Acts 4:13-32 

INTRODUCTION

It details for us the birth of the church and the beginning of its worldwide influence. In chapters 2 and 3, many people became Christians after hearing Peter's sermons. It is possible that by the time we come to chapter 4, there were twenty thousand people in the church. In Acts 4:4 alone, we read that five thousand men came to Christ, and many more women and children. The Jewish religious leaders felt very threatened by that. They had attempted to get rid of Jesus by executing Him, but now people were proclaiming that Christ rose from the dead. They became scared, and initiated religious and political opposition to the church.

The event that initiated the persecution of the early church is recorded in Acts 3. Peter and John were going into the Temple for the afternoon prayer session. As they went through the gate called "Beautiful," they came across a man who had been lame for forty years. They healed him, and he reacted by leaping all over the place and praising God. That attracted a crowd in the courtyard of the Temple. Peter and John got up on Solomon's Porch, and with the healed man between them, Peter preached a great sermon about Christ. He announced that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, and that the Jewish people had rejected Him. Peter indicted the people for what they had done; then he called them to salvation through the grace of God.

As a result of Peter's sermon, five thousand men became believers (Ac. 4:4). However, some people in the Temple reacted negatively to Peter's sermon. They initiated the first act of persecution against the church. Throughout the rest of the book of Acts, we see that the persecution became more severe.

If handled right, persecution is a blessed experience. It is positive, not negative. Let me explain what I mean:

1. Profiting from Persecution

a. It Brings Maturity

James 1:2-4 says, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into various trials, knowing this, that the testing of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing." In other words, don't avoid persecution because through it, God will bring you to maturity. God desires for you to be perfected, and that is accomplished through persecution. There are two things that make us mature Christians: the Word of God (1 Pet. 2:2), and persecution or trials. If you are going to grow, you have to confront the world and endure persecution. That is a part of growing mature. Don't run away from it; accept it. James 1:12 says, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation [trials]; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." So, a person who endures persecution grows and is blessed.

 

What Persecution Is Not

First Peter 2:20 tells us, "For what glory is it if, when ye are buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? ..." If you suffer because of your sins, that is not persecution; that is punishment. There is no glory in that. Then Peter said, "... But if, when ye do well and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God" (v. 20).

Verse 21 says, "For even hereunto were ye called ...." You were called to suffer. Some people have misinterpreted that verse to mean that we must make ourselves suffer. There is a certain order of the Roman Catholic Church that encourages self-induced suffering. I once met a man who was from that group. He wore a belt that had sharp nails in it. He thought that suffering itself was redemptive. In Europe, there are people called "flagellaties," who walk in streets whipping themselves with cords lined with bits of glass. They whip themselves until they bleed. They say they do that in the name of Christ. They think they have to suffer. However, that suffering comes from masochistic effort, not from confronting the world with the gospel. Suffering independently of proclaiming Christ is not suffering for Christ.

Some people say, "My spouse is suffering," or "My son is my cross." You or someone else may be suffering as a result of a problem, but to suffer for Christ means you receive persecution from the world for proclaiming Christ in your words and actions. God is only pleased by suffering that results from actively living a godly life in the world. Peter was talking about the same thing in 1 Peter 2:20. You are called to suffer for proclaiming Christ and living a godly life. Any other suffering cannot be considered persecution.

 

b. It Brings Glory

First Peter 4:13-14 mentions the attitude we should have toward suffering: "... rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you ...." Glory is connected with persecution. First Peter 1:24 says, "... all the glory of man [is like] the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and its flower falleth away." The glory that a person obtains by accommodating himself to society is temporary. However, if a person boldly proclaims Jesus Christ and gets flak from the world, he will receive glory from God. First Peter 4:13-14 tells us that if we suffer, we will be happy, because we will receive glory. Verse 16 says, "... if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf."

Persecution is wonderful. It brings growth, blessing, glory, and joy. As I said before, self-induced suffering is not persecution for Christ. In 1 Peter 5:10, we read, "... the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you." Again, glory is connected with suffering. If you want to be perfected, established, strengthened, and settled, you must endure suffering. That's a part of growth. I'm not talking about masochistic suffering; I'm talking about persecution that results from confronting the world by proclaiming Jesus Christ.

c. It Brings Victory

There is nothing negative about persecution. It is a positive thing. You say, "What happens if I confront the world to proclaim Christ, and God leaves me?" That will never happen. Romans 8:35-37 says, "What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution ...? As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." It is victorious for us to endure persecution. It causes us to grow, receive blessing, and have joy.

Paul experienced victory in persecution. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-8, Paul said to the Lord, "I have a thorn in the flesh. Satan buffets me with it. If You want to, You can get rid of it for me." The Lord answered in verse 9, "My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness." In other words, "Paul, I prefer that you be weak, because then you lean on Me." Paul responded, "Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then am I strong" (v. 10).

Persecution forces us to lean on Jesus. If we didn't receive persecution, then we would not bother to depend on the Lord for strength. We should pray that God will bring us persecution and trials so that in our weakness His strength may be made perfect. Because persecution makes us lean on the Lord, it is good for us.

2. Persisting Through Persecution

a. For the Lost

Paul rejoiced in his suffering. He told the Philippians, "... if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all" (Phil. 2:17). Paul could have told the Philippians, "I don't need to let myself be persecuted. I'm saved; I know what it's like to be Spirit filled. I don't need to receive my joy from persecution." However, Paul said, "If I have to be persecuted when I reach out to you, that is great. I consider it a joy to be persecuted so that you may receive joy from knowing Christ." Paul considered his persecution a blessing because it resulted from his preaching about Christ. Paul didn't mind being thrown in jail for speaking about Christ. He knew that people were coming to Christ in response to his preaching. His life was expendable.

Your life is expendable. If you die in the course of bringing someone to Christ, it is a blessing. You have to look at persecution as an opportunity to suffer for someone else's sake. If you have the opportunity to share about Christ with someone, but you don't because of your ego, then you have made your personal comfort a priority over someone's salvation. You will understand the blessing of persecution only when you can say with the Apostle Paul, "I will sacrifice myself for others." Persecution is a blessing not because an intrinsic joy is derived from it, but because others are coming to know Christ through you.

b. For the Lord

There is a second reason that Paul suffered, and it is a beautiful one. He mentions it in Colossians 1:24, which is a much-misunderstood verse. Starting with the end of verse 23, Paul said, "... I, Paul, am made a minister. Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you ..." (vv. 23-24). The first reason that Paul suffered was so that other people would become saved. He continued, "... [I] fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church" (v. 24). In other words, Paul said, "I have the wonderful opportunity of filling up in my flesh the afflictions that are meant for Christ."

1) Explained

People have persecuted Jesus ever since He was on earth. Today, the world still hates Jesus. When you receive persecution from the world, it's not because the world hates you; it's because the world hates Jesus (Jn. 15:18). People will attack you because you are proclaiming Christ, not because of who you are. There are people who are trying to kill Christ again and again-- they are constantly after Him. All the false religious systems in the world are persecuting Christ. So when a Christian gets persecuted, he is really getting persecution that is directed at Christ.

That's what Paul was talking about in Colossians 1:24 when he said, "... [I] fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh ...." In Galatians 6:17, he said, "... I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." Paul knew that the persecution he received was directed at Jesus. Today, people are still trying to get rid of Christ. Since He is not on earth anymore, those who stand in His place receive persecution instead.

Paul didn't mind receiving persecution intended for Christ. In effect, he said, "After all that My Lord suffered for me, can I do less than suffer for Him? He bore all my reproach. Shouldn't I bear some of His? He died for me! Therefore, I should be willing to take some of the darts meant for Him." Paul loved the fact that he endured persecution intended for Jesus.

2) Exemplified

You probably know people that you would be willing to suffer for. If one of your children went through something that was extremely painful, you might have thought, "I would have gone through that for him." Perhaps you know someone who is experiencing much anguish now, and you wish you could bear it for him. You wouldn't do that for just anyone; you would do that only for someone you love deeply. That's how much Paul loved Jesus. He was willing to endure persecution for Christ and let Him receive the glory that He deserves. Persecution is a good thing. It allows us the wonderful privilege of taking the arrows that Satan aims at Jesus.

3) Expected

All true believers who live godly lives stand in the place of Christ and receive the afflictions meant for Him. Jesus said, "... ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake ..." (Mk. 13:13). Paul said, "... the sufferings of Christ abound in us ..." (2 Cor. 1:5). In 2 Corinthians 4:10, Paul wrote, "[I am] always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus ...." In other words, he was saying, "People are still trying to kill Jesus. Since they can't afflict Him, they afflict me. I'm always bearing in my body the death of Christ. When I confront the world as a representative for Christ, I get persecution meant for Him." What a testimony! Paul told the Philippians, "Oh, that I may know Christ, and the fellowship of His sufferings!" (3:10). He took great joy in suffering for Christ.

Persecution is good for us. It produces growth, gives us joy and blessing, and it glorifies God. Persecution brings salvation and encouragement to those whom we reach. It allows us the privilege of identifying with Christ by receiving afflictions meant for Him. You may not love the Lord Jesus Christ enough to suffer for Him, but Paul, Peter, and John did. Many of us don't think of persecution in positive terms. But if you live a godly life and confront the world, you will have the wonderful opportunity to suffer for Christ and receive blessings.

 

REVIEW

I. THE PERSECUTION MANIFEST (vv. 1-4)

II. THE PERSECUTION MET (vv. 3, 5-32a)

The most beautiful thing about Acts chapter 4 is that it describes for us the godly way that Peter and John handled their persecution. In that chapter, there are seven principles for how to handle persecution. We have already looked at three of them. Let's review them:

A. Be Submissive to Persecution (vv. 3, 5-7)

Peter and John did not resist their arrest. Even when they were before the Sanhedrin in the Hall of Hewn Stone, they were cooperative with their captors. Peter and John weren't cowards. They were submissive, knowing that God was in control and that He would use them in a special way. Paul submitted to persecution, too. When he was in the Philippian jail and an earthquake allowed him the opportunity to escape, he didn't leave (Ac. 16:25-28). He stayed where he was, because he knew God had a purpose for putting him in that circumstance. It's a good thing that Paul stayed because God used him to share Christ with the jailer and his family (16:30-34). Whenever God places you in a situation where you are persecuted, don't fight. Be submissive, and see what God is going to do.

B. Be Filled with the Holy Spirit (v. 8a)

When Peter spoke before the Sanhedrin, which was the Jewish Supreme Court, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. If you were in a situation like Peter and John were, you would have to lean on some power other than your own. Peter and John experienced victory in their situation because they yielded to the Holy Spirit. They didn't try to handle things with their own strength or wisdom.

C. Be Bold and Use Opportunities to Preach (vv. 8b-13)

1. The Confrontation with the Sanhedrin (vv. 8b-10)

When Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin, they saw an opportunity to present Christ in the midst of their persecution. It would have been easy for them to say, "We are scared. We may never get out of this situation." They didn't have any historical precedence to go by; this was the first instance of persecution against the church. Peter and John could have easily panicked and not preached at all. They could have even given the Sanhedrin a watered-down message so that no one would be offended, but they didn't. They presented Christ boldly. Jesus had told the disciples, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk. 16:15). Peter and John knew that mandate included all the men in the Sanhedrin. So, Peter preached about Christ, and indicted the Jewish leaders for crucifying Him.

2. The Confirmation from the Scripture (v. 11)

3. The Call to the Savior (v. 12)

Peter told the Sanhedrin, "Neither is there [i.e., `There is no'] salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Ac. 4:12). Peter was firm. In a play on words in verse 9, he said in effect, "The man John and I healed was made physically well by Jesus. You must be made spiritually well through Christ, or you will never be well at all. Salvation is offered only through Him."

Peter and John expressed unbelievable boldness in the midst of persecution and before the Sanhedrin. They are a good example of how to handle persecution: They were submissive, Spirit filled, and bold to use the opportunities they had to preach.

4. The Consequence of the Sermon (v. 1)

Acts 4:13 says, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled ...." The Sanhedrin was shocked. They felt that Peter and John were not qualified to teach because neither of them had been educated in rabbinical schools. They were not versed in prevalent Jewish theology. The word "ignorant" in verse 13 means "amateurs." The Sanhedrin saw that Peter and John were unlearned amateurs, and marveled. They couldn't imagine two unlearned men handling a disputation with the Jewish Supreme Court and coming out on top. The two Apostles had such bold confidence in the face of possible death that the Sanhedrin was amazed.

The last part of Acts 4:13 says that the Sanhedrin "took knowledge of them [Peter and John], that they had been with Jesus." The Sanhedrin kept remembering that Peter and John had been associated with Jesus. They were reminded of that fact because the two Apostles did exactly what Jesus had done. They taught with authority just as the Lord had. Christ had not gone to rabbinical schools. In fact, He had come from Nazareth--a town that was much despised among the Jewish religious leaders. Peter and John had done a miracle, just like Jesus had always done miracles. Another thing they did was handle the Old Testament well. Peter had quoted from it in Acts 4:11. Jesus had been a master at applying the Old Testament in His teaching. Peter and John were as masterful as Jesus at doing that because they did it under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

So, Peter and John were like Jesus because they had authority, did miracles, and interpreted the Old Testament. The Sanhedrin was amazed. They thought, "These men have been with Jesus. They are going to give us the same problems that Jesus did!" No one could equal Jesus in person, but Peter and John were equal to Him in their actions because the Lord was working through them. The Sanhedrin marveled at the two Apostles because of that.

The fourth response you should have to persecution is ...

D. Be Obedient to God at All Costs (vv. 14-22)

1. The Predicament (vv. 14-16)

a. Their Dumbfoundment (v. 14)

"And, beholding the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it."

The Sanhedrin couldn't say anything to the Apostles. The man that Peter and John healed had been lame for forty years, and now he was walking. By this time, the healed man had been standing on his own feet for three hours. That is a long time, considering that he had been lame for forty years. Peter and John had truly done a miracle. The Sanhedrin couldn't say anything against that. They were in a tough situation; they didn't know what to do now. It's sad that even though the Sanhedrin couldn't deny the healing, they didn't want to accept it. There they were, face-to-face with the truth and power of Christ; yet they were blinded by their own sin. John 3:19-20 tells us "that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light ...." Why? "... because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." The Sanhedrin knew the truth, but they avoided it.

Jesus told a group of Pharisees in John 8:44-45, "Ye are of your father the devil ... he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not." In other words, He was saying, "If I spoke lies, you would understand Me. But because I speak the truth, you don't understand Me." The Sanhedrin in Acts 4 also rejected the truth. That's the character of unbelief in the face of absolute evidence.

Will people believe in God if they see a miracle?

Frequently people say, "God, if you do a miracle, I will believe in You." Or, they will say, "If there is a God, why doesn't He do a miracle to prove His existence?" In Luke 16 is a story about a beggar named Lazarus and a rich man. Both men died. Lazarus went to "Abraham's bosom," and the rich man went to hell (vv. 22-23). The rich man said to Abraham, "I pray thee, therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him [Lazarus] to my father's house (for I have five brethren), that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment" (vv. 27-28). Abraham said, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead" (v. 31). Even when Christ rose from the dead, many people did not believe Him. Miracles don't bring people to belief in God; brokenness of heart and conviction of sin accompanied by a knowledge of the truth does. Miracles had limited use even in the life of Christ.

b. Their Discussion (vv. 15-16)

"But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do to these men? For that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all those who dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it."

The Sanhedrin didn't know what to do. They didn't want to accept what Peter and John had done. How terrible was the blackness of their unbelief! There was no way they could deny the miracle done by the two Apostles; yet they were intent on rejecting it. Their unbelief was of the highest degree. The Sanhedrin needed to have a secret meeting to decide what to do. There were no laws against doing miracles or good deeds. Peter and John were now popular heroes. There was no way they could be punished. The Jewish Supreme Court needed to find a verdict that would not create a negative reaction among the people.

2. The Prohibition (vv. 17-20)

a. The Restraint upon the Apostles (vv. 17-18)

"But that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus."

The Sanhedrin commanded Peter and John never to mention Jesus again. Isn't that interesting? The early church had to be commanded to keep quiet, but the modern church has to be commanded to speak! The Sanhedrin desperately wanted to be rid of the name of Jesus. They thought they would be rid of Christ after they crucified Him. Instead, the early church now had about twenty thousand people proclaiming Christ's name! So now the Sanhedrin hoped that they could keep Peter and John from spreading their message. Do you realize that if the two Apostles had obeyed the Sanhedrin, church history would have been different? Peter and John were the two men that were most instrumental in preaching the gospel. I am glad that they were faithful to continue doing that.

The Greek word for "speak" in verses 17 and 18 is an unusual word that is used only one other place in the New Testament. It means "to speak publicly." The Sanhedrin, with all of their authority, told Peter and John, "Do not preach about Jesus anymore." But that didn't keep the two Apostles quiet. Peter and John recognized a higher authority: Jesus had commanded them to preach the gospel to every creature (Mk. 16:15).

b. The Response of the Apostles (vv. 19-20)

1) Expressed

If we were given that same command by the Sanhedrin, most of us would have said, "Let's not say anything. We will keep quiet for now, but when we get out of here, we will do what we want." However, Peter and John were bold. They said, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye" (Ac. 4:19). In other words, they said, "You are the Supreme Court of Israel. Judge this matter: Who should we listen to, you or God?" The Sanhedrin was stuck now! If they told the Apostles to listen to God, then they couldn't tell them not to preach. If they said, "Listen to us instead," then they would be implying that God's commands were not to be obeyed. Not only was the Sanhedrin stuck on how to answer that question, but the Apostles had also determined that the Sanhedrin and God were very much opposite each other. With holy courage, Peter and John simply say, "We are subject to a higher authority."

2) Explained

You say, "But doesn't Romans 13:1 say, `Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.... the powers that be are ordained of God'?" Yes, that is true. Even Peter said that we are to be subject to kings, governors, and others who rule over us (1 Pet. 2:13-14). But when an earthly authority's command is in conflict with a higher command from God, then we are to be obedient to God. When King Darius of Babylon made a decree that no one could pray to anyone but the king himself, Daniel did not obey him. Rather, he continued praying to God (Dan. 6:6-10). No one can forbid you to preach the gospel, because Jesus commanded that we go into all the world to preach to everyone. Don't do something that is contrary to God's Word, even if someone commands you to. Obedience to God is more important than obedience to men. Christians should be the finest citizens possible. But when men command you to disobey Christ, you must disobey them.

Notice that Peter and John don't argue with the Sanhedrin. They don't put up a fight. They simply say, "... we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Ac. 4:20). Peter and John were obedient at all costs. They realized that they were in danger, but they wanted to be obedient. Their lives were expendable. In Acts 5:29 (when the Apostles were arrested a second time), they said the same thing: "We ought to obey God rather than men." The two Apostles did not try to sneak out of their situation; they courageously stated whom they would obey. Someone once said, "The trouble with so many Christians is that the voices of their neighbors sound louder in their ears than the voice of God."

3) Exemplified

There have been times in Israel's history when disobedience to a government was important. In Exodus 1:16, we read that the king of Egypt commanded Hebrew midwives to get rid of every male Hebrew baby they helped deliver. Verse 17 says, "But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive." It's a good thing the Hebrew midwives disobeyed the king, because the male Hebrew babies were the progeny of the Hebrew race.

Whenever a conflict arises between a command of God and a command from men, we are to obey God. In Acts 4, Peter and John obeyed God, even though they knew it might cost their lives. They said, "... we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Ac. 4:20). Paul said, "... woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Cor. 9:16).

3. The Pardon (vv. 21-22)

"So when they [the Sanhedrin] had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified God for that which was done. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shown."

The Sanhedrin was concerned about its prestige and political position before the people. They were afraid that people would react in anger if they did any harm to Peter and John. They could only threaten Peter and John and set them free.

So, Peter and John were completely obedient to God's will. They were persecuted, but they didn't allow persecution to disturb them. They were obedient to God in the midst of their difficult situation. Don't ever stop obeying God just because of persecution. Don't let bribes, threats, mental persecution, or physical persecution take away your zeal. Don't ever let anything make you violate the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How should you handle persecution? Be submissive, filled with the Holy Spirit, bold, use opportunities to preach, and be obedient to God at all costs.

Fifth, you should ...

E. Bind Yourselves Closer Together (v. 23a)

"And being let go, they went to their own company ..." Peter and John got together with their friends. Persecution drives people together. It is an important ingredient for the unity of the body of Christ. If we all confronted this hostile world together, we would be drawn closer to one another. For many of us, Christianity is a matter of wearing fashionable clothes at church and gossiping about other churchgoers. We involve ourselves with insignificant things. If we were confronting the world, we would receive so much persecution that we wouldn't have time for such silly matters. We would be driven together for the love and security of the body. If we confronted unbelievers, we would become more unified. Because we don't do that, we have a placid, innocuous existence. The lack of persecution keeps us from needing one another. In Acts 4:32, we read that everyone was "of one heart and of one soul; neither said any of them that any of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common." If anyone had a need, someone else met it (vv. 33- 35).

The sixth thing to do in response to persecution is ...

F. Bless the Lord (vv. 23b-28)

1. Praising God's Sovereignty

a. The Acknowledgment of God's Sovereignty (vv. 23b-24)

"... [Peter and John] reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they [Peter and John's friends] heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, Thou art God, who hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is"

Peter and John's friends acknowledged God. They said, "You are in this. You made everything. You allowed this to happen." Peter and John didn't return to their fellow Christians in a state of mental depression. They came back rejoicing that they were worthy to suffer for Jesus. They had been filled with the Spirit and had preached to the Sanhedrin. What greater thing could have happened? The people in the early church could have said, "It's better to be a live chicken than a dead lion"! But they didn't. Everyone was like Joshua or Caleb--they were willing to risk their lives for their faith in God out of obedience to His commands. Their reaction to persecution was, "Praise the Lord!" They were happy.

The Greek word for "Lord" in verse 24 is an unusual word. It translates into the English word despot, which refers to an absolute dictatorship. Peter and John's friends recognized their absolute bondage to Christ. They praised God for His sovereign power and His creation.

b. The Accomplishment of God's Sovereignty (vv. 25-28)

In Acts 4:25-26, Peter and John's friends quoted Psalm

2:1-2: "Who, by the mouth of Thy servant, David, hast said, Why did the nations rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ." In other words, "Lord, in Psalm 2 You said that the world would kill Jesus. You knew that people would go against Him. Surely You know about the persecution that we are enduring!" Verses 27-28 continue, "For of a truth against Thy holy child, Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the nations, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, to do whatever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done." Isn't that amazing? When the people of the world killed Jesus, they were fulfilling God's plan. They had made their salvation possible. Psalm 76:10 says, "... the wrath of man shall praise Thee ...." Those who hated Christ were glad to see Him crucified. But their persecution of Jesus provided salvation to the world! Satan had overdone his persecution. Peter and John's friends knew that God would be able to use their persecution to accomplish His purpose. They knew that the God who provided salvation through Jesus' crucifixion could do wonderful things through their persecution.

When you are persecuted, you should be able to say, "Lord, what wonderful things are You going to do as a result of the persecution I'm receiving? When Jesus was persecuted, You brought redemption to all men. What are You going to do in my situation?" Peter and John's friends had that attitude. They praised God for their persecution.

2. Proclaiming God's Sovereignty

I'm reminded of the story about Joseph. He was first persecuted by his brothers--they hated him (Gen. 37:8). They sold him into slavery (37:27-28). Joseph became a servant to a man named Potiphar, whose wife made false accusations about him. Potiphar had Joseph put into prison (39:20). Later on, Joseph interpreted the dreams of the king's butler and baker. The butler forgot about what Joseph had done for him (40:23). Yet after all the persecution Joseph received, God exalted him. He made Joseph the second greatest man in Egypt (41:40-44). Joseph was put in charge of all the food supplies. He was able to supply food even to those who had persecuted him. In Genesis 50:20, Joseph said this to his brothers, who had sold him into slavery: "... ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive." Men may do things with evil intentions, but God will use those actions to fulfill His plan.

In Acts 4:24-28, Peter and John's friends were praising the Lord, and wondering how God would use their persecution for His purpose. That's the perspective we should have on persecution.

Finally, when you respond to persecution ...

G. Beseech God for Greater Boldness (vv. 29-32a)

1. The Prayer Rendered (vv. 29-30)

"And now, Lord, behold their threatenings; and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy word, by stretching forth Thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy holy child, Jesus."

The Christians in the early church asked God for boldness to preach the gospel. They wanted God's power to help them. They didn't let the Sanhedrin's command discourage them. They also asked God to do signs and wonders in the name of Jesus. Peter and John's friends wanted God to manifest His power and message to those who hated them. They didn't pray for the Lord to destroy their enemies. Those Christians weren't looking for an escape from persecution; they were asking for God's power in the midst of their persecution.

2. The Power Released (vv. 31-32a)

God answered the prayer of Peter and John's friends: "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness" (v. 31). Persecution had an effect on the early church. But its effect was not what Satan desired. Those Christians were excited, and "the multitude of those that believed were of one heart and of one soul ..." (Ac. 4:32). They went away from that prayer preaching the gospel everywhere, and many people became saved. They asked God for power, and He gave it to them.

You can experience the blessings of persecution if you live a godly life. If you are a Christian but you never confront the world, you will never experience what the early Christians did. Some of you will be persecuted because you live godly lives, but you will crumble under that persecution. Those of you who live godly lives, suffer persecution, submit to persecution, become Spirit filled, use opportunities to preach, live obediently at all costs, bind yourselves closer together, bless the Lord, and beseech God for boldness will experience victory, growth, joy, and blessing!

 

Focusing on the Facts

1. About how many people might have become believers by the time of Acts chapter 4? How did the Jewish religious leaders feel about that? Why? 

2. Why does James tell us to not avoid persecution (Js. 1:2-4)?

3. What happens to a man who endures persecution (Js. 1:12)?

4. Explain what 1 Peter 2:20 says. 

5. Suffering _______ of proclaiming Christ is _____ suffering for Christ. 

6. What attitude should we have toward suffering? Why (1 Pet. 4:13-14)?

7. According to 1 Peter 5:10, what happens to you when you endure suffering? 

8. Will God ever leave you when you confront the world? Explain. 

9. Explain why there is victory in persecution (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

10. Why did Paul consider his persecution a blessing? 

11. Explain what Paul meant when he said, "... [I] fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh ..." (Col. 1:24). 

12. When you are persecuted, is it because the world hates you? Explain. 

13. Why did the Sanhedrin marvel at Peter and John (Ac. 4:13)? In what ways were Peter and John like Jesus? Why were Peter and John equal to Jesus in their actions? 

14. How did the Sanhedrin respond to the fact that Peter and John had truly healed a lame man? Why? 

15. Why was it difficult for the Sanhedrin to punish Peter and John (Ac. 4:15-16)?

16. What did the Sanhedrin decide to do with Peter and John (Ac. 4:17- 18)?

17. How did Peter and John respond to the Sanhedrin's command in Acts 4:18? Why was the question that Peter and John asked difficult for the Sanhedrin to answer (Ac. 4:19)?

18. The Bible commands us to obey the government (Rom. 13:1). When is obedience to God's commands more important? Explain. 

19. If all Christians confronted the world together, what would happen? Why? 

20. How did Peter and John's friends react when the two had "reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them" (Ac. 4:23b)?

21. Why did Peter and John's friends quote Psalm 2:1-2 in Acts 4:25-26? 

22. What did the Christians in Acts 4:29-30 pray for? What did they not pray for? 

23. What was the result of the prayer in Acts 4:29-30 (Ac. 4:31-32a)?

24. Who will experience victory, growth, joy, and blessing? 

Pondering the Principles

1. Paul said, "... [I] fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church" (Col. 1:24). To find out how much Paul was willing to suffer for Christ's church, read Acts 20:22-24; 2 Corinthians 11:23- 28; and 2 Timothy 2:10. Are you willing to endure persecution for Christ? Why? How have you responded to persecution in the past? Why? Your willingness to suffer for Christ reflects the depth of your love for Him. Spend some time now in prayer with Christ, and evaluate your willingness endure persecution for Him. Commit yourself to deepening your relationship with Him so that your willingness to suffer for Him will grow.

2. Persecution is an important ingredient for unity in the body of Christ. If you confronted the world with another believer, what would happen to your relationship with that believer? How would Christians benefit from enduring persecution for Christ as a group? Find someone who is enduring persecution for Christ now, and support him in his persecution so that the bond of unity between you two will become stronger. Share with that person by praying with him, encouraging him, and praising God with him.

3. When you pray to God about the persecution you receive in Christ's name, do you ask God to remove the persecution, or do you ask Him for strength to endure it? List all the things that would happen if God granted you the first alternative. Make the answers to these questions a part of your list: How would God feel? What impact would you have on the world? What would happen to you? Now list all the things that would happen if you asked God for the second alternative. Looking over your lists, would you be willing to ask God to give you boldness in the midst of persecution? Why? Don't let persecution discourage you. As a foe of Satan, you are expected to receive it. Commit yourself to God's care (1 Pet. 4:19; 5:17), and ask God for boldness in the midst of persecution.