Acts 4:1-22, Only in the name of Jesus Christ

Acts 4:1-22, Only in the name of Jesus Christ

1-22, 1.The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.
 2.They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
 3.They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4.But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. 5.The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6.Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. 7.They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"
 8.Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9.If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10.then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11.He is "`the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' 12.Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." 13.When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14.But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15.So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16."What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17.But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." 18.Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19.But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20.For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." 21.After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22.For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

<Sermon Summary>

 The apostles of the early church boldly preached the gospel through the work of the Holy Spirit. Although the persecution was severe, they were victorious.

 1. When the apostles preached the resurrection of Jesus, religious leaders arrested them (1-4). Because religious leaders did not believe in resurrection, they arrested and imprisoned the apostles who preached that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead. However, as many as 5,000 men heard the words of the apostles and believed in Jesus. When the Apostle Peter preached the gospel of Jesus and his resurrection, they were persecuted, but the world could not bear Jesus' disciples (Heb.11:38). Let us live as disciples of Jesus by preaching the resurrection of Jesus.

2. They are questioned because of the name of Jesus (5-7)
 They interrogated the disciples. “By what authority and in whose name did you do this (healing a man born crippled)? They asked the same questions they asked Jesus. Just as Jesus was arrested and interrogated, the disciples were also interrogated.

3. They preach the gospel like Jesus. When Jesus Christ made the crippled from birth walk healthy. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone and the only Savior (8-12)
 They were filled with the Holy Spirit and answered questions boldly. “God brought back to life Jesus, whom you crucified and killed. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, this patient was healed and was before you. This Jesus, whom you have rejected (disdain, ignore), has become the cornerstone. Therefore, no one else can be saved. The only one who can save us is Jesus Christ(12). Jesus is our only Savior. This is the absolute gospel and truth. Amen.

4. “Do not speak or teach the name of Jesus.” "No. It is better to listen to the word of God than to listen to your own words. We cannot help but speak of what we have seen and heard (13-22). Religious leaders commanded His disciples, “Do not speak or teach the name of Jesus.” However, the disciples spoke boldly. “No, it is more right for us to listen to the word of God than to listen to you. We cannot help but say what we have seen and heard. Christianity is the truth that we believe and live by what we see and hear. Do you live by seeing, hearing, experiencing, and believing in what God and Jesus have done?

How did you overcome persecution (Satan’s attacks)?
1) By the power of the Holy Spirit (8) - By the fullness of the Holy Spirit . Not long ago, in front of Jesus who was arrested and interrogated, Peter denied the Lord three times, swore, and cursed Him. How could such a cowardly disciple of Jesus boldly and courageously preach the gospel and win despite persecution and interrogation?
2) They spoke boldly with the authority of the name of Jesus (10-12). They spoke boldly in the name of Jesus. They declared the uniqueness of Jesus. There is no salvation other than Jesus. Do you live by believing, confessing, and preaching that Jesus’ salvation is absolute?
3) They  prayed for the filling of the Holy Spirit (24,29,31). The disciples prayed together to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Let us pray that we too may be filled with the Holy Spirit and work together for God's kingdom and ministry. Still, they were suffered while preaching the gospel (2, 17-18). The persecution was strong, but the work of the Holy Spirit was stronger. God/Jesus was with them, the name of Jesus had power, and they believed in His resurrection, so the apostles became people of courage and were victorious.

Dear saints,
 Let us all absolutely believe in Jesus, the only Savior, and spread His name, resurrection and life of Jesus. God is with you, and we bless you to live as a person of bold courage that the world cannot handle, accomplishing great and amazing God’s works. Amen.