Acts 2:1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. 6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? 8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!” 12 They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Exodus 12 records the story of the Passover when God freed Israel from slavery in Egypt. Fifty days after leaving Egypt, fleeing from Pharaoh’s army, crossing the Red Sea, and journeying through the desert, Israel came to Mt. Sinai where God came down in fire and met with Moses and the people of Israel on the mountain.
Exodus 19:16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire.
During their sojourn at Sinai, Moses was given instructions by God to build a house of worship where God would dwell in the midst of His people: the Tabernacle. After the Tabernacle was completed with the Ark of the Covenant inside, Exodus 40:21, God again descended in fire, this time so that He could dwell with His people permanently within the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle. Exodus 40:34, Numbers 9:15
Every year since that time, in obedience to God, God’s people have celebrated Pentecost, which literally means fifty, because it was first celebrated at Mt. Sinai when God met with His people fifty days after having set them free from bondage. Leviticus 23:15-16
Acts 2:1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
Luke explains that while God came down in fire to dwell with His people in the Old Covenant, in the New Covenant, because His people have been made righteous by the sacrifice of Christ, the Holy Spirit of God can now come down in fire to dwell within his people. God no longer needs to dwell within the Old Covenant Tabernacle behind the veil of the Holy of Holies. God now dwells within the New Covenant temple, the individual bodies of believers, 1 Corinthians 6:19, called living stones, 1 Peter 2:5, which is the household of God being built on the foundation of Christ the cornerstone. Ephesians 2:19-22 We now both live and walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:25
For almost 1,500 years before the coming of Christ the people of God celebrated Pentecost; God living with His people. And then, almost 2,000 years ago, the unimaginable happened, the long anticipated prophesies were fulfilled. Because of the sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb of God, the Spirit now dwells within believers. It is almost scandalous that after 3,500 years few churches today even understand much less celebrate Pentecost. In fact a recent Barna survey, polling self described born-again Christians, found that 62% do not believe that the Holy Spirit is a real living being, but is only a symbol, or a way of describing of God’s power.
When the Church neglects the power of the Spirit it becomes anemic and easily corrupted by the world.
The Scriptures teach that believers are so united to Christ, that they are not only partakers of the merit of his death, but also of his Holy Spirit, which dwells in them as a principle of life, bringing them more and more into conformity with the image of God, and working in them both to will and to do according to his own good pleasure … Thus the Christian approves what God approves, hates what he hates, and delights in what pleases him. (Charles Hodge, “Holy Living”, Banner of Truth, 2020)
Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 15 For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘It will be in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will dream dreams.
18 Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,
I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the sky above,
and signs on the earth beneath:
blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood,
before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ Joel 2:28-32
Each year, in obedience to God, millions of pilgrims from all around the Empire, both Jews and other God fearing people, would come to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost. It was during that time, just as Christ had promised, that the Holy Spirit was dramatically poured out on each of Christ’s one hundred and twenty followers. Acts 1:15 In fulfillment of the prophesy of Joel given some 1,000 years prior, those indwelled by with Spirit, were transformed from death to life in Christ. Fulfilling the prophecy of Joel, these new believers began to prophesy, telling the people gathered in Jerusalem, each in their own language, the true meaning of Pentecost:
Acts 2:22 “Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him among you, even as you yourselves know, 23 him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed; 24 whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.
In explaining to the crowds what is happening Peter reminds them of the many miracles of Jesus of Nazareth and explains that even though Jesus was crucified, God’s Spirit raised him up from the dead. Then, because he is speaking to devout Jews who were familiar with the Scriptures, Peter builds the argument for the resurrection of Jesus, by quoting prophesies from the Old Covenant Scriptures.
Acts 2:25 For David says concerning him:
‘I saw the Lord always before my face,
for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.
26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced.
Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;
27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades,
neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.
28 You made known to me the ways of life.
You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ Psalm 16:8-11
29 “Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul wasn’t left in Hades, and his flesh didn’t see decay. 32 This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear.
34 For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:
‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand
35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ Psalm 110:1
36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
First, Peter quotes from Psalm 16, showing that the Messiah would be rescued from death by God. And because Christ, the Holy One, was rescued from death, His body would not decay.
Second, Peter quotes from Psalm 110, showing that after the Messiah was rescued from death He would ascend into heaven from where He would rule over his Kingdom on earth.
And third, just to be perfectly clear, Peter concludes that Jesus, the same Jesus who had recently been crucified, was, in fact, the long awaited Christ, the Messiah.
Just weeks prior, when Jesus stood in front of many of these same people at His trial before Pilate, the people had screamed, “Crucify him, crucify him, let his blood be on us and on our children” Matthew 27:22-25 Now realizing what they had done to Christ, the people were cut to the heart. They knew their guilt. They had called for the crucifixion of the Christ. In great fear and shame they asked Peter and the one hundred and twenty Christians, Brothers, what shall we do? How are we to escape the wrath of God?
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter answered:
Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the Promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” 40 With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
Many thousands of years earlier, at the very beginning of human history, Adam rebelled against God, bringing sin and death into the perfect creation. At that time God Promised that He would send a Redeemer to defeat death and save Adam’s sinful race. Here Peter announces thatthePromise has been fulfilled in Christ. Sins may be forgiven. Just as the Spirit had raised Christ to life, the Spirit will give life to those who repent and turn to Christ. The Promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.
For many people today a call to repentance is an affront and an insult because the meaning of repentance is not understood. Not wanting to offend, the Church rarely speaks of repentance. The Greek, the word for repent, mentanoia, denotes a transformative change of heart and mind. In the Hebrew, the word repent, teshuvah, represents a return home, a homecoming. In other words, putting the Greek and Hebrew together, to repent is to change your direction, turn around your heart and mind in sorrow over your sinful attitudes and actions, and like the prodigal son, Luke 15:11-32, return home.
Again, thinking back to Adam and Eve, after they turned from God and sinned against God, because of their disobedience they were alienated from God and cast out of their garden home. But now, we no longer need to be alienated. All who repent of their sin and rebellion, and turn to Christ, are invited to return home and are welcomed into God’s family.
Notice that Peter presents the people with two options.
1. They can repent, confess and turn from their sins, in which case they will be granted forgiveness, receive the Holy Spirit, and be welcomed home, back into God’s family,
or…
2. They can refuse to repent, in which case they will remain in their sins, remain in exile, East of Eden, Genesis 3:23-24, and face the wrath of God.
These are the same two options that we are commissioned to present to our contemporaries today. Repent… Save yourselves from this crooked generation, or remain part of the crooked generation that will face the judgment of God.
However, today the Gospel is frequently presented in a truncated form as follows: Turn to Jesus as your Savior and find meaning for your life as well as eternal security. Truncated because:
The false prophet is the man who has no straight gate or narrow way in his gospel. He has nothing which is offensive to the natural man; he pleases all. (Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones, “Studies in the Sermon on the Mount” Eerdmans Publishing, 1984)
According to Peter, what is missing from that presentation of the Gospel?
Repent: Ye who have tearless eyes, untended knees, unbroken hearts, how can ye think ye are saved? The Gospel promised salvation only to those who really repent. Charles Spurgeon, hearspurgeon.com, Repentance Unto Life, Sermon #44, 9,23,1855)
Save yourself from this crooked generation: True repentance begins with knowledge of sin. It goes on to work sorrow for sin. It leads to confession of sin before God. It shows itself before a person by a thorough breaking off from sin. It results in producing a deep hatred for all sin. (J.C.Ryle, Repentance, Aneko Press, 2021)
Notice, out of a misguided desire to be welcoming and not offend unbelievers, the incomplete or compromised Gospel frequently leaves out both repentance, turning in sorrow from past sins, and fleeing from the temptation of future sins: fleeing from the behaviors approved of by the crooked generation. Proverbs 1:10 As you read through Acts and the Epistles you will notice three things about the whole Gospel. You are told to look at the reality of your sins against God, understand that you are an enemy of God, understand the destruction that you cause, and turn from your self-centered and bankrupt lifestyle. Just like Peter said in Acts 2:38
1. Repent: Turn from living in sin and rebellion against God.
2. Having fled to Christ in repentance you are adopted, Ephesians 1:5, and given new life. As a child in God’s family, you will find meaning, purpose, value, and acceptance in a loving community. But the Scriptures never leave it there…
3. The Epistles then go on to give believers practical application as to how they must live. This instruction is always introduced with the word:
Therefore: Because you are now new in Christ, therefore, you must live accordingly. Hebrews 12:1
To have Faith in Christ means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because He has begun to save you already. Not hoping to get to Heaven as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint gleam of Heaven is already inside you. (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Macmillan Publishing, 1978)
Acts 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. 43 Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 All who believed were together, and had all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. 46 Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 praising God, and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.
At that first presentation of the Good News of the Gospel three thousand people repented of their sins, turned, and fled to Christ. They were baptized and raised to newness of life, symbolizing their having been made righteous in God’s eyes. But notice that this was not just a one-time event. Their lives changed as they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. Here we see that the Spirit is bringing together the many nations, peoples, and tribes of the world gathered in Jerusalem and forming them into a new tribe, a new -fellowship, and building a new Christian community.
The Scriptures further teach that our work has but begun when we have thus renounced the world and joined ourselves to the Lord. The spiritual life commenced in regeneration is carried on by the Holy Spirit who dwells in all the people of God, by teaching them to look to Jesus Christ, as their living head, for all these supplies of grace and all that protection which their circumstances require. (Charles Hodge, The Way of Life, Banner of Truth, 2020)
Next Luke writes something that is, for the most part, foreign to our modern ears… Fear came on every soul.
The people had just repented, turning from their sin and had dedicated themselves to the Apostles teaching, prayer, and fellowship.
What was there to fear?
Luke had made a similar statement in his previous book to Theophilus:
Luke 8:22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.
In fear they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
We all tend to think pretty highly of ourselves. We imagine ourselves to be good people as we compare ourselves to our fellow travelers. But when we are brought face to face with the holiness of the living and perfect God we realize that we come up woefully short. Isaiah 6:5 To the minds of the Apostles, Christ was an amazing friend and companion. They were comfortable with Him, questioning His teachings, arguing with Him, traveling with Him. But when He spoke and the storm obeyed Him they realized that they were in the presence of a power that they could not understand: a power that could destroy them, a power that they feared.
God is not some spiritual game that is to be trifled with. Christ is the almighty Creator, Author, and sustainer of the cosmos. Colossians 1:17
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 9:10
Because we compare ourselves with one another, everyone of us radically underestimates the holiness of God. (Chris Larson, President Ligonier Ministries, Rachael Ford@RachaelF65946894, Twitter)
The fear of the Lord is a far cry from the people’s cavalier attitude just weeks before when they had screamed: crucify him, crucify him! They had come to understand the depth of their sin, turned, and come in repentance. They devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching and dedicated themselves to helping the poor and needy.
Do you fear the Lord whom you love?
We are to come into His presence reverently and in awe and strive to live in obedience to His commands, which are designed to be our delight. Psalm 119:16
Acts 3:1 Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 A certain man who was lame from his mother’s womb was being carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask gifts for the needy of those who entered into the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive gifts for the needy. 4 Peter, fastening his eyes on him, with John, said, “Look at us.” 5 He listened to them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” 7 He took him by the right hand and raised him up. Immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength. 8 Leaping up, he stood and began to walk. He entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 They recognized him, that it was he who used to sit begging for gifts for the needy at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. They were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 As the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.
On the day of Pentecost when Peter was asked to explain what was going on he responded by quoting from the prophet Joel. Those who believed that Christ was the Messiah, the Promised one who bore the penalty for their sins, had been filled with the Holy Spirit and further, Joel had foretold that they would preform signs and wonders. Here in Acts 3 Luke records the first miracle performed in Christ’s name by Peter.
Acts 3:6 Peter said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” 7 He took him by the right hand and raised him up. Immediately his feet and his ankle bones received strength. 8 Leaping up, he stood and began to walk. He entered with them into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God.
When the people in and around the temple who had witnessed the miraculous healing were wondering what had happened, Peter took the opportunity to explain the good news to them. Peter told them that the miracle was possible because of Christ.
Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see. (C.S. Lewis, “Miracles”, Simon & Schuster, 1978)
Acts 3:12 When Peter saw it, he responded to the people, “You men of Israel, why do you marvel at this man? Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up, and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of Life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses. 16 By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which is through him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17 “Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But the things which God announced by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.
Peter again reminded the people that although by their treachery they had killed the Prince of Life, God had raised Christ from the dead, just as the Old Covenant prophets had predicted.
Peter explained that by calling for Christ’s crucifixion they had acted in ignorance. But now that they have seen for themselves that the prophesies were true, they had seen for themselves that Christ had been raised from the dead and had ascended into heaven, just like the prophet Daniel had foretold, they had a decision to make.
Would they repent, would they turn and accept their Messiah and follow Him home or would they face the wrath of God?
Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that he may send Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets.
22 For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him in all things whatever he says to you. 23 It will be that every soul that will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ Deuteronomy 18:15,18-19
Peter again makes the choice perfectly clear:
Turn, listen to [Christ] in all things, repent and enjoy times of refreshing in the presence of the Lord…
or…
not listen to Christ and be utterly destroyed.
It is fairly common these days that any references to the judgment of God are decried and silenced as hate speech. But notice here in the first sermon ever preached about the Gospel, in the first sermon on the person and work of Christ, Peter implores the rebel sinners to repent; sinners who called for Christ’s blood or stood idly by allowing the Prince of Life be crucified. If they do not repent they will be utterly destroyed. This is the message that those in our world who have rejected Christ desperately need to hear.
However, [those] who continue to preach repentance will stick out like a sore thumb and the IRS and state legislatures will rattle the saber against such holdouts, threatening us with the loss of our tax-exempt status. Without money how will we do our work? How will we hold our conferences, sell our books, build our church-houses? Enlightened and progressive rhetoric will become the rule in our churches, and the pulpits… will become silent… Our priesthood will be bloodless in its liturgies and sacraments, inoffensive in our prayers, inane in our homilies, and impotent in our evangelism. Calls to repentance will be labeled hate speech. (Tim Bayly, warhornmedia.com)
But by contrast, true love tells the truth. True love blots out sins and welcomes you into the refreshing presence of the Lord. We have all found disappointment, pain, and loss in our rebellion against God, but if we will turn from our sin God promises us times of refreshing.
True love does not make excuses for or coddle men in their rebellion against God. True love tells unbelievers that unless they repent, turning to Christ, they will be utterly destroyed by the Holy God.
Acts 3:24 Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days. 25 You are the children of the prophets, and of the Covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham:
‘All the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring.’ Genesis 22:18; 26:4
26 God, having raised up his servant Jesus, sent him to you first to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your wickedness.”
The prophesies were all true. The Promise made to Adam has been fulfilled. The Promise made to Abraham has been fulfilled. With each person hearing the Gospel proclaimed in their native language they are seeing the beginning of Promise made to Abraham being fulfilled… All the families of the earth are being blessed by Christ: the Messiah who was ordained for you. They are hearing the offer of the forgiveness of sins and of death’s defeat. They are offered true life.
This is a verifiable message, with over 500 eyewitnesses. This message of resurrection and the promise of a new and everlasting life through Christ, although incredible, astounding, freeing, and true, did not sit well with the religious leaders in Jerusalem. After all, they were the very religious leaders who had, just weeks before, manipulated the system to crucify Christ. Wanting to put a swift end to this message, the priests, Sadducees, and captain of the temple guard apprehended Peter and John and threw them in jail. But the damage had already been done because another 5,000 believed the good news about Christ’s resurrection.
Acts 4:1 As they spoke to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came to them, 2 being upset because they taught the people and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 They laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was now evening. 4 But many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
5 In the morning, their rulers, elders, and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the High Priest was there, with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were relatives of the high priest. 7 When they had stood Peter and John in the middle of them, they inquired, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”
Who had come to arrest Jesus?
Luke had written in his first book that, … Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Luke 22:52
In other words, here Luke makes it perfectly clear that the very same temple guards who had arrested Christ, and the very same religious leaders whohad, just weeks earlier, staged the show trial which led to Christ’s crucifixion, had now arrested Peter and John. Years later John would write in his Gospel that these very same false religious leaders did the will of the dragon, their father the devil. John 8:44
Peter and John were in the hands of ruthless men.
How would you feel in a similar situation?
After sitting in jail for the night, no doubt Peter and John understood the seriousness of their transgression against the ruling elite. They were brought before the High Priest. The very same High Priest who had conspired to have Christ crucified. Then, thanks to the new and indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, in what is, without a doubt, one of the best set-up questions of all time, Peter and John were asked:
“By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”
If Peter had feared powerful men rather than feared God he might have been tempted to give into cowardice as he had done in the past. Luke 22:334-34, 57-62 But he was no longer willing to compromise his message. Matthew 10:28 But, instead, Peter, filled with the Spirit, answered:
Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 if we are examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 may it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands here before you whole in him. 11 He is:
‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’ Psalm 118:22
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved!”
Peter explained that the crippled man had been healed in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Then Peter reminded them that, in fact, this was the very same Jesus Christ of Nazareth that they had crucified and that God had raised from the dead.
Christ was the sure foundation that God had promised to lay. Christ was the foundation on which God would build His Kingdom, overcoming the dragon, defeating death, and bringing salvation to the world:
Therefore the Lord Yahweh says, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. Isaiah 28:16
However, Peter boldly reminds the religious leaders that they had rejected God’s foundation:
‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’ Psalm 118:22
They had crucified Christ, the foundation, the only name under heaven that is given among men, by which they may be saved. The only name, Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 Seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? Because indeed a notable miracle has been done through them, as can be plainly seen by all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we can’t deny it. 17 But so that this spreads no further among the people, let’s threaten them, that from now on they don’t speak to anyone in this name.” 18 They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
Frequently lost in translation today is the fact that, to the ruling religious elite of Jerusalem, Nazareth was seen as a small backwater town of no importance: First Century fly-over country. They had no respect for Nazareth. John 1:46 And now, to make matters worse, these ignorant uneducated rubes are telling everyone that the troublesome, would be, prophet from Nazareth, Jesus, that they had just crucified, had risen to life. These deplorables had to be fact checked and silenced, immediately. They could not be allowed to continue to spread a conspiracy that undermined the power and control of the ruling elite.
Because the religious leaders couldn’t deny the miracle healing, they decided to threaten Peter and John. Further they commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
Knowing that Christians are to obey rulers and authorities, Titus 3:1, how would you have responded to the command of the high priests of our day? Would you stop telling others that salvation is only possible through Christ? Would you continue teaching such an intolerant message? Would you continue to hold, in person, public, worship services, disobeying the state authorities? How could you be so unloving?
How did Peter and John respond?
Acts 4:19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves, 20 for we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard.”
In the power of the Holy Spirit, choosing to be obedient to God rather than be obedient to corrupt men, Peter and John made it clear that they would not stop speaking the good news of Jesus’ resurrection. They recognized God’s higher power and choose obedience over fear.
As James taught, Submit yourselves to God. James 4:7 This does not mean that you don’t submit to the governing authorities, you do submit to authorities provided what they are demanding is lawful and does not violate God’s law. But as Christians our primary obedience, is to Christ. We are to submit to His authority never allowing our speech to be silenced.
The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
The fear of man is the beginning of disobedience to God.
Acts 4:21 When they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for everyone glorified God for that which was done. 22 For the man on whom this miracle of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
Watch out because a mob is fickle and can easily turn on you. Exodus 23:2 In this case, the people who were on the side of the religious leaders and had called for Christ’s crucifixion just weeks before had changed allegiances. They had seen the miracle of a man being healed which they attributed to God working through Peter and John. Sensing the mob’s new allegiance, the religious leaders knew that they no longer had the support that they needed to punish Peter and John. So, to save their own skin and preserve some of their authority they could only threaten Peter and John and then release them.
How do you suppose our current leaders across the world might respond if the billions of people who claim to be Christians stood up in unison to publicly and without embarrassment proclaimed the Gospel?
23 Being let go, they came to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, “O Lord, you are God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; 25 who by the mouth of your servant, David, said,
‘Why do the nations rage,
and the peoples plot a vain thing?
26 The kings of the earth take a stand,
and the rulers take council together,
against the Lord, and against his Christ.’ Psalm 2:1-2
27 “For truly, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, 28 to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen. 29 Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”
Peter and John had been arrested and detained. They had been threatened by the authorities.
What was their take-away from the whole experience?
They saw it as a fulfillment of the prophesy of Psalm 2:1-2, The rulers take council together against the Lord. And that is just what happened. Christ was crucified and now Christ’s followers were being threatened and persecuted just like God had promised. Just like Christ had promised and just like God had foreordained.
If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. John 15:18
Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and they will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My Name. Matthew 24:9-13
When you are being persecuted do you instinctively understand the persecution to be the fulfillment of ancient prophesies?
Are you excited by the times that you are living through and excited that you are the faithful Christians about whom the prophets foretold, knowing that to live is Christ and to die is gain? Philippians 1:21
Threats? No problem.
Do you use this as an opportunity to speak boldly and publicly about the salvation offered freely by Christ? Or do you lay low, hide, and deny Christ?
We must learn to pray like the first Christians: Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with boldness. Do you understand that Christ said, it is the one who endures to the end, he will be saved? Matthew 24:13
After the persecuted Christians prayed for boldness what happened?
Acts 4:31 When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
God immediately answered their faithful prayer and in the power of the Holy Spirit the people spoke boldly even to those who had the authority to imprison and kill them.
For God has not given us a Spirit of fear but, rather a Spirit of power. 2 Timothy 1:7
A dog barks when its master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God’s truth is attacked and yet would remain silent. John Calvin (Mersin Masner, “The Westminster Collection of Christian Quotations”, John Knox Press, 2001)
Do you have the boldness to defend God’s truth?
Do you think that God will be pleased to answer our prayers for boldness?
Do not be anxious about anything, in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Do you ever stop and consider that the Creator of the Cosmos, your Creator, delights in hearing and answering your prayers? Zephaniah 3:17
Are you willing to speak the truth of God’s salvation offered freely through Christ even when, or especially when, that truth is mocked and attacked?
What was the result of the faithful boldness of these early believers in the face of overwhelming odds?
In the back of the book, make a prayer list of the names of unbelieving friends, family, and acquaintances that you meet along the way. Pray for them regularly, without fail, and keep track of how God will use you boldly in their lives over the coming years.
Acts 4:32 The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. Not one of them claimed that anything of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 With great power, the apostles gave their testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Great grace was on them all. 34 For neither was there among them any who lacked, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet, and distribution was made to each, according as anyone had need. 36 Joses, who by the apostles was also called Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, 37 having a field, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
In the Old Covenant God dwelled within his temple but Luke has explained that in the New Covenant God dwells in believers. We are the temple of the living God. 1 Corinthians 6:19
In the Old Covenant believers were to bring their offerings for the poor into the temple. Deuteronomy 14-15 However, in the New Covenant believers bring their offerings into the Church, and laid them at the apostles’ feet, and distribution was made to each, according as anyone had need. Acts 4:35
In the Old Covenant God had commanded that there be no poor in the nation of Israel.
There should be no poor among you for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, he will richly bless you. Deuteronomy 15:4
In the New Covenant Christ had told his followers that, All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. John 13:35
Those who believed were of one heart and soul, and in obedience to God, because of their love for one another, saw to it that there was no poverty among the new believers. Like a great army preparing for battle they were gearing up. In a great demonstration of love to the unbelieving world they shared possessions so that poverty could be eliminated. Everyone had all that they needed and they were proclaiming the Gospel message of freedom from slavery from sin through the resurrection of the Messiah.
Throughout recent history false teachers have used this passage along with Acts 2:45 to make the case for Communism, however as we will soon see this misses the point of the passage.
If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95% of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95% of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference. (A.W. Tozer, “The Pursuit of God”, Moody Press, 2006)
Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession, 2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, then brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.”
Ananias and Sapphira wanted to be thought of as generous within the Christian community. They had witnessed the accolades received by Barnabas when he donated the proceeds from the sale of his property. They too wanted the accolades for donating the proceeds of the sale of their land, however they attempted to deceive the Holy Spirit by keeping some of the money for themselves.
Notice that believers were not forced to sell their land. The New Covenant Church was not a communist community. Private property was assumed here, just as taught in the Ten Commandments and throughout the Law. The property that belonged to Ananias and Sapphira was theirs to do with as they pleased. They were not coerced into selling or into donating it to the cause. Their sin was in the deception, lying to God, in order to look good in the eyes of men.
Acts 5:5 Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things. 6 The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 8 Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.”
She said, “Yes, for so much.”
9 But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
10 She fell down immediately at his feet and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 11 Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.
In the Old Covenant believers were taught to fear and honor God. When Nadab and Abihu defiled the temple fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them and they died before the Lord… And then the Lord spoke saying, By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy. And before all people I will be honored. Leviticus 10:1-3
In the New Covenant, God, who does not change, demands the same. When Ananias and Sapphira attempted to deceive, just like Nadab and Abihu, God made an example of them so that great fear would come on the whole assembly.
We live in a time where Christians are often more afraid of the consequences of speaking the truth than they are afraid of the consequences of their disobedience to God. At times we seem to fear and honor the dragon and his dying culture more than we fear and honor the reigning Christ who alone gives life.
Our culture calls their sexual sins pride and parades them down the street. God calls them an abomination and destroyed the city of Sodom, Genesis 19, as a lasting example of His displeasure. In an affront to God, Churches, in solidarity with the culture, hang pride rainbow flags in their sanctuaries.
Our culture calls death, pro-choice. God, who knit life together in the womb, Psalm 139:13-14, and who draws children to Himself, Matthew 19:14, calls death the last enemy. 1 Corinthians 15:26 The Clergy Consultation Service, CCS, supports “reproductive rights”, a euphemism for death, in churches and on colleges campuses.
Our culture, standing for equity, calls for Social Justice. However, God demanding equality before His law, calls for Justice. Leviticus 19:15 The false teachings of Social Justice are infiltrating even evangelical churches.
Our culture calls for tolerance, meaning validating people in their sinful lifestyles. God calls for compassion, reaching out for the purpose of leading people to the truth and life. Hebrews 4:15
Christ warns us that the dragon’s purpose is to kill, steal, and destroy. John 10:10 Critical Theory is, as it’s name implies, by definition, critical of and seeks specifically to undermine all that is good in God’s creation: gender, marriage, family, private property, personal responsibility, and truth. In short, anything in God’s Revelation that is good, true, or beautiful is to be criticized and destroyed, to be replaced with the dragon’s counterfeit interpretation of reality. (Richard Loper, “And Justice For All”, Lulu.com, 2021)
Instead of being deceived by the lies spun of the father of lies, as Christ’s disciples we must always fear and honor the Way the Truth and the Life. John 14:6
Acts 5:12 By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. 13 None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them. 14 More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. 15 They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them. 16 The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed.
The New Covenant temple, the Covenant family of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was growing as multitudes of both men and women were added to the Lord. The sick were healed. Those under the power of demons were set free. The prophesies of Isaiah 11 and Ezekiel 37 were being fulfilled before their eyes. Those dead in their trespasses and sins, the valley of the dry bones, were brought to life because God, put His Spirit within them and they came to life.
And notice, word of the wondrous salvation of God accompanied by miraculous healings, brought multitudes of people to Jerusalem from the surrounding cities. The people were amazed. They recognized that the Apostles spoke with authority, just like Christ had done. Matthew 7:29
Seeing all of this happen right under their noses, at the seat of their power, Jerusalem, infuriated the counterfeit religious leaders. They were jealous. The people were flocking to Solomon’s porch to see and hear the Apostles of the crucified Christ. The false religious leaders could not stand for such a thing. Their authority, their positions of privilege, and their income were all being directly threatened. Something had to be done. So the high priest had the Apostles arrested again.
Acts 5:17 But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy 18 and laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody. 19 But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said, 20 “Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”
What’s did the Apostles do after their arrest?
Were they intimidated?
Did they conclude that it was just too risky to continue to preach about Christ and heal in Christ’s name in Jerusalem?
No.
An angel of the Lord not only staged a prison break but instructed the Apostles to go straight back to Solomon’s porch at the temple and speak the words of life… straight back to Solomon’s porch! The high priest and his minions spoke the words of death. Through manipulation they murdered Christ and now they were conspiring to conceal Christ’s resurrection and message of everlasting life from the public.
Christ would have none of it. Remember Christ had ascended into heaven where He was given all authority over every power and authority, including power over the high priest that had crucified Him. Matthew 28:18 So Christ sent His messenger angel to open the prison doors and get the Apostles back to work with the only message that brings life.
Acts 5:21 When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”
24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this. 25 One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.
In the morning while the Apostles are teaching in the temple the high priest dispatched his officers to the prison to bring in the prisoners for their trial. Not only were the Apostles not in prison but they were found to be, again, teaching in the temple. So the captain of the guard and his deputies went and gently arrested them, without violence. Why gently? Because the people were being healed and taught the words of life and the captain feared that if the Apostles were mistreated in any way the people could easily turn into an unruly mob and stone the officers of the court. After all, as we have seen through the history, mobs do have a tendency to quickly devolve into uncontrollable violence.
Throughout history the compassionate deeds of faithful Christians have always attracted the attention of unbelievers. As Christ taught:
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they might see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
Acts 5:27 When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.
The high priest was not accustomed to being disobeyed by anyone, much less a group of flyover country deplorables from Galilee. Yet, Luke makes it clear that the high priest feared the power of the Apostles teaching: “you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.” They feared that the people would hold them responsible for Christ’s blood: Christ’s death. If that happened they would lose everything, their authority, their position, their income, and their power.
Acts 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. 32 We are his witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Did this explanation make sense to the high priest and his minions? Did they accept Peter’s offer and repent of their unspeakable sins against their God in order that their sins might be forgiven?
No, instead…
Acts 5:33 when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and were determined to kill them.
They had killed Christ. What was to keep them from killing Christ’s followers and be done with this cult once and for all?
Acts 5:34 But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while. 35 He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves. He was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. 38 Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown. 39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”
A member of the ruling elite, a Pharisee named Gamaliel came up with a plan. He reminded the council that from time to time would-be messiah’s rose up and garnered a few followers but upon the death of the would-be messiah the followers would eventually go back to their normal lives and the whole thing would be forgotten. Because history has shown that these revolts always died out on their own, he advised the high priest to leave the Apostles of Christ alone, stop drawing attention to them by arresting them, and eventually the whole thing would die a natural death. Problem solved.
However, Gamaliel did add one caveat, saying, on the other hand, if it turned out that these back country bumpkins were somehow correct and Christ really did rise from the dead, there would be no way they could overthrow the movement: “But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”
After considering Gamaliel’s argument the council agreed with his plan in principle,
Acts 5:40 They agreed with him…
but just to make their point, for good measure, the high priest brought the Apostles back into court, beat them and one more time, ordered them to never speak the name of Jesus again.
Acts 5:40 Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
And what was the Apostles response?
Did they go back to the growing church and complain about how unfairly they had been treated?
Did they see themselves as victims of an oppressive regime?
Did they warn the new believers to watch their step and be careful to never mention the name of Jesus?
Not a chance!
Acts 5:41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name.
42 Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.
They counted it an honor to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name. They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor. Rather than hiding the name of Jesus, wherever they were, in public, at the temple, or in private at home, they never stopped teaching about Jesus. And why would they, they had seen Christ rise from death to life and that same Jesus had sent the Holy Spirit of God to dwell personally and with power within them. They were unashamed.
One of the most striking features of the contemporary Christian scene is embarrassment. Many of the leading traditional institutions of the faith seem embarrassed by the Gospel. (Carl Trueman, “Embarrassed by the Gospel, firstthings.com, 5-27-21)
Acts 6:1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint arose from the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily service. 2 The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.”
5 These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch; 6 whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
The Hellenists were Greek speaking Jews who had returned from exile bringing Greek cultural practices with them. Because they combined elements of Greek culture with the traditions of the Hebrews there was conflict between the Hellenists and the Aramaic speaking Jews. However, despite their differences both Hellenists and Hebrews were brought together through Christ.
Notice that their old doctrinal differences were no longer an issue because they were united as Christians. The problem was that the impoverished Hellenistic widows were being overlooked and everyone agreed that this was not right. To resolve the situation the twelve Apostles summoned the multitude of Christ’s disciples together. Keep in mind that by now the number of disciples was in the thousands, hence a multitude of disciples were summoned. So that the Apostles could continue putting all of their energies into preaching the word of God, seven men were chosen to serve tables.
While the Church today, influenced as it is with cultural feminism, goes through all manner of unwarranted mental and exegetical gymnastics, to ignore and undermine the unique roles and responsibilities that God designed for women and men, it is instructive that the twelve Apostles filled with the Holy Spirit, and having multitudes to choose from, selected seven men, whose responsibility also included teaching the widows the truth. The Apostle Paul clearly reiterated this fact to his protégé, Timothy, in instructing him in organizing the church in Ephesus. 1 Timothy 3 But a discussion about the Biblical roles and responsibilities of God’s design for women and men is better left for another time.
Acts 6:7 The word of God increased and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem. A great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
With the Apostles free to concentrate on their preaching the number of the disciples greatly multiplied. And not only did many become believers but notice, a great company of priests were obedient to the faith. In other words, the very same priests that witnessed and consented to Christ’s crucifixion were becoming believers as the Apostles explained to them how Christ fulfilled all of the Old Covenant prophesies, and was, in fact the long Promised Messiah. These priests were now able to fulfill their true calling, pointing the world to Christ.
Acts 6:9 But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen. 10 They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, then brought him in to the council, 13 and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous 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 which Moses delivered to us.” 15 All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.
Unable to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which [Stephen] spoke, they tried to frame Stephen with lies.
Acts 7:1 The high priest said, “Are these things so?”
Just as in Acts 4:7 when the Apostle Peter was questioned, Stephen, one of the newly appointed deacons, when asked a perfect set-up question, takes the opportunity to explain the message of Christ as it was woven throughout the Old Covenant Scriptures.
Acts 7:2 He said, “Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him:
‘Get out of your land and away from your relatives, and come into a land which I will show you.’ Genesis 12:1-4
Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans and lived in Haran. From there, when his father was dead, God moved him into this land, where you are now living. 5 He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. He promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his offspring after him, when he still had no child. 6 God spoke in this way: that his offspring would live as aliens in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years.
7 ‘I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,’ said God, ‘and after that they will come out, and serve me in this place.’ Genesis 15:13-14
8 He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.
9 “The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him, 10 and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 11 Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction. Our fathers found no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time. 13 On the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s race was revealed to Pharaoh. 14 Joseph sent and summoned Jacob, his father, and all his relatives, seventy-five souls. 15 Jacob went down into Egypt and he died, himself and our fathers, 16 and they were brought back to Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem.
17 “But as the time of the Promise came close which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, 18 until there arose a different king, who didn’t know Joseph. 19 The same took advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to throw out their babies, so that they wouldn’t stay alive. 20 At that time Moses was born, and was exceedingly handsome. He was nourished three months in his father’s house. 21 When he was thrown out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him up and reared him as her own son. 22 Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was mighty in his words and works. 23 But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. 24 Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian. 25 He supposed that his brothers understood that God, by his hand, was giving them deliverance; but they didn’t understand.
26 “The day following, he appeared to them as they fought, and urged them to be at peace again, saying, ‘Sirs, you are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?’ 27 But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ Exodus 2:14
29 Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.
30 “When forty years were fulfilled, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, a voice of the Lord came to him,
32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ Exodus 3:6
Moses trembled, and dared not look. 33 The Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you into Egypt.’ Exodus 3:5,7-8,10
35 “This Moses, whom they refused, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.
37 This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me.’ Deuteronomy 18:15
This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living revelations to give to us, 39 to whom our fathers wouldn’t be obedient, but rejected him, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron,
‘Make us gods that will go before us, for as for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt, we don’t know what has become of him.’ Exodus 32:21
They made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned, and gave them up to serve the stars of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets,
‘Did you offer to me slain animals and sacrifices
forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?
43 You took up the tabernacle of Moloch,
the star of your god Rephan,
the figures which you made to worship.
I will carry you away, beyond Babylon.’ Amos 5:25-27
44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen; 45 which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, to the days of David, 46 who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built him a house. 48 However, the Most High doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says,
49 ‘heaven is my throne,
and the earth a footstool for my feet.
What kind of house will you build me?’ says the Lord.
‘Or what is the place of my rest?
50 Didn’t my hand make all these things?’ Isaiah 66:1-2
51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. 52 Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. 53 You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t keep it!”
In what was an affront to the ruling class, Stephen, who, by all the important and accepted standards, was an uneducated, unsophisticated Jew, answered the high priest’s question with a history lesson. And, in what must have galled the high priest, the official representative of God on earth, Stephen supported his history lesson with numerous references to the Scriptures to prove his point that Christ was the long awaited Messiah.
And like the prophet Amos had accused his generation of worshipping the creation, the stars of heaven, rather than the Creator, Stephen accused the high priest of false worship in rejecting the true Messiah.
How was an otherwise ordinary man like Stephen able to do this?
As Luke had reported in his first letter to Theophilus, The Gospel of Luke, after Christ’s resurrection Christ spoke to His followers and opened their minds so that they could understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:45
And what was Stephen’s point?
The religious leaders thought that they had God all figured out. God was contained in the temple and they were the guardians of the temple. As guardians they were accustomed to leveraging their position to their advantage. As Christ had remarked: Woe to you blind guides! You say… anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by his oath. Matthew 23:16
However, Stephen told a different story. Their franchise on temple worship had come to an end. Because Christ the Creator, is now enthroned in heaven, and because the Father is placing the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers, the temple is no longer God’s dwelling place. And though they did not know it, in a few short years, in 70A.D. the temple sacrifices would come to an end and the temple would be destroyed, just as Christ had prophesied. Matthew 24
Acts 7:48 The Most High doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says,
‘heaven is my throne, and the earth a footstool for my feet.
What kind of house will you build me?’ says the Lord.
‘Or what is the place of my rest?
Didn’t my hand make all these things?’ Isaiah 66:1-2
To buttress his point, Stephen reminded them that God had revealed Himself to an idol worshipper named Abraham in Mesopotamia, where there was no temple to God. And, not only that, but God made a Covenant of the Promise with Abraham. A Promise to bless Abraham’s family and through his family bless all of the nations of the earth. Subsequently, God revealed Himself to a descendant of Abraham named Moses at Mt. Sinai. God used Moses to deliver His chosen people from slavery in Egypt and God renewed His Covenant of the Promise with them, giving them His perfect law.
But despite all of God’s blessings the people of God always rebelled against God, ignoring the Covenant, persecuting and even murdering the prophets that God sent to implore the people to remember their Covent obligations.
And just like the religious leaders of old who refused to listen to the prophets, Steven pointed out that the high priest and other religious leaders persecuting the Church refused to listen to Christ. The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me.’ Deuteronomy 18:15 Just as Moses had foretold, Christ had been sent to them but they had murdered him just like their forefathers had killed the previous prophets. They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers.
Upon being accused of murdering the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the high priest had heard enough. Messiah or not, too much was at stake. They refused to believe Stephen because the truth he told was a truth that threatened the entire corrupt temple system that they had concocted to keep the elite in power. Matthew 8:45
Acts 7:54 Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 and 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, then rushed at him with one accord. 58 They threw him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 8:1 And Saul approved of their killing him.
Going back to Acts 6:9, do you remember what started this whole incident with Stephen?
They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
Stephen, empowered and enlightened by God, knew the truth. And Stephen was unafraid to speak the truth. Unable to refute his reasoning and careful argument, they killed him. Today, nothing has changed. Unable to refute the truth of the Gospel, people always revert to ad-hominem arguments. They attack the messenger when they can’t refute the message.
There is a great drought of both courage and knowledge in the western Church today. Christ said that you are mistaken because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. Matthew 22:29 And that is where many in the Church find themselves today. Not knowing the Scriptures they are unaware of the great power of the Holy Spirit. Ezekiel 36:27 They are willing to cower in fear of, or to compromise with, the unbelieving world, while the power that created the cosmos and raises the dead to new life is at their disposal. As Paul explained to Timothy, these people, though claiming to be believers, have a form of godliness but deny its power. 2 Timothy 3:5
By preaching a truncated gospel that omits repentance and the therefore of practical, real-world application, compromising pastors are not nurturing the sheep on the whole counsel of God. This leaves the church vulnerable to the attacks of wolves within the church and vulnerable to attacks from the dragon’s unbelieving culture. Revelation 20:2
By contrast look at Stephen’s reaction. At the moment of his greatest need, in the face of certain death, he was full of the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit showed him what awaited him in heaven. He not only saw the reigning Christ standing at the right hand of God, but he told his attackers exactly what awaited him. Further, like Christ, he was not thinking of the injustice of the moment nor was he mired in self-pity. No, his prayer was for God to forgive his attackers. A prayer, which we shall see, God answered in a most unexpected way.
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