Outline - Hope of the Glory

1Co 15:6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whomare still living, though some have fallen asleep.1Co 15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,1Co 15:8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.1Co 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because Ipersecuted the church of God.1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I workedharder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.1Co 15:11 Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.1Co 15:12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that thereis no resurrection of the dead?1Co 15:13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.1Co 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.How many were saved?f) The text says 5000 men!g) J Vernon McGee on Acts 4:3-4All this was happening at Solomon's porch following the sermon which Peter had delivered. If there were fivethousand men who believed, how many women and children do you suppose might have believed? This was awhole multitude that turned to Christ.I have always been reluctant to criticize Simon Peter. You can't help but love the man. He was mightily used ofGod. This is not an evangelistic meeting where figures are turned in rather carelessly. These are genuineconverts. There is nothing like this on record from that day to the present day, and I don't believe it will beexceeded as long as the church is in the world.h) More than 20,000 is probably closer to the truth!cccccc. They had more than 2 children per family!i) Hanging around the temple?j) Talking about the resurrection of Christ – with a known list of witnesses!B. Acts 4:5-7 (NIV)Act 4:5 The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.Act 4:6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of thehigh priest's family.Act 4:7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or whatname did you do this?"Barnes on Acts 4:5-6 – gives, like a reporter, just who was there!Their rulers - The rulers of the Jews; doubtless the members of the Sanhedrin, or Great Council ofthe nation. Compare Act_4:15. See the notes on Mat_2:4; Mat_5:22. The expression their rulers looksas if this book was written for the Gentiles, or Luke would have said our rulers.Elders - Presbyters, or those who were chosen from among the people to sit in the Sanhedrin. It isprobable that the rulers were those who held also some other office, but were also authorized to sit inthe Great Council.Scribes - See the notes on Mat_2:4.And Annas ... - See the notes on Joh_18:13. It is by no means certain that Annas was at that timethe high priest, but he had been, and doubtless retained the title. He was father-in-law to Caiaphas, thehigh priest; and from this fact, together with his former dignity, he is mentioned first.Caiaphas - Son-in-law of Annas, and now exercising the office of the high priest, Joh_18:13.John, and Alexander ... - Of these persons nothing more is known. It is clear that they weremembers of the Great Council, and the mention of their names shows that the men of chief authorityand influence were assembled to silence the apostles. Annas and Caiaphas had been concerned in thecondemnation of Jesus, and they would now feel a special interest in arresting the progress of thegospel among the people. All the success of the gospel reflected back light upon the wicked ness of theActs Page 37 January 23, 2011 18:07