with Jesus.

Prayer

^[1] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1531.

^[2] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1532.

^[3] Mark F. Rooker, “Ezekiel,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1278.

The Seven Chosen to Serve and Stephen Seized (Acts 6)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, June 9, 2024

Today, I am delivering this sermon a little differently. I am with the youth on their Niagara Falls trip. I am recording the message with the youth group.

Still, we are continuing our way through Acts. I think it is fitting to be with the youth on a day when we talk about Acts 6.

In Acts 6, we see the deacons. “Deacons” means “servants.” The apostles are forming a group of servants to take care of all the needs. That is fitting with the youth group right in front of me. Regardless of age, we must know that the church is not about “me.” It is about the community. That means we are here to serve.

In Acts 6, we see the deacons. “Deacons” means “servants.” The apostles are forming a group of servants to take care of all the needs. That is fitting with the youth group right in front of me. Regardless of age, we must know that the church is not about “me.” It is about the community. That means we are here to serve.

At this point, the early church is growing. They are growing so rapidly that certain problems are coming about in their unity. In Acts 1, Jesus told the disciples to wait until the Holy Spirit came upon them. Jesus told the disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them and they would be His witnesses in the whole known world, starting locally (Acts 1:8). This has been happening, and so now we see the devil trying to divide the church. You remember Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes upon the church. Then, in Acts 3 and 4, Peter and John heal a man and face persecution for it, but 5000 are saved. Then, in Acts 5, the disciples are persecuted again. So, in Acts 6 some of the needs are not being met.

Let’s look at Acts 6:1-7, and I wish to show you four things: Firstly, the disciples ensure that the felt needs of people are met. Secondly, the disciples will not drop the ministry of the Word of God and prayer. Thirdly, the disciples create expectations that the new leaders are men of noble Christian character. Fourthly, Stephen is seized.

Let’s read Acts 6:1-7:

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. ² And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. ³ Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. ⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵ And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. ⁶ These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

⁷ And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

1. First, notice that the needs of some are not met.
   1. Verse 1 is simple enough. Some came to the disciples complaining that some people were not having their needs met. I noticed that as I looked at this passage, there was a need. There was a social issue. The church was growing. It was likely growing rapidly. It appears that we are now in the mid-30s AD, and we are just a few years after Jesus’ resurrection. In Jerusalem, there are Jews who are Greek speaking called Hellenistic Jews. The rest of the Jews likely spoke Aramaic.
   2. Now, many times, Jewish people would come back to Jerusalem to spend their final years, but then the husband might die, and guess what? The wife is there by herself.
   3. But still, to be a widow in their day was a big deal. They need income. They need food.
   4. A while back, I read something that was enlightening for these verses:
   5. In its charity the church may have followed somewhat the precedents already set in contemporary Judaism, which had a double system of distribution to the needy. The Jews had a weekly dole for resident needy, called the quppah. It was given out every Friday and consisted of enough money for fourteen meals. There was also a daily distribution, known as the tamhuy. It was for nonresidents and transients and consisted of food and drink, which were delivered from house to house where known needy were dwelling. The Christian practice seems to have embraced elements of both Jewish systems. Like the tamhuy it was daily, and like the quppah it was for the resident membership.
   6. But in this case, the Hellenistic Jews were being overlooked. Now, it does appear that this was not intentional. It appears that this could be because of the language barrier or something else. The point is, they were overlooked, and this is a problem. This came to their attention, and they are about to take care of it.
   7. Now, an application: we have felt needs in our community which we must take care of as well.
   8. Yet, we must be careful of enabling people as well. In a minute we will see how the disciples meet these needs. It is interesting, many times I have people asking for money or assistance. There are times when I get calls and it is something that I can help with my discretionary fund, so I meet a small need, but then the very next week I get a request from the same person. So, I might say that I would like to meet with them and recommend some other resources and I will recommend financial counseling and unfortunately, 9 out of 10 times they hang up on me. That is quite telling. The point is that we must always seek God’s Wisdom in meeting people’s needs. In that day and age there were no resources for orphans and widows and Christians were known for serving and helping.
2. In verses 2-4: the church leaders meet to talk about this need.
   1. There is only a little bit of time in a day and that time goes fast. So, in verse 2 the disciples affirm that they cannot, let me repeat, they cannot, neglect the ministry of the Word for these needs. Yet, these needs are so very important.
   2. Notice that the disciples knew that they had to stick with the proclamation of the Word of God. We cannot dilute this major need in the church.
   3. 2 Timothy 4:1: “preach the Word…”
   4. The disciples want the church to choose 7 men:
   5. These men must have a good reputation.
   6. This means literally that they are witnesses.
   7. Now, know that in 1 Timothy 3 we have similar qualifications for church leaders, elders and deacons.
   8. The leadership must be full of the Holy Spirit.
   9. The leadership must have wisdom.
   10. We need wisdom to know who to help and who not to help.
   11. Verse 4: The disciples will take care of the ministry of praying and teaching and preaching.
3. In verse 5-7 the disciples ordain 7 men.

• • The men are chosen. We will see from Stephen later in this chapter and he is the first martyr. We see from Phillip in chapter 8. The other men we really don’t know much about beyond church tradition.
  • These men all have Greek names, and it is implied that most if not all may be Greek believers which means that the church chooses Greeks to meet the needs of the Greeks. This is a wise decision. These men will know the needs of their own people and will not have a language barrier.
  • The disciples pray and then they lay hands on them, this is essentially ordination.
  • We also must pray prior to and during church decisions.
  • Verse 7 is a summary. Many times in Acts Luke concludes with a summary.

Now, Stephen is seized.

1. 1. Acts 6:8–15 (ESV): ⁸ And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. ¹¹ Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” ¹² And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, ¹³ and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, ¹⁴ for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” ¹⁵ And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
   2. It is important that we know that in verse 5 above, Stephen is introduced as one full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
   3. Right now, we see that God is taking care of Stephen as he is arrested, and in reality, as we are bold and courageous witnesses, God will take care of us as well.
   4. I have heard testimonies of people being bold witnesses for Christ. Just think about Martin Luther standing up for the Scriptures in the 16^th Study the early church and many that were standing up during persecution. I know that I have shared others with you before, people going through persecution, yet standing strong for Jesus. Maybe you have heard of some stories. God takes care of us.
   5. But what about stories of miracles as well? God is still at work in His church. We will experience more miracles as we step out and witness for Christ.
   6. Remember that “signs and wonders” most always go together in Acts.
2. In verses 9-14 we see the attack against Stephen.
   • First, we see the “who” in verse 9. Some men started arguing against Stephen. We can learn a few things from this.
   • This is the first time of active oppression against the church in Acts.
   • Also, Stephen was probably part of that synagogue. Stephen was being a witness in his sphere of influence. Do we realize that God has placed us in a specific place to be a witness? He has.
   • We do not know for sure whether this was one synagogue or as many as 5 synagogues. We do know that this was likely called the synagogue of the Freedmen because they would be former slaves. These synagogues represent men from these four countries.
   • In verse 10 we see the “why.” Interesting that Stephen was apparently very good at defending the faith. Of course, we should expect that since Stephen was being guided by the Holy Spirit. In fact, verse 10 lists the Spirit and the wisdom as what the people couldn’t cope with.
   • In verses 11-14 we see the “what.” Verse 11 tells us that they are putting forward false witnesses. These people are committing perjury, but in the end, God is at work. Verse 11 says that they “secretly induced” men to say false things. Some translations say something like, “They persuaded…” But that wording is too weak. They “secretly induced” people to lie.
   • Verse 13: they say that he said Jesus will destroy the temple. My translation says “Holy Place” but that is talking about the Temple. We do know that Jesus did say something like that, but He was talking about Himself. Jesus also predicted the destruction of the Temple, but never said He would do it (Matt. 24:1–2; Mark 13:1–2; Luke 21:5–6).
   • Verse 12 says that these false witnesses stirred up the elders and the scribes. The elders would represent the Sadducees and the Scribes would represent the Pharisees. Both groups have representation on the Sanhedrin.
   • They also say that Jesus will destroy the law of God. This is from verses 11-12 and 13b-14. This is a half-truth. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament.
   • Verse 15 tells us the meekness of Stephen. His face is like that of an angel. John MacArthur says about this:
   • You see what God’s saying? God’s saying both of those were mine. In Exodus 33 and 34 you can read the story yourself of the glory of God on the face of Moses. And as he came down from the mountain with the glory of God what did he have in his arm? The old covenant. And Stephen there has proclaimed the new covenant and God puts on his face the glow of God and what is God saying? I approve of Moses. I approve of Stephen. Don’t you see this is fulfillment.
   • Starting in verse 15 Stephen is on trial, but in reality, God is putting the Sanhedrin on trial.

Close:

I love studying history and specifically Revolutionary War History. Have you heard the phrase the shot heard round the world? Something that I have read about that states:

The phrase is originally from the opening stanza of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Concord Hymn” (1837), and referred to the first shot of the American Revolutionary War. According to Emerson’s poem, this pivotal shot occurred at the North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts, where the first British soldiers killed in the battles of Lexington and Concord fell.

Historically, no one shot can be definitely cited as the first shot of the battle or the war. Shots were fired earlier at Lexington, where eight Americans were killed and a British soldier was slightly wounded, but accounts of that event are confused and contradictory. The North Bridge skirmish did see the first shots by Americans acting under orders, the first organized volley by Americans, the first British fatalities, and the first British retreat.

Stephen being brought to trial and later martyred is the shot heard around the world. In a few weeks we will continue this narrative from the Word of God, and we will see how this ignites the Christians to spread out into the gentile areas and to spread the Gospel with them.

Do you know Christ?

God created us to be with him. (Genesis 1-2)

Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)

Sins cannot be removed by good deeds (Gen 4-Mal 4)

Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matthew – Luke)

Everyone who trusts in him alone has eternal life. (John – Jude)

Life that’s eternal means we will be with Jesus forever. (Revelation 22:5)

The Apostles Appear Before the Council (summarize Acts 4:32-37 and Acts 5:1-16; preach Acts 5:17-42)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, June 2, 2024

Several years ago I read a series of articles on persecution in the early church. I read certain Bible scholars almost daily to see what they are writing about. One of those scholars is Ben Witherington III. Dr. Witherington commented and reposted another scholar’s comments on a book by Candida Moss about persecution in the early church. I have often thought about persecution. I have thought about how we can stand strong when one is inflicting pain because of our view of Christ. Sometimes, we can simply think that they wish for us to deny Christ, which may be true, but from what I have read, things usually come up differently than that. Usually, a church is meeting and worshipping the Lord, then suddenly, government authorities barge in, hurt many, and put others in prison.

Some of you have read and heard about something Francis Chan shares in his book Forgotten God. He shares about a few Christians, one of whom is a pastor, and they are all taken prisoner in the Middle East. Yet, they are Americans, and eventually, the Americans came to rescue them. During their time of persecution, at least one of them is killed. After they were rescued and sent back to America, they said that they would have rather been in the Middle East under persecution because the Holy Spirit was so strong there. Many are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ, and God is present with them.

Matthew 5:10 (ESV)

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 10:19 (ESV)

When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.

We will examine one of many passages in the Book of Acts dealing with persecution.

• Notice how the disciples boldly proclaim Christ and obey God.
• Notice also how the disciples proclaim that they must obey God and not human laws.
• I hope you are encouraged by how God cared for them in persecution.
• I also hope that you are encouraged to obey God and not human laws.
• I hope your Christian faith is so important to you that you will live it and share it no matter the consequences and
• I hope that you can rejoice with the disciples even in persecution.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones:

It is perfectly clear that in New Testament times, the gospel was authenticated in this way by signs, wonders and miracles of various characters and descriptions … Was it only meant to be true of the early church? … The Scriptures never anywhere say that these things were only temporary—never! There is no such statement anywhere (The Sovereign Spirit, pp. 31–32).

God is still active and what we need to know and be aware of is that the more you step out into faith to follow God, the more you will see amazing things through the Holy Spirit. You will not see miracles if you are not following the Lord.

So, God is at work in the early church and some of the Jewish leaders are not at all happy about this. Let’s get into the passage. This is a long passage, so I will break it into sections to discuss it.

1. Context is important; how did we get to this point?
   1. In Acts 4:32-Acts chapter 5:16, we have an account of the Christian community sharing.
   2. We will not preach through that passage, but we will summarize it.
   3. In Acts 4:32-37, we have the model church. Acts 4:32 says that they were all of one mind.
   4. They were sharing with anyone who had need.
   5. We are also introduced to Joseph, called by the apostles Barnabas (Acts 4:36).
   6. At the beginning of chapter 5 (verses 1-11), we have the account of Ananias and Sapphira. This was one example when all the people were selling possessions and sharing.
   7. So, Ananias sold a house and kept money for himself. But he lied to the apostles and told them he was giving all the money to the apostles for the ministry. He lied to God and his wife, Sapphira, did the same thing.
   8. There is a lot in that passage.
   9. We see theological statements.
   10. They lied to God (verse 4), and in the previous verse, Peter says they lied to the Holy Spirit (verse 3).
   11. It would not have been wrong for them to keep some money. The issue is they lied about it.
   12. The Lord struck down both the husband and the wife.
   13. This passage is very similar to Joshua 8 and the sin of Achan.
   14. Starting at verse 12 we see that many signs and wonders were done among the people through the Apostles.
   15. Verse 12 makes an interesting note that they were in Solomon’s Portico.
   16. Verse 12, many signs and wonders were being done among the people. They were all in one accord.
   17. Verse 14: more believers were joining them, great numbers.
   18. Verse 15: people even want Peter’s shadow to fall on them.
   19. Verse 16: people from neighboring areas were bringing the sick and those tormented with unclean Spirits.
   20. That brings us to today’s section.
2. In verses 17-21a, we see the apostles imprisoned and miraculously released. Let’s read the section, and then I will share a few thoughts.

Acts 5:17–21 (ESV)

¹⁷ But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy ¹⁸ they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” ²¹ And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

• What an amazing passage! Doesn’t that just excite you? As we look at the rest of this passage, you will see even more great irony. But now notice that the Jewish High Court is unhappy with what is happening in the new Christian faith. I call them the Jewish High Court, but we have at least two major groups. This is the Sanhedrin. We have the Pharisees who accepted our whole Old Testament. They accepted the Ten Commandments and the books about them; they accepted the prophetic books. They also believed in the resurrection. Paul, the apostle, was a Pharisee. Then we have the Sadducees. They were much smaller, and they were politically tied to Rome. They didn’t believe in the resurrection. Jesus’s resurrection meant that they were no longer in power. If the resurrected order is taking place, the Sadducees and their ties to Rome will no longer be in power.
• The Bible says that they were filled with jealousy, so they took the apostles and imprisoned them. Now, it appears that they took all the apostles, all twelve, and imprisoned them.
• The Bible says that they were put in “public jail.” This could mean that they were in a public jail or publicly put in jail. They may have wanted everyone to see this.
• Okay, so at night an angel from the Lord let them out and told them to go and speak to the people the whole message of the Lord. Interesting that the angel did not tell them to flee or anything else. They were to go back to the very place where they were taken prisoner. So, they obey.

In verses 21b-26, we see some very ironic events. Let’s read them.

Acts 5:21–26 (ESV)

²¹ And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. ²² But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, ²³ “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” ²⁴ Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. ²⁵ And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” ²⁶ Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

1. So, the people were guarding an empty jail cell. I find that funny.
2. The people who were supposed to be in power were clearly not in power at all.
3. In verse 24, the chief priest hears about this and is very perplexed. This literally means that he doubts it. He doesn’t believe it. But then he finds out that the people who were imprisoned had not fled, but they were now teaching.
4. It is fortunate for the guards that they were guarding a Jewish prison and not a Roman prison. Later in Acts 12, an angel lets Peter out of prison, and Herod has the guards put to death for losing a prisoner.
5. Back then, you went to jail until trial; that was all. They didn’t have long-term prisons with cable television as we do today. After trial, you were sold into slavery, beaten, killed, or released.
6. Then, notice in verse 26 that the ones in charge were worried they would get stoned, bringing the apostles back.
7. Now, in verses 27-32, we see the apostle’s response.

Acts 5:27–32 (ESV)

²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, ²⁸ saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. ³¹ God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

1. In verse 28, they say, we gave you strict orders not to teach in “this name.” Notice they will not say the name of Jesus.
2. Then, in verse 29, Peter is once again the spokesperson for the group. He says they must obey God and not man.
3. How much does the Gospel mean to you? Put yourself in the place of the persecuted. Say that you are a schoolteacher, and you hold a Bible study in your room, and then after a while, you are told you can no longer do this? Suppose that you are a schoolteacher, and a student brings up the Christian faith and is interested in how you become a Christian. Do you share with him? No, you could not do that because you would be fired! Is your job worth this person’s eternity? Suppose that church is illegal, and so a church meeting is happening in a home. Do you attend? That is what they face in other countries.
4. In the Book of Acts, we see that it is very important to share the Gospel with people. They must fulfill the Great Commission. Jesus is eternal life.
5. So, now Peter shares about Jesus with this group. He shares the Gospel. Verse 31: Jesus is the Prince and Savior of the world.
6. Peter says that they are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit. Do you remember what I shared with you at the beginning of this sermon about the Holy Spirit?
7. In verses 33-42, we see the ruling:

Acts 5:33–42 (ESV)

³³ When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. ³⁴ But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. ³⁵ And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. ³⁶ For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. ³⁸ So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, ⁴⁰ and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. ⁴² And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

1. Gamaliel was the one who trained Paul. He was a brilliant scholar revered for a long time after this, and he says, if this is of man, it will diminish, and he cites two examples. But he says if this is of God. You will be fighting God. Wow!
2. But notice the end of this passage: The disciples leave rejoicing that they were counted worthy of persecution. This is right after they were beaten.
3. Lastly, the disciples continued teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ every day in houses and in the temple.

Some applications:

1. We see God’s presence with the disciples.
2. God’s presence let them out of the jail (verses 19-20).
3. God’s presence helped them rejoice in suffering (verse 41).
4. We must be ready for persecution (1 Peter 3:15).
5. When persecuted, we can rejoice that we are counted worthy to be persecuted for Christ (verse 41).
6. We must obey God and not human laws when there is a contradiction (verse 29).
7. We must obey what God communicates to us just as the Apostles did following verses 20 and 21.

As we continue to preach through Acts, I pray that you are challenged to be a disciple of Christ all the time.

Pray

Spirit-Filled Prayer (4:23–31)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, May 26, 2024

Children are dismissed to junior church

Matt Wade will come up and read today’s passage:

Acts 4:23-31

I want to start out with something funny:

I heard about this minister that died. He was standing in line at the pearly gates. The man in front of him was dressed in a loud t-shirt, sunglasses and blue jeans. Saint Peter asked him, “What’s your name”? He said, “I’m Joe Cohen. Taxicab driver. New York City”. Peter checked his list and handed him a gold staff, silk robe, said, “Welcome to heaven”. The minister stepped up. He said, “I’m reverend Joseph snow, pastor of Saint Mary’s Cathedral”. Peter checked his list, handed him a wooden staff and cotton robe. He said, “Hey, that’s not right. The taxicab driver got a gold staff and this is all I got”? Peter said, “Sir, up here we work by results. When you preached people slept but when he drove people prayed“.

Memorial Day is a day we honor our fallen heroes. Our American heroes were brave, they were courageous, and they were bold. We see that theme in Acts as well. We will come back to that.

Has anyone seen the show “Band of Brothers”? It was a great show about a group of men going through Europe in WWII. It is based on a book and, I believe, a true story.

Has anyone seen the series, “The Pacific”?

These men and women were brave and bold.

Tom Brokaw shares:

In 1953, when I was living in a small town constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers along the Missouri River in South Dakota, I was surrounded by the young veterans of World War II who were busy making up for lost time: raising families, earning a living by building the large hydroelectric dam across the Missouri on this isolated stretch of the Great Plains, trying to forget what they had been through just a few years earlier. As a talkative kid, friendly to grown-ups, I heard lots of stories about their days during the Depression or their long-ago sports achievements or hunting and fishing lore, but I cannot recall any of the veterans sitting around telling war stories. It just wasn’t done. I do remember one startling comment, however. It came from Gordon Larsen, a popular member of the community. He was a stocky, cheerful young man who worked on a crew that kept the electrical, heating, and plumbing systems going in the town. He had such a lively sense of humor that it was almost worth it to have your furnace break down. Gordon always kept up a lively chatter while he worked on it.

So it was surprising that the morning after Halloween he came into the post office, where my mother worked, and complained about the rowdiness of the high school teenagers the night before. My mother, trying to play to his good humor, said, “Oh, Gordon, what were you doing when you were seventeen?” He looked at her for a moment and said, “I was landing on Guadalcanal.” Then he turned and left the post office. It was a moment that made a deep impression on Mother. She shared it with me when she came home that evening, and we have talked about it often. It was so representative of how quickly times had changed for young people. Gordon is now seventy-three. He’s retired from the Army Corps of Engineers after thirty-five years, having moved on from fixing furnaces to operating the sophisticated control systems in the powerhouses of dams in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Washington. He was surprised when I told him my mother and I remembered that moment in the post office. “I didn’t talk about the war much,” he said. “I spent most of my time trying to forget it.” Gordon quit high school in Omaha to join the Marines in 1941, following the path of his older brother, Jim. He trained in San Diego with the 3rd Marine Division, 9th Regiment, and immediately shipped out for the Pacific, where he carried the heavy Browning automatic rifle ashore at Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam, and Okinawa, participating in some of the heaviest fighting of the war. He hooked up with Jim, then nineteen, in the 3rd Marines, and they went ashore together at Bougainville. It was a bloody, unforgettable day for Gordon. His brother was hit almost instantly, severely wounded, on the beach. Gordon remembered it vividly. “He bounced around,” he said. “He was really hit.” Jim was down in an exposed position, and every time a rescue effort was launched, the Japanese opened up. Gordon’s commander told him they couldn’t do anything until dark. Jim lay there all day, his life draining from him. Finally, once it was nighttime, they were able to get him back to their lines and transported to a waiting ship. But too much damage had been done. Gordon’s brother died two weeks later in a Denver hospital. As he told me this story, unprompted, on a telephone call across forty-five years, Gordon’s voice grew husky and more distant. “I haven’t”—he hesitated and then went on—“I haven’t talked about this hardly ever.” He said he still has nightmares about his days in combat, and when I knew him, in the early fifties, when the memories were especially fresh, he said he thought about it all of the time, even when he was entertaining us while fixing our furnace. There were no psychiatrists in our small community for him to see, even if he had been inclined, which he wasn’t. “I just wanted to forget,” he said, “I just wanted to get on with my life.” Gordon said that when he went into a bar in those days and heard guys talking about combat, it made him sick, so sick he’d just walk out rather than stick around and share the painful memories. Besides, he always figured those who were willing to talk about combat had never really experienced it. After all the bloody fighting across the island chains leading to Japan, Gordon’s outfit was on Guam, preparing to board ships that would take them to the invasion of the mainland. Then word came of the surrender of the Japanese. Gordon’s shooting war was over. He came home with his unit. There had been 240 men in it when he left San Diego three years earlier. Only eight returned alive and uninjured. Gordon says he’s never been in touch with any of them. He doesn’t want to revisit those days. He does credit the Marines, however, and that awful experience during his formative years with giving direction to his life. He said he was a wild kid, and he didn’t know what would have happened without the discipline of the Marines and the sobering experiences of war. He came home a man, went to school nights to get his high school diploma, and worked days learning the trade of a furnace-and-heating-system technician. “I was never out of work,” he proudly recalled. “I never had to take the 52–20 program”—a government subsidy for returning veterans who couldn’t get work—twenty dollars a week for fifty-two weeks. Most returning veterans went to work or back to school as swiftly as possible. They were acutely aware of what they had lost in their training years. In fact many of them to this day just subtract three, four, or five years from their chronological age in good humor, laughingly explaining that those were the years they lost during the war.[1]

In the book of Acts the people were bold, but where did it come from, it came from the Holy Spirit.

Okay, we are now almost through four chapters of Acts. What are some themes that you have sensed? Have you sensed the theme of the Holy Spirit? I hope you have. Have you sensed the theme of the boldness to proclaim the Gospel even when it is difficult? I hope so. Four weeks ago, we looked at a passage that had to do with the persecution of Peter and John. Fortunately, or unfortunately, that is not an isolated incident in the Book of Acts. Persecution is not isolated in church’s history at all, either.

I have titled my message, Spirit-Filled Prayer, because in the passage which I will read I see the disciple’s prayer as Holy Spirit-Filled or at least Holy Spirit Filling. We must also seek the same in our churches and in our prayer life.

Tim Keller shares:

Jonathan Edwards, some of you have heard of him. He was a Congregational minister in New England 200 years ago. Listen to this little note from his prayer diary: “Once, as I rode out into the woods for my health, in 1737 … I had a view that was for me extraordinary. [The inward eyes of my heart were opened and I saw the] glory of the Son of God … and his wonderful, great … pure and sweet grace and love.

The person of Christ appeared ineffably excellent with an excellency great enough to swallow up all thought and conception, which continued as near as I could judge [as a condition of me, for] about an hour, which kept me the greater part of the time in a flood of tears and weeping aloud. I felt an ardency of soul to be … full of Christ alone; to love him with a holy and pure love; to trust in him; to live upon him; to serve … him.”^[2]

Isn’t that powerful? That is Spirit-filled prayer.

Allow me to read:

Acts 4:23–31 (ESV)

²³ When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, ²⁵ who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

     “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage,

and the peoples plot in vain?

²⁶   The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers were gathered together,

against the Lord and against his Anointed’—

²⁷ for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, ²⁸ to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. ²⁹ And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, ³⁰ while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” ³¹ And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 

1. First, notice that their prayer begins with worship and an acknowledgment that God is sovereign.
   1. Now, allow me to review what is happening in this passage:
   2. At the beginning of Acts chapter 3, Peter and John go to the Temple at the time of prayer. A lame beggar was there and asked for money. Peter said, “Silver or gold I don’t have, but what I have, I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” The man is healed. This attracted a lot of attention, and Peter preached a sermon. Peter’s message reached about 5000 people with the Gospel, but this aggravated the Jewish authorities, and Peter and John were thrown in prison for the night. The next day, Peter and John spoke before the Jewish leadership, and Peter again preached the Gospel (Acts 4:8 says that Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit). Eventually, they had Peter and John released.
   3. Following their release from prison, they come back to meet with their own people.
   4. This term translated as “their own,” usually means family, but in this case, it means the other Christians.[3] But the point is they immediately went back to share with the other disciples what God had done.
   5. They didn’t go to take a shower first. They didn’t go to catch up on business, emails, Facebook, or other things. They went straight back to join their people.
   6. They may have gone back to the upper room or a location where they knew the church would be.
   7. They shared about the chief priests. The Chief Priests were a small group of priests within the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin would be the Jewish Supreme Court. The Sanhedrin would be composed of 70 people plus the High priest.[4]
   8. The chief Priests are composed of former high priests and members of influential priestly families.
   9. Notice in verse 24: When “they”—which I am thinking is the rest of the disciples—heard this, meaning what God had done, they went straight to prayer.

• We must always apply the Scripture to our lives. Let’s apply this narrative for a moment.
• Do we do the same?
• They could have gone to rest, but no, they went to prayer. Their prayer includes allusions to Old Testament prayers.

1. Let’s look at this Spirit-Filled
   1. They start their prayer by acknowledging who God is in relation to who we are. We should do the same. God created everything that we see and feel, including the stars in the sky.
   2. Verse 24 starts their prayer as “Sovereign Lord.” This means that God is in control. This means “absolute ruler.” The Greek word translated here is where we get the English word “despot.”[5] God is the absolute ruler, and they acknowledged that as they began their prayer.
   3. Let me also insert here that they were praying in unity. The Scripture says that they “raised their voices together in prayer…” This doesn’t mean they all prayed simultaneously, but they were praying in unity.
   4. Too often, our churches and prayers are hindered because of our divisions. Hence, I am going to say that our divisions hinder the Spirit’s work in our prayer life. In a few verses, we will see that this group of Christians experienced the Holy Spirit. I think we are missing the Holy Spirit because of our division.[6]
   5. Another statement about division: I strongly believe that the devil starts and fosters our division to take our focus off of evangelism. I strongly believe that reaching the lost will heal our division. We will realize the things we are divided over are not as important as sharing the Gospel with those who don’t even know the Lord.
   6. What we need to see here is that their prayer was in unity, and God blessed them with a special baptism of the Holy Spirit.
   7. Now, allow me to get back to their prayer and their acknowledgment of God as sovereign. Do we acknowledge that God is sovereign?
   8. Do you go about your day-to-day life thinking that God is in control? Or, are you in control?
   9. Acknowledging God as sovereign includes the idea that we must surrender to His will.

• Next, part of the prayer: Do we begin our prayer with worship? That is what they are doing.
• Then, their prayer includes Scripture. They quote Psalm 2:1-2 in reference to Jesus.
• Lastly about God’s sovereignty, their prayer acknowledged that God’s plan included threats against Christians. Verse 27 references the crucifixion of Christ. Verse 28 references that in God’s sovereignty, this was planned beforehand.
• But they never complained, and that is my transition to their one request.

• They prayed for boldness and an expansion of the Gospel
  1. They never complained. We would expect that they would pray that their threats would stop, but they don’t. They pray that God considers their threats. They had just been thrown in prison, and they prayed nothing about that.
  2. They ask that God allows them to preach God’s Word with great boldness.
  3. Notice they say “preach.”
  4. Verse 30 is a prayer for miracles.
  5. Do we pray for miracles? I must ask if I am praying for miracles. That is a challenge. We serve a God who brings about miracles.
  6. Verse 31 is a confirmation of their Spirit-filled prayer.
  7. The place is shaken.
  8. Did this really happen? It may be metaphorical, but I favor this is literal. God is so great that when He is present, I mean truly present, there are consequences that defy natural laws.
  9. They also speak the Word of God boldly. That is the answer to their prayer.

We are New Testament Christians living in an increasingly secular world. Because of this we must go to the Word of God to be filled up with the Holy Spirit. Now, Christians are filled with the Spirit when we receive Christ as Savior and Lord; however, I believe as we grow in Christ, we can experience special times of being filled with the Spirit. We should pray for this every day. I think this will mostly happen in small prayer circles, and we need these as Christians. I think this will mostly also happen when our prayers are in the manner expressed in this passage. We must pray with worship, acknowledging God as sovereign. We must pray in petition with our basic needs, but we must also pray for the greater good, submitting to God’s sovereign will. This prayer is for the building up of the church, and it is spirit-filled. Verse 31 says that they were filled with the Spirit.

Christians, let’s do the same. Whether or not you are a preacher, preach God’s Word including the Gospel. Do this with boldness. Pray in groups of Christians, pray in this manner, experience the Holy Spirit, and get ready. Lastly, set aside diversity and instead embrace unity for the cause of the Gospel. Then, you ought to be ready for the Holy Spirit’s work.

We need the type of prayer illustrated in this passage. I certainly do. We need, I need, Spirit-filled prayer meetings in our churches.

So, I began about WW2 men. They were bold. There is a new show on Apple TV called “Master of the Air.” It is a great show about the B17 pilots. It shows what they went through.

At the very end it shows them dropping food at the locations they just conquered. I watched that and thought we are such a great nation. I remembered in high school a teacher saying, “We are the greatest country that will annihilate an enemy and then help them rebuild.

Our men and women of uniform were very bold. As Christians we need that and it really only comes from the Holy Spirit.

Go and be Spirit-filled, living as post-resurrection Christians.

Listen as I read the words to a worship song:

Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble

Did you feel the mountains tremble?
Did you hear the oceans roar?
When the people rose to sing of
Jesus Christ the risen one

And here we see that God you’re moving
A time of Jubilee is coming
When young and old return to Jesus
Fling wide your heavenly gates
Prepare the way of the risen Lord

Written by Martin Smith ©1995 Curious? Music UK

Let’s pray.

[1] Brokaw, Tom. The Greatest Generation (pp. 101-106). Random House Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

^[2] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

[3] Witherington III, Ben. The Acts of the Apostles : A Socio-Rhetorical

Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997.  Page 201.

[4] Arnold, Clinton E. Acts. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary.

Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007. Page 32

[5] Witherington III 201

[6] We may be able to take 1 Peter 3:7 which references our relationship with our spouse as hindering our prayer life to also mean if we are divided as a church it hinders our prayer life. Psalm 66:18 talks about cherished sin hindering our prayers.

The Relationship of Naomi and Ruth: God’s Providence Working through Their Love, Loyalty, and Wise Counsel.

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, May 12, 2024

Tony Evans writes:

All of us have either been in or been to a wedding. A wedding is a combination of discontinuity and continuity. Discontinuity speaks of a cut with the past. Continuity speaks with something that is ongoing from the past. When a couple gets married, they break a family tie that was the dominant family tie prior to their wedding. It’s particularly true for the female, but normatively true for both parties as they disconnect with their mother and father as their primary point of family reference. And then they go out and begin a new household.

Yet although they disconnect with yesterday’s family ties, they continue a magnificent institution called family. It’s not the same as the one they are disconnecting from but it continues the same principle of family. God calls this connection a covenant. The word covenant can be seen all the way through the Bible as God’s word to explain or describe a new relationship.^596,[1]

When you marry someone, you also marry their family.

Today, I want to give us a portrait of a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship. We will gain insights into the relationship between Naomi and Ruth. Naomi is her mother-in-law, and Ruth is her daughter-in-law.

1. Who was Ruth?
   1. We do not know much about Ruth beyond the short Old Testament book named after her.
   2. We can summarize Ruth as follows.
   3. [She was] a Moabite who married Mahlon of the Judahite family of Elimelech. Widowed and childless, she abandoned her family, country, and faith to accompany her mother-in-law Naomi to Bethlehem. Her radical actions continued as she secured food for herself and Naomi and summoned the relative Boaz to be their redeemer. Boaz married her. She bore a son who became the grandfather of David. The women of Bethlehem exalted Ruth as the loving daughter-in-law who meant more to Naomi than seven sons, the ideal number (Ruth 4:15). Her name appears later in the Matthean genealogy of Jesus (1:5).^[2]
   4. Notice that Ruth would become the “great-grandmother” of David.
   5. That gives some background and sets up what is going on here.
   6. In Ruth 1:1-7, we find some background. A man from Bethlehem named Elimelech, who was Hebrew, married a woman in Moab. Her name was Naomi.
   7. The Moabites were one of the traditional enemies of Israel (Numbers 22:1-25:9).
   8. Naomi and Elimelech have two sons, Mahlon and Chilion.
   9. They stay in Moab.
   10. Naomi’s husband dies.
   11. Her sons take wives. One was Orpah, and the other was Ruth.
   12. After about 10 years, their husbands died as well. So now we have three widows: Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah.
   13. Verse 7 says that Naomi would return to her land, the land of Judah.
   14. In verse 8, Naomi encourages her daughters-in-law to return home to their mother’s house. They weep together.
   15. In the next few verses, there is some back and forth. Both daughters-in-law intend to stay with Naomi. Naomi urges them to go. Naomi questions if she has other sons in her womb for them. Naomi’s question assumes that the widows should marry their dead husbands’ brothers (i.e., levirate marriage, Deut. 25:5–10); but they would have to wait for such brothers to be born, and she is considered too old to conceive.^[3]
   16. Orpah leaves Naomi.
   17. Ruth stays.
2. Portrait one of Ruth and Naomi.
   1. Now, look at Ruth 1:15-18: ¹⁵ And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” ¹⁶ But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. ¹⁷ Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” ¹⁸ And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.
   2. So, we see Naomi’s care for her daughters-in-law and Ruth’s care for her mother-in-law.
   3. In verse 16, Ruth will go where Naomi goes.
   4. Ruth will stay where Naomi stays.
   5. Naomi’s people will be Ruth’s people.
   6. Notice at the end she says, Ruth says, your God will be my God.
   7. See, Ruth was not an Israelite. A few verses before, Naomi told them to go back to their “gods.” Verse 15 says that Orpah went back to her “gods.” Back then, different people had different gods.
   8. But Israel worshipped the One, true God (Ex. 20).
   9. This is God providentially setting up Ruth to be the great-grandmother of David.
   10. So, we see Ruth is loyal to Naomi.
   11. In God’s providence, He is bringing Ruth to Israel.
3. Portrait 2 of Ruth and Naomi.
   1. In Ruth 2, she meets Boaz.
   2. The testimony about Ruth spreads:
   3. Ruth 2:10–12 (ESV)
   4. ¹⁰ Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” ¹¹ But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. ¹² The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”
   5. Boaz was a relative of Naomi and will become what they called a “kinsman-redeemer.”
   6. The role of kinsman-redeemer is found in Leviticus 25, in the case of an Israelite man’s death in which he fails to leave behind a son, the brother of the deceased man is commanded to take his widow as wife and both redeem the land and provide a son to carry on the deceased father’s name.[4]
4. Portrait 3 of Ruth and Naomi.
   1. Now, look at Ruth 3:1–5 (ESV)
   2. Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? ² Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. ³ Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. ⁴ But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” ⁵ And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”
   3. We cannot cover everything in these verses, but let’s notice some things.
   4. Naomi is giving advice.
   5. Ruth is following advice. In verse 5, Ruth says, “All that you say, I will do.”
   6. The advice in this passage is about how to win over Boaz.
   7. Look at the verses.
   8. Ruth 3:1: Naomi calls her “daughter.”
   9. She lovingly talks with her.
   10. Naomi says, “Shall I not seek rest for you?” This means she wants security and stability and the best for her daughter-in-law.
   11. In verses 2-4, she gives instructions on how to get his attention at the threshing floor. The winnowing took place during the breezes that begin after sundown.^[5]
   12. These were big festivities.
   13. Now, we must know that Boaz has already been looking out for Ruth. We could see that in chapter 2.
   14. At night, someone would guard the grain against being stolen or eaten by animals. Apparently, this was Boaz’s night to be on duty. Dressing as Naomi instructed would not only enhance Ruth’s attractiveness to Boaz but would symbolize an end to her period of mourning for her husband (2Sm 12:20), signaling her willingness to remarry.^[6]
   15. So, in verse 3, Naomi is saying to wait until Boaz is done eating and drinking. Then, lay down at his feet.
   16. This would begin the conversation about him being her kinsmen redeemer.
   17. Ruth and Boaz soon married and had a son named Obed. 
5. What is the significance of Ruth’s life for Christians today?
   1. Here are the facts:
   2. She was a loyal daughter-in-law; she was not a Jew or part of the covenant people of Israel; yet she is included as one of two women who were ancestors of Jesus the Christ, our Savior.
   3. She is a model of redemption and God’s gracious activity in History.
   4. Her “kinsman-redeemer,” Boaz, a Jew, married her and joined her to the covenant people, a metaphor of what our “kinsman redeemer” Jesus, has done for us.
   5. The story of Ruth points to Christ who would be the ultimate Kinsman-Redeemer.
   6. Ruth trusted the Lord, and He rewarded her faithfulness by giving her not only a husband but a son (Obed), a grandson (Jesse), and a great-grandson named David, the king of Israel (Ruth 4:17). Besides these gifts (Psalm 127:3), God gave Ruth the blessing of being listed in the lineage of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).
   7. Ruth is an example of how God can change a life and take it in a direction He has foreordained. We see Him working out His perfect plan in Ruth’s life, just as He does with all His children (Romans 8:28). Although Ruth came from a pagan background in Moab, once she met the God of Israel, she became a living testimonial to Him by faith. Even though she lived in humble circumstances before marrying Boaz, she believed that God was faithful to care for His people. Also, Ruth is an example to us of hard work and faithfulness. We know that God rewards faithfulness (Hebrews 11:6).[8]
   8. Like Boaz did to rescue Ruth so Christ will do for us.
   9. Ruth arrives at Boaz empty-handed and humbled to the core; Boaz treats Ruth with respect and kindness. Jesus does that for us when we are empty and in need.
   10. It appears that Ruth has little to offer when she comes to her relative Boaz. We also have little to offer Jesus and yet He saves us.
   11. Ruth came in faith to Israel and accepted the God of Israel.

Mothers, In Ruth, we see an example of a loyal mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship. We see wise advice given by Naomi and loyalty, love, and support from Ruth. We see God at work through these difficult times.

Let’s do the same. Mothers prayerfully give wise advice to your adult children and daughters-in-law. Daughters, sons, and in-laws, respect and honor your parents and in-laws.

Prayer.

^[1] Tony Evans, Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2009), 201.

^[2] Paul J. Achtemeier, Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature, Harper’s Bible Dictionary (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1985), 886.

^[3] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 479.

[4] https://www.ligonier.org/blog/ultimate-kinsman-redeemer/

^[5] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 481.

^[6] Iain M. Duguid, “Ruth,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 404.

[7] https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Ruth.html

[8] https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Ruth.html

Peter and John Witness Before the Jewish Council (Acts 4:1–22)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, April 28, 2024

R.C. Sproul writes:

Anytime someone is introduced as famous, it seems to be unnecessary; if he is famous, he should not have to be introduced. Yet we never know how far our influence extends; sometimes we are surprised. One of the most shocking and surprising experiences of my life came on the day when Lech Walesa, the leader of the Polish Solidarity Movement, was placed under house arrest by Soviet officials in Poland. The picture of his arrest was on the front page of every newspaper in America. When he was arrested, he was shaking his fists in defiance of the arresting authorities, and in his hand he was holding one of my books. I recall thinking how incredible that was. I later found out he had placed that same book in the casket of his father.

I never would have dreamed that anything I had written would find its way into the hands of Lech Walesa. It made me think about his position in modern history. “Why was the government at that time interested in arresting him? Why didn’t they just execute him?” That is usually the way it works; tyrannical governments always have a secret police. They find a way to get rid of those in opposition to them, usually by some form of execution. I realized that the reason Lech Walesa was put under house arrest rather than executed was that he had already become too well known; to kill him would have made him a martyr, and the thing that every tyrannical regime fears more than anything else is a public uprising.

Back in the eighteenth century the philosopher Montesquieu, when he wrote his book The Spirit of the Laws, said that the maintenance of all forms of tyranny depends upon the ability of the government to keep the people afraid. That is why there are purges and secret police and mass executions in nations with that sort of regime. Montesquieu said that it only takes one person, one Lech Walesa with enough courage to withstand the tyrant, to bring down a powerful regime. Throughout history individuals have swum against the current and withstood powerful obstacles. Mahatma Gandhi was one. In our own country, Martin Luther King stood against the authorities of his day. He defied those authorities and raised questions about the legitimacy of civil disobedience.^[1]

Today, we come to Acts 4. In Acts 3 Peter and John had healed a man lame from birth. Now, Peter and John are arrested and give testimony. I want to walk through this passage.

My theme is:

Peter and John witness boldly before the Jewish Council.

1. First, we see Peter and John are arrested (Acts 4:1-3).
   1. Acts 4:1–3 (ESV) And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, ² greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
   2. Acts 4:1 says that he is still speaking. What is about to happen, happens as he is speaking.
   3. Certain ruling authorities are now getting involved.
   4. The ESV Study Bible shares: The captain of the temple was second in rank to the high priest. The Sadducees may have accepted only the Pentateuch as Scripture; they also denied the resurrection and represented the privileged aristocracy who worked closely with the Romans to protect their own political and economic interests.^[2]
   5. Verse 2 says that they are teaching and proclaiming the resurrection. This matters because the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection.
   6. Other Jews, including the Pharisees, did believe in the resurrection.
   7. The ESV Study Bible shares: The Sadducees were upset with Peter’s preaching that in Jesus the general resurrection had begun, a message with definite messianic implications that was liable to be viewed by the Romans as revolutionary.^[3]
   8. Verse 3 says they are arrested and put in custody until the next day.
   9. They will be taken before the Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin.
   10. The CSB shares: The apostles were held in custody overnight because Sanhedrin trials were not conducted at night. Rome had granted the Sanhedrin legal authority over the temple area since disputes arising there were religious in nature rather than civic.^[4]
2. Notice many people are saved, about 5000 (Acts 4:4).
   1. Acts 4:4 (ESV): ⁴ But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
   2. So, we see many coming to know Jesus as Lord and Savior.
   3. They heard the Word, and they believed.
   4. The 5000 likely does not include women and children.
3. Now, we see the disciples are questioned and respond (Acts 4:5-12).
   1. Acts 4:5–7 (ESV)
   2. ⁵ On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶ with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”
   3. It is now the next day.
   4. The elders and scribes gather together.
   5. Notice that they gather with the High Priest, Annas and Caiaphas, and John and Alexander, who were of the high priestly family.
   6. ESV Study Bible helps us understand this group: The Jewish high court consisted of 71 members—70 elders according to the pattern of Num. 11:16 plus the high priest as presiding officer. It was dominated by the priestly Sadducees with a Pharisaic minority, represented mainly by the scribes (lawyers) of the court. Annas is designated as high priest. (Much like U.S. presidents, high priests seem to have retained their title for life.) He had served in that role earlier (d. 6–15) and was the controlling figure in the high-priestly circle, which may also explain why he is given the title here. His son-in-law Caiaphas was the official high priest at this time (serving a.d. 18–36), and Annas’s son John would serve in the role later (36–37).^[5]
   7. They ask by what power, or in Whose Name, are you doing this (Acts 4:7)?
   8. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, responds (Acts 4:8-12).
   9. Acts 4:8–12 (ESV)
   10. ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. ¹¹ This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. ¹² And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
   11. Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit.
   12. Jesus had said in Matthew 10 that the Holy Spirit would guide them (Matthew 10:17-20).
   13. I find it funny that Peter asks, “Are we really being examined for a good deed?” Later in 1 Peter 2:12 and 1 Peter 3:16-17 Peter will talk about good deeds and suffering for doing good.
   14. In verse 10, Peter clarifies that this was by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
   15. Notice he says, Jesus, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead.
   16. Jesus is not dead, but He lives.
   17. This Jesus is the stone the builders rejected as David predicted (Acts 4:11 quoting Psalm 118:22). Yet, God made Him the cornerstone.
   18. There is no salvation apart from Jesus (see also John 14:6).
4. The religious leaders talk about what to do with these men (Acts 4:13-17)
   1. Acts 4:13–17 (ESV)
   2. ¹³ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. ¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, ¹⁶ saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”
   3. They saw boldness. They saw that Peter and John had boldness. They were confident.
   4. They saw they were uneducated, common men… What does that mean?
   5. Swindoll writes:
   6. “Unlike the professionals, Peter and John were uneducated and untrained. I love those words! The first comes from the Greek term agrammatos, and refers to one without a formal education.⁵ We might call this person “unlettered.” The second word, untrained, translates the Greek term idiotes. I’m tempted just to leave that one as it is! In that day the term meant, simply, a “nonprofessional.”[6]
   7. In fact, they had the best education.
   8. IVP BBC NT: “Unschooled” means not trained in Greek rhetoric (public speaking), as the priestly aristocracy would be. (It could also mean that they were not trained under a recognized rabbi, if the aristocrats were too arrogant to count Jesus as a recognized rabbi.) Popular Greek philosophers used to boast that they were not educated in rhetoric and lived simple lives, so what strikes the Sanhedrin as a weakness of Peter and John would strike many of Luke’s readers as a strength. But the reason for their “uneducated” boldness is obvious: they had been educated by Jesus, who was himself bold and “uneducated.” (It was widely understood that disciples regularly reflected the lifestyle and character they had learned from their teachers.)^[7]
   9. They had been with Jesus.
   10. They had 3 years or so of seminary education with Jesus.
   11. The rulers are astonished by Peter and John’s confidence.
   12. In verse 14, it says they see the man who was healed. What a testimony!
   13. How could they argue with this?
   14. They send Peter and John out of the room (Acts 4:15).
   15. They have a dilemma (Acts 4:16). They wonder what to do with these men.
   16. So, they threatened them (Acts 4:17). They called Peter and John back in and threatened them.
   17. Notice they threaten them and tell them not to speak anymore in the Name of Jesus. Why? They are afraid that this will spread. They are concerned about holding on to power.
5. The order (Acts 4:18-22).

1. 1. Acts 4:18–22 (ESV)
   2. ¹⁸ So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, ²⁰ for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” ²¹ And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. ²² For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
   3. They warn Peter and John never to speak about Jesus (Acts 4:18).
   4. Peter and John respond (Acts 4:19-20). They must speak about what they have seen and heard.
   5. We must always obey the higher authority. The highest authority is God.
   6. If the disciples obeyed this order, we would not be Christians today.
   7. They threatened them further and then let them go (Acts 4:21-22).
   8. They found no basis to punish them.
   9. The people were all glorifying and praising God for what happened as the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle had been performed.
   10. Moody: Miracle (v. 22) is better translated “sign.” The healing is a “sign” pointing to the awesome power of Jesus to heal physically and ultimately to save spiritually.^[8]

Now, what do we do with this?

I just walked you through the first part of Acts 4, but why? Who cares? Why does this matter?

1. Christians are being persecuted all over the world. We need to pray for them. Peter and John are called before the Jewish high court and this is an example for us to follow. We must be like Peter and John.
2. We must be like Peter and depend upon the Holy Spirit when asked about our faith (Acts 4:8). We must remember that Jesus said not to worry about what we will say, the Holy Spirit will give us the words (Matthew 10:17-20).
3. We must pray now for the persecuted church.
4. We must pray now that God will give us boldness when asked about our faith (Acts 4:13).
5. We must spend time with Jesus (Acts 4:13).

Pray

^[1] R. C. Sproul, Acts, St. Andrew’s Expositional Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), 97–98.

^[2] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2087.

^[3] Ibid.

^[4] Stanley E. Porter, “Acts,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1723.

^[5] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2087.

[6] Charles R. Swindoll, The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal (New York City, NY: FaithWords, 2010).

^[7] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Ac 4:13.

^[8] William H. Marty, “Acts,” in The Moody Bible Commentary, ed. Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 1682.