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ACTS

 

The Counsel Confronts Peter and John

Acts 4:1-22

Victor M. Eskew

 

I.                TITLE FOR THE SECTION

 

A.    The Counsel Confronts Peter and John

B.     Judaism versus Christianity

C.     By What Name Have Ye Done This? (Acts 4:7)

D.    What Shall We Do to These Men? (Acts 4:16)

 

II.              OUTLINE OF THE SECTION

 

i.                 THE DENTENTION (Acts 4:1-4)

ii.               THE DEMAND (Acts 4:5-7)

iii.              THE DEFENSE (Acts 4:8-12)

iv.              THE DELIBERATION (Acts 4:13-17)

v.                THE DECISION (Acts 4:18-20)

vi.              THE DISCHARGE (Acts 4:21-22)

 

III.            APPLICATION TO CHURCH GROWTH

 

A.    Opposition to the message of truth can come from religious people (Acts 4:1).

 

B.     Certain truths will cause some to grieve (Acts 4:2).

1.      Grieved

a.      Strong (1278):  to be worried

b.      Thayer:  to be troubled, displeased, offended, pained, worked up

2.      Question:  Where did the thought come from that we are to never cause others to be upset or displeased by our preaching?  (See Gal. 1:10)

 

C.     If the disciples could be incarcerated for their practice of Christianity, couldn’t we be imprisoned also? (Acts 4:4)

 

D.    Even in opposition, the church grew (Acts 4:4).

 

E.     The opposition will often have questions they will ask of us (Acts 4:7).

 

F.     The Jews understood what most religious people do not understand today.  They knew that authority or power had to be behind all that man does (Acts 4:7).

 

G.    Doing something in the name of someone is the same as doing it by the authority of that individual (Acts 4:7).

 

H.    Christianity is often examined by evil men because of the good that it does (Acts 4:8).

 

I.       When answering questions, we should not try to water down the answer or “beat around the bush.”  Peter certainly did not (Acts 4:10).

 

J.      Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the temple of God, the church (Acts 4:11).

1.      These words are taken from an Old Testament prophecy (Isa. 28:16; Ps. 118:22).

2.      This prophecy is mentioned three times in the New Testament (Matt. 21:42; Acts 4:11; I Pet. 2:6-8).

 

 

K.    What man rejects, God can use to His honor and glory (Acts 4:11).

1.      The Jews had set this cornerstone at naught.

a.      It was not of their liking.

b.      It was not of their expectations.

2.      Yet, God made him the head of the corner.

 

L.     Jesus is the only way of salvation (Acts 4:12).

 

M.   Men of God must be bold in the preaching (Acts 4:13).

1.      Boldness does not come from education in rabbinical schools.

2.      Boldness comes because one has been with Jesus.

 

N.    True miracles cannot be spoken against (Acts 4:14, 16).

 

O.    Those who oppose us will often ask:  “What shall we do to these men?” (Acts 4:16)

 

P.     The opposition will threaten us and give us ultimatums (Acts 4:17-18).

 

Q.    When man’s law opposes God’s law, God’s law must always be followed (Acts 4:19-20).

 

R.     The good that we do will be seen by others and they will glorify God also (Acts 4:21; Matt. 5:16).