The Boldness of Peter

TEXT:  Acts 4:21-22

INTRODUCTION:

A.      KEY PHRASE:  “Because of the People.”

B.      TOO MANY ARE CONCERNED WITH WHAT OTHERS THINK.

I.     BACKGROUND – ABUNDANT EVIDENCE.

A.      THE HEALING OF  THE LAME MAN.  WHO WAS HE?

          1.       3:2.  From his mother’s womb.

          2.       4:22.  More than 40 years old.

          3.       3:2.  Laid daily at the door of the temple.

          4.       3:2.  Asked alms of the people.

          5.       3:10.  Well known.

          6.       3:6-10.  Healed in the name of Jesus (3:13, 16;  4:8-10)

B.      PETER’S SERMON:

          1.       3:9-11.  The occasion.

          2.       3:12-26.  The sermon itself.

                   a.       The purpose of the miracle (3:13a).

                   b.       The accusation (3:13b-15).

                   c.       The resurrection (3:15).

                   d.       The prophets (3:18-26).

          3.       4:1-4.  The Reaction.

                   a.       The captain of the temple and the Sadduccees (4:1-3).

                   b.       The People (4:4).

C.      THE TRIAL:

          1.       4:5-6.  Who was there?  Annas, the High Priest, Caiaphas, John,  Alexander.

          2.       4:7.  Captious question?

          3.       4:8-12.  Peter’s Defense.

                   a.       To the point,  Peter defines the question (4:8-9).

                   b.       In the Name of Jesus of Nazereth (4:10).

                   c.       The accusation again (4:10).

                   d.       The claim:  The Resurrection.

                   e.       4:11.  Prophesied (Psa. 118:22).

                   f.        4:12.  The assertion (John 14:6;  10:1).

          4.       4:13-18.  The Council’s Reaction.

                   a.       Acknowledged Peter and John’s background as fishermen.  Marvelled.

                   b.       Acknowledged the miracle (4:14, 16).

                   c.       Disbelieved anyway!

                   d.       The threat (4:17-18).

D.      PETER’S BOLD ANSWER (4:19-20).

II.    MANY LESSONS:

A.      FROM PETER’S ANSWER (4:19-20).

          1.       Hearken to God, not to man (Gal. 1:8-9;  Col. 2:8;  2 John 9).

          2.       “We saw and heard” (vs. 20;  3:15;  2 Cor. 4:7-15).

B.      A LESSON IN COURAGE.

          1.       Cowardice of the Council (vs. 21).

                   a.       Ill treatment instead of refuting what was said – no repentance either.

                   b.       Common reaction (Matt. 21:23-27;  John 12:42-43).

          2.       Courage of Peter and John.

                   a.       Mark of God’s servant (Acts 7:51-52;  John 15:18-21).

                   b.       History teaches us (Heb. 11:32-40).

                   c.       Luke 6:26.

III.   APPLICATIONS:

A.      WHO ARE WE TRYING TO PLEASE? (Gal. 1:10;  Matt. 6:1).

          1.       Doing right makes enemies (Gal. 4:16).

          2.       Acts 5:29.

B.      DO WE FEAR CONSEQUENCES? (Matt. 10:28;  Rom. 8:31-39).

DOES THE CHURCH SUFFER BECAUSE WE ARE TOO TIMID?

CONCLUSION:

A.      HAVE YOU SUFFERED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE?

          IF YOU WERE ARRESTED FOR BEING A CHRISTIAN,

          WOULD THERE BE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CONVICT YOU?

B.      WHEN SUFFERING, WHO ARE YOU MOST LIKE?