Standing Firm on a Solid Foundation
4:1-21
Fear. It is perhaps the common human emotion. And we all have things we are afraid of.
•There are scientific names for every fear imaginable.
•There is claustrophobia, the fear of enclosed places; acrophobia, the fear of high places; agoraphobia, the fear of open places
•One fear made famous by Steven Spielberg in his movie of the same name is Arachnophobia, the fear of spiders. My wife has serious Arachnophobia. She will call me from any duty I am doing to come kill a spider.
•There are all kinds of obscure phobias: anthropophobia, the fear of people; bacteriophobia, the fear of bacteria; zoophobia, the fear of animals; eisopetrophobia, the fear of mirrors; metophobia, the fear of money; telephonophobia, the fear of the telephone; blennophobia, the fear of slime; musophobia, the fear of mice; microphobia, the fear of small things; neophobia, the fear of new things
•There are still more: scotophobia, fear of darkness; carcinophobia, fear of cancer; hydrophobophobia, the fear of rabies; algophobia, the fear of pain; kinetophobia, the fear of motion; tachophobia, the fear of speed; autophobia, the fear of being alone; There is triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number thirteen; oikophobia, the fear of home; thanathophobia, the fear of death; hypegiaphobia, the fear of responsibility (I know a few guys who have that one); that can be related to gametophobia, the fear of marriage;
•There is even phobophobia, the fear of fear. And if you can’t make up your mind. There is pantophobia, the fear of everything.
•If you are here this morning, you probably don’t have Ecclesiophobia, the fear of church. Gymnasiaphobia – I just made that one up.
Fear is in fact a good thing. Without it, we would not know when to run; when to tread cautiously.
•Fear of snakes is a good thing, for example, when a 7 foot rattler lying in front of you on the hiking trail.
•Fear of the dark is a good thing when walking alone at night in a dangerous neighborhood
When we meet Peter and John in Acts 4, they are in a situation that we would expect to produce fear. Fear is a rational response.
•They have been arrested and thrown in prison. Their very lives are threatened.
•Yet instead of fear, we see boldness and courage. Boldness and courage that could only come from the power of the Spirit of God in their lives.
Turn with me to Acts 4
•Last week we saw how Peter and John healed a man who had been lame at the Temple gate.
•The man was begging and called out for money; Peter had no money, but he gave him something better, he healed him in Jesus’ name.
•When a crowd formed Peter seized the opportunity to tell them about Jesus.
Our story today picks up where that one took off. Just as Peter is finishing preaching, the Temple authorities show up.
•They are concerned by the crowd, which could mean a riot; and they don’t like what Peter is saying so they arrest him and John and throw them in jail overnight.
•Read 4:1-3 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.
•A hearing is planned for the next day.
Now this is a very dangerous situation.
•After all, only a few months earlier Jesus had been arrested in this same city.
•And the scenario is dangerously familiar.
•Jesus, after all, was arrested primarily because of a disturbance in the Temple, casting out the moneychangers. Peter and John were creating a disturbance in the Temple.
•Jesus was arrested because he was accused of leading people astray. The leaders were jealous that the crowds were following him. Jesus left about 120 followers. Don’t forget that 3,000 people became believers in Jesus on the Day of Pentecost. We learn in verse 4 that this number had now grown to about 5,000. They are even more of a threat.
•Notice, too, who Peter and John stand before the next day: Verse 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.
•This is the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court; the same body that condemned Jesus.
•Caiaphas was the high priest. Annas was his father-in-law, who was the real power broker among the leadership. These are the very men before whom Jesus was tried. After his arrest, Jesus had been taken first to the home of Annas, where his fate was really sealed. He then went to Caiaphas, where a mock trial was held, and he was turned over to Pilate who crucified him.
•If I went to visit Peter and John at this moment, I would probably say “Now is a good time to be afraid.” You ought to have a good healthy dose of “Sanhedraphobia,” or Caiaphasaphobia. This is dangerous. We’re going to get you a good lawyer, but you should probably make sure you wills are in order. Kiss your wife goodbye. This does not look good.
Yet fear is not what we see. Instead we see boldness and courage. We see almost reckless abandon.
•Now don’t forget, these are the same disciples who ran and hid like cowards when Jesus was arrested.
•Why could cause him to change so much?
If you are like me, you probably wish you could have more boldness in your Christian life.
•More courage to tell others about Jesus Christ.
•More boldness to stand up for what you believe.
•By learning from the example of Peter and John, we can become more courageous in our faith.
Let’s look at the source of Peter’s confidence.
The first thing we learn is that Peter was absolutely certain that:
1. Jesus is the Messiah, now vindicated through his resurrection, vv. 8-11
Notice what they ask them in verse 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
•“Just for clarification, you guys aren’t by any chance followers of that heretic named Jesus we executed a few weeks ago, are you?” You are not part of that movement we outlawed? Are you?
•I wonder if at that moment Peter had a bit of a deja vu. Don’t forget when Jesus was at his trial, standing before these same men, what Peter was doing, just in the courtyard beyond them. He was denying Jesus....three times! A woman came up, “Weren’t you with Jesus?” NO! Another approached him...then a third. Peter swore he did not know him.
Would Peter disown him again?
•Not a chance. Because Peter is a changed man.
•When Peter stands up to address the crowd, fear is the not thing that characterizes his words. In fact, it is just the opposite. It is boldness.
Look at his response in Verse 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.
Peter first says, “Now tell me again why you arrested us?” You arrested us for doing a kind act to a man crippled since birth. That’s pretty dumb!”
•Peter says in effect, “Shouldn’t you guys be out looking for real bad guys, instead of us do-gooders.”
•Police officers, by the way, love it when you do this. Next time you get pulled over, say, “Why aren’t you out looking for criminals instead of harassing us law-abiding citizens who happen to be going a few miles over the speed limit.” You will really endear yourself to that officer.
•But that is essentially what Peter says, “Which good deed are you arresting us for? Was it the healing of this man? We’re really sorry about that. Do you want us to break his legs again?”
But then it gets worse, Peter in effect turns to the police officer and says, “Oh by the way, you are the criminals!” See it again in verse 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified....
•Now do you understand the significance of this? These are the most powerful religious leaders in the nation. They could deliver Peter and John over to the Romans for crucifixion.
•Peter says “You killed your King. You killed God’s chosen one.”
What gave him the courage to say that?
•Look at the next phrase, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.
Peter could stand with absolute fearlessness because he was certain that Jesus was alive.
•He was certain that Jesus had conquered sin and conquered death.
•And because of Jesus’ resurrection we have nothing to fear, not even death.
•Because the same resurrection power that brought Jesus back to life is now living in us.
Throughout the NT, the resurrection stands as the ultimate proof of the truth of the Christian faith.
I’m sometimes asked to speak at College campus meetings or other venues about stuff related to the Bible.
•And there are lots of topics you can cover. Is the Bible reliable? Did Jesus do miracles? The fulfillment of prophecy?
•But, you know, the one I always come back to is the Resurrection.
Because as far as the Christian faith is concerned, the Resurrection is the bottom line.
Christianity rises or falls on this fact alone.
•Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15. If Christ did not raise from the dead, then we are fools for following him.
And so when I speak, I often outline the extraordinary evidence of the resurrection.
•The proof that Jesus truly was dead. The Romans were experts at crucifixion.
•The proof that three days later the tomb was empty. No doubt about that. Even Jesus’ opponents admitted (they made up a rumor that the disciples stole the body).
•The fact that over 500 people saw Jesus alive, in living, breathing flesh.
•The fact that a group of cowering sniveling Cowards who ran and hid three days later were transformed overnight into men and women of extraordinary courage, who would turn the world upside down
What could account for such change? Only one thing. Jesus was alive.
You see if you think about it, if Jesus rose from the dead, then everything else falls into place.
•Did Jesus do miracles? Good question. Well if he rose from the dead – the ultimate miracle – then the questions of whether he did others is rather trivial.
•Suppose you turned on the Olympics on TV and you see a weightlifter bench presses 500 lbs of weights over his head to win the gold medal, and you ask, “Did he already do 400 lbs before that?” Yeah he did. I don’t believe it. But he just proved he could do much more.
•If Jesus rose from the dead, do you think he could heal the sick? If he broke the power of death, could he calm an angry sea? Could he heal the multitudes with loaves and fishes?
•The resurrection proves he could do anything.
OK, you might say, that’s good for the disciples. But they saw Jesus alive. But what about us 2,000 years later? How do we know? How can I have boldness if I’ve never seen the resurrected Jesus.
That’s a great question.
(1) One answer is the proofs I’ve just cited. The evidence is overwhelming that Jesus truly did rise from the dead. So I would encourage you, examine the evidence, it will build your confidence.
(2) But there is something else. If you are a believer, you have the same confidence-building power in you that Peter had in him: That is the presence of the Spirit of God giving you power and confidence.
•Notice again what it says in verse 8, “Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit...”
•Peter is not speaking for himself, the Spirit is speaking through him.
You see Peter is not afraid because he is not the one in charge. Jesus is still in charge. The Spirit of God is living inside of him, giving him confidence and boldness and assurance.
Jesus didn’t say, You Peter will build my Church. He said, “I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell would not prevail against it”
•It’s not Peter’s dynamic preaching abilities that are building the Church. It is Jesus Christ who is building the Church. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that is turning the world upside down.
•Notice back in verse 3 the phenomenal growth of the Church. It takes place while Peter and John are in jail. 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.
•The Gospel messengers are in jail, but the Gospel message is not in jail.
•The leader of the Apostles is in jail, but the Spirit of God is not in jail.
•Ray Stedman once said that the best way to advance true evangelism is to lock all the preachers in jail! (Ron Ritchie). Now I’m not terribly in favor of that proposal, but there is an enormous truth there. God is building his church.
How do you know that Jesus Christ is alive? The indwelling presence of his Spirit is the confirmation.
I serve a risen Savior he’s in the world today. I know that he is living whatever men may say. I see his hand of mercy, I hear his voice of cheer, and just the time I need him, he’s always near. The last line of the chorus says, You ask me how I know he lives, he lives within my heart.
•This is not just a “subjective feeling.” I get warm fuzzies. This is not just a warm glow.
•This is dynamic power. It is resurrection power.
Peter and John could stand boldly before the Sanhedrin and say, “Jesus is the Messiah!” because their Savior and Lord was alive. He was exalted to the Right Hand of God. He had poured out his Spirit in their lives.
T- There is another reason why Peter is bold. Because he is absolutely certain that:
2. Jesus is the only way of salvation, v. 12
Jesus made extraordinarily exclusive claims to truth. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.”
There is a scene in John’s Gospel where Jesus does not seem to be fulfilling the role that many expected of him. Many of his disciples stopped following him.
•Jesus turned to the Twelve disciples and he said, “Are you going to leave to?”
•Peter’s response was, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’”
Peter is able to stand boldly and courageously because he knows there is no other way of salvation. Jesus is the only way.
•There is no plan B.
I’ve got a great plot for a movie. I’m going to be screenwriter.
•Suppose there is a deadly virus that is sweeping the nation. It is infecting almost everyone. It has very few side effects, so nobody knows they’ve got it. But it is a time-bomb ticking.
•You are a brilliant scientist (Tom Cruise will play this part); you have isolated the virus and developed a vaccination for it. You are convinced it will save everyone’s life.
•If you don’t get the vaccination out, every man, woman and child on earth, including your family and friends will die.
•But the plot thickens. There is an evil pharmaceutical company (Jack Nicholson will play the head of that) that is out to get you. They are certain there is no virus. They believe that you are the real danger. That your vaccination will kill people. So they will stop you at any cost.
•What will you do? Will you disappear and go into hiding, until the virus strikes. Give yourself and your closest family the vaccination.
•Of course not. You will risk everything to get this out.
Great plot, huh? That’s essentially what’s happening in Acts.
There is a great disease that has taken it’s hold of this planet. That disease is sin and it will bring death to every man, woman and child if it is not stopped.
•But the cure has been developed. Jesus has died on the cross and risen again.
•Now the cure just has to be proclaimed to everyone in the world.
Peter and John have that cure. And they must proclaim it.
•It is the only way. There is no other cure. There is no plan B.
•They were compelled to preach Jesus because Jesus was the only way.
•If we truly believe that Jesus is the cure, then we, too, will be compelled to tell others.
•See it in verse 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.”
We live a world of religious pluralism, where everyone claims to have a path to God.
•Where it is often said that, “All paths lead to God.”
•But the Bible is clear. There is only one way.
•Everything else is just a placebo. It may make you feel good about yourself. But it is just a sugar pill.
•You can do your yoga; listen to your new age music; study under some spiritual guide. Keep a long set of rules and regulations.
But in the end, it will not heal the disease.
Because there is only one way to salvation.
•Through a relationship with Jesus Christ.
He is the only real Lord and Master. He is the only way.
T- That’s the third reason Peter and John could proclaim the message with boldness.
3. Jesus [their Master and Lord] had commanded them to be his witness: They must obey God rather than men, v. 19
Notice the amazement of the Sanhedrin. Verse 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.
•These guys are not acting like a bunch of fishermen.
•They are acting like a well trained army.
Exceptional leadership can make ordinary people do extraordinary things. See what it says: They took note that these men had been with Jesus.
•They looked into their eyes, and they didn’t see cowering disciples.
•They saw the authority of Jesus.
•They saw the fire in Jesus’ eyes when he cleared the Temple.
•They saw the compassion in Jesus’ eyes when he healed the sick.
•They saw the love in Jesus’ eyes when he said, “Forgive them, for they
You see these guys had received their orders. Their commander and chief had said, “Get out there and do your job.
•When we read about exceptional military generals, men like Douglas Macarthur, men like George Patton, it is said that their sheer force of leadership compels men to go to battle for them.
•That’s just what Peter says, v. 19: “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. 20 “For we cannot help speaking about that we have seen and heard.”
•Notice that they did not say that they would not stop speaking, they said they could not. You see, it wasn’t their choice.
•They saw it as obedience to God’s command.
Jesus gave us the Great Commission. He did not give us the Great Suggestion.
•He didn’t say, “If you’re feeling good about yourself, you might want to go into all nations and make a few disciples. That might be fun.”
•He didn’t say, “Once you establish yourself in your career and are comfortable, you might want to be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and all around the world.
•He said, “Go, and Make Disciples” of all nations. He said, “You will be my disciple.”
We have received our marching orders. We had better obey.
I know we have heard a lot about Littleton and the massacre there, and the faith of those who died.
But I’m sorry. I can’t preach on a passage about standing firm in our faith in the face of death without telling the story of Cassie Bernall, who is being described as a martyr for her faith..
Cassie was totally anti-Christian 2 years ago. She was involved in witchcraft and evidently very suicidal. Her parents forcibly drug her into the youth pastor’s office. When she walked out - his reaction was "Wow, she is a lost cause..."
Through the prayers of her church’s youth group, parents, and youth pastor. Cassie about 6 months later walked back up to the youth pastor and said "You’ll never guess what I did today... I gave my life to Christ..."
From that point forward, Cassie was a radical evangelist on her campus. She was known around campus for carrying her Bible to school every day and wearing a "What Would Jesus Do?" bracelet, was in the Columbine library.
•It was certainly because of that outspoken faith that on April 20 when a gunman burst into the library he went up to her and stood face-to-face with her, and asked, "Do you believe in God?" Cassie replied "Yes, I believe in Jesus"
•That was the last thing Cassie said. The gunman asked her "Why?" She had no time to answer before she was shot to death.
At Cassie’s memorial service, the crowd got a message from a special guest, Cassie herself. Two days before she died, Cassie had a part in a church video where teens spoke of their faith. "I just try to not contradict myself, to get rid of all the hypocrisy and just live for Christ," she said, her radiant face smiling larger-than-life on a huge video screen.
The funeral was more of a celebration of Christ’s work in her and through her and a number of girls shared how she had led them to faith. At Cassie’s Memorial Service over 75 kids made first time commitments to Christ.
Cassie did not have time to answer. But if she had. I think I know what her answer would have been. The same points you have in front of you.
Why do I believe? Because Jesus is the Messiah, now vindicated through his resurrection. He died for me.
Why do I believe? Because Jesus is the only way of salvation. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. There is no one else I can turn to.
Why do I believe? Because Jesus commanded me, Cassie Bernall, to be his witness: I must obey God rather than men
Even if that means death.
When Peter and John stood before the Sanhedrin, the lives under threat, they said, “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.
When Cassie stood before her accuser and was asked about her faith, she was compelled
What would you do?
