Acts 4:23 31 - McLean Bible Church

Witness in Jerusalem
Confrontation
Acts 4:1-31

John 15:18-21
• “If the world hates you, you know that it
hated Me before it hated you. If you were
of the world, the world would love its own.
Yet because you are not of the world, but I
chose you out of the world, therefore the
world hates you. Remember the word that
I said to you... If they persecuted Me, they
will also persecute you... because they
do not know Him who sent Me.
"

Our Roadmap
• Peter and John arrested (Acts 4:1-4)
4)
• The hearing and Peter’s “no other name”
response (Acts 4:5-12)
• The warning (vv. 13–22)
• The reaction (Acts 4:23-31)
31)

Acts 4:15-17
17
But when they had commanded them to
leave the council, they conferred with one
another, saying, “What shall we do with
these men? For that a notable sign has
been performed through them is evident to
all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we
cannot deny it. But in order that it may
spread no further among the people, let us
warn them not to speak no more to
anyone in this name.” (Acts 4:15-17 ESV)

Acts 4:18-20
So they called them and charged them not
to speak or teach at all in the name of
Jesus. But Peter and John answered
them, “Whether itis right htin the sight of
God to listen to you rather than to God,
you must tjudge, for we cannot tbut speak
of what we have seen and heard.”
(Acts 4:18-20 ESV)

Acts 4:21-22
22
And when they had further threatened
them, they let them go, finding no way to
punish them, because of the people, for all
were praising i God for what had happened.
For the man on whom this sign of healing
was performed was more than forty years
old. (Acts 4:21-22 ESV)

Acts 4:23-24
24
When they were released, they went to
their friends and reported what the chief
priests and the elders had said to them.
And when they heard it, they lifted their
voices together to God and said,
Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven
and the earth and the sea and everything
in them, (Acts 4:23-24 ESV)

Acts 4:25-26
26
[ who through the mouth of our father
David, your servant, said by the Holy
Spirit,
“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his
Anointed’
— (Acts 4:25-26 ESV)

Acts 4:27-28
28
for truly in this city there were gathered
together against your holy servant Jesus,
whom you anointed, both Herod and
Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and
the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your
hand and your plan had predestined to
take place. (Acts 4:27-28 ESV)

Acts 4:29-30
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and
grant to your servants to continue to speak
your word with all boldness, while you
stretch out your hand to heal, and signs
and wonders are performed through the
name of your holy servant Jesus. ” (Acts 4:29-30
ESV)

Acts 4:31
And when they had prayed, the place in
which they were gathered together was
shaken, and they were all filled with the
Holy Spirit and continued to speak the
word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31 ESV)

Community
Acts 4:32-37; 37; Acts 5:1-16
16

Acts 4:32
Now the full number of those who believed
were of one heart and soul, and no one
said that any of the things that belonged to
him was his own, but they had everything
in common. (Acts 4:32 ESV)

Acts 4:33
And with great power the apostles were
giving their testimony to the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon
them all.
(Acts 4:33 ESV)

Acts 4:34-35
35
There was not a needy person among
them, for as many as were owners of
lands or houses sold them and brought the
proceeds of what was sold and laid it at
the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to
each as any had need. (Acts 4:34-35 ESV)

Acts 4:36-37
37
Thus Joseph, who was also called by the
apostles Barnabas (which means son of
encouragement), a Levite, a native of
Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and
brought the money and laid it at the
apostles' feet. (Acts 4:36-37 ESV)

Acts 4:36-37
37
Thus Joseph, who was also called by the
apostles Barnabas (which means son of
encouragement), a Levite, a native of
Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and
brought the money and laid it at the
apostles' feet. (Acts 4:36-37 ESV)

What Have We Learned About
Prayer?
• It is natural for believers
• It gives current events context
• It gives us a framework for what to pray for
and how to pray
• It teaches us to pray for God to be glorified
• It teaches us to pray for one another

What Have We Learned About
the Law of Reaping?
• Bad seed yields bad fruit, e.g., Herod,
Pilate, etc
• Good seed yields good fruit: righteousness
begets righteousness
• One cannot out-give God; there was no
poverty among those who shared

What Have We Learned About
• He is
• He is Lord
God’s Sovereignty?
• He is sovereign over all things
• He has a plan that neither demons nor
sinners can thwart

What Have We Learned About
Faith?
• Living and acting by faith pleases God
immensely!
• God rewards faith, e.g. v.31, after praying
for boldness, they were filled with the Holy
Spirit and boldly preached and testified

What Have We Learned About
Grace?
• Living and acting by faith pleases God
immensely!
• God rewards faith, e.g. v.31, after praying
for boldness, they were filled with the Holy
Spirit and boldly preached and testified

What Have We Learned About
Fear?
• It is banished by Faith
• It is the antithesis of Faith

What Have We Learned About
Fellowship?
• It is a natural result of focusing on God
rather than self
• Focusing on God results in unity, love, and
sharing