Sunday Morning Service

Acts 5:12-42 (Click title for audio access)

"Loud Lives!"  •  7.3.11  •  Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro

- The church is becoming a mighty force both in number as well as effectiveness. God is mightily pouring out His Spirit and the church is enjoying the ride.

- At the same time, chapter 5 documents the power of holiness within the church as well, as Ananias and Sapphira learned in the early part of this chapter.

- We continue our journey through Acts today and as we go, we'll see more of what characterized this church, as well as what people felt about her at the time.

- We'll begin with the reputation of the church.

Text

•  Acts 5:12,13  :  "And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly." : The Apostles continued their ministry in Jerusalem, their message being authenticated by their miracles.

- God continued to do things through the agency of the hands of the Apostles. God was working through them in the same way that He worked through Jesus and wants to work through you.

- He could choose another way, but this is the way that brings the most glory to Him. I imagine angels in heaven constantly giving God glory for what He accomplishes through you.

- They did numerous works, too many to mention by name! John speaks in his gospel that if he had written all that Jesus did, there would not be enough paper in the world to contain it!

- The same is true here. The church functioned wonderfully and publically.

- Solomon's Porch was where the initial miracle of the lame man had taken place. It was a large, courtyard area that was outside of the outer court of the temple, accessable to all people.

- It was a very busy avenue for the faithful as well as the not-so-faithful and was a perfect place for the church to practice their faith, ministering to those that were there.

- The believers were working powerfully, mostly because they were in one accord.

- This is the fifth time that we see this employed in the book of Acts thus far. Wherever they went, and whatever they did, they did it in God glorifying unity! They did what they did together.

- The Apostles and the church, gave witness, but saw that while they were well liked, the membership rate declined.

- You have to imagine that the story of Ananias and Sapphira spead rapidly through town.

- Holiness and a real understanding of God's presence had slowed things down a bit.

- However, the church was well thought of. Literally, they were magnified in the sight of the masses.

- You get the sense that the prevailing consideration was that people knew the church was a place of holiness, with no tolerance for sin.

- People from the outside saw this and made this type of statement: "I'm not crazy about Christianity, but if I ever got there, I'd go there! Those people are the real deal!"

- Obviously, this speaks about the church as a whole, but it is true of believers as well.

- People will see your commitment to Christ and like or not, will judge whether He is worth their time by how you live! Do you say one thing and do another? The church's reputation was spotless.

•  Acts 5:14-16 : "And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed."  :  Believers. That is a very distinct word. You are either a believer or you are not.

- The masses were slow or hesitant to join but the believers were added to the Lord. In other words, there comes a time a person's life when they say, "I must come!"

- When God does a work of drawing someone to Himself, that person will come to the Lord eventually, no matter the cost!

- Believers saw the church as a real place to express faith in Christ. They were drawn to the Lord and to His church, whose center was evangelism and discipleship.

- Healthy sheep beget and attract healthy sheep!

- As a result of the Apostle's ministry, believers were increasingly added to the Lord. With each outreach, more and more came to the Lord. How many more? Multitudes!

- Please notice here in the book of Acts for the first time, that women are counted as converts. It is becoming a reality that there is neither male nor female in Christ!

- Their reputation went before them and the believers came to bring their sick ones in hopes that healing would take place.

- The words "beds and couches" refer to economic status. Beds might better be thought of as a cot of some sort, while couches are better thought of as mats.

- It does not say explicitly that these people were healed by the shadow. They came with some form of faith and verse 16 says that all who came were healed!

- You would think that such a thing would spark unparalleled joy and excitement. Nah!

•  Acts 5:17,18  :  "Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison."  :  Well, at least we can say that they were consistent! The religious leaders were filled with indignation.

- They were incensed. They were fiercely zealous against the Apostles. Listen to this: People are getting healed! What is their response? "I am so furious right now!"

- This is one of the great problems with religious people. They are confronted by their own impotence and seek to squelch anything that is not from them!

- They love to control, they love the accolades, but hate when someone else is used by God!

- Then, in typical religious fashion, instead of bowing their hearts to the Lord of the Apostles, they seek to put the Apostles away, this time in a prison for common criminals.

•  Acts 5:19-21  :  "But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ^'Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.' And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought."  :  Notice now, the resource of the church. They are in prison, but they have a key!

- The religious put the Apostles away, but God overrides their decision by sending an angel! Sadducees did not believe in angels, so God makes sure to send one!

- He opened the doors and brought them out. Remember that Luke writes that for us. They had a key to get out of prison and were entrusted with a message.

- This angel came with a message: Go and speak in the temple! Speak all the words of this life! What a comment! They were to speak about the life that they had discovered in Christ.

- What is that life? It is a life that is marked by transformation. It is marked by power from the Holy Spirit. It is marked by forgiveness of sin and freedom to love and serve God.

- Christianity is not a belief alone; It's a lifestyle!

- As that was happening, the council had again convened and sought to have the Apostles brought before them. They have no idea what God has done!

•  Acts 5:22-25  :  "But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, saying, 'Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!' Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. So one came and told them, saying, 'Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!'"  : The officers came and reported what they had found.

- The door had been and was shut, the guards had been and were sitting there!  The High Priest and his cronies were literally at a loss! They were perplexed as to what to do.

- There is a sentiment here that seems to speak toward a belief that there had been a conspiracy among the men. Whatever the case, they still had a problem with these Apostles.

- How do you stop these guys? You can't threaten them, you can't keep them in prison.

- While they contemplated their next move, the Apostles were discovered teaching the people.

- They had gone early in the morning, back to the place that they had been arrested.

•  Acts 5:26-28  :  "Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, 'Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!'"  :  You can almost imagine these officers coming over with a smile on their faces, politely asking the Apostles to come with them.

- The Apostles were popular enough that the religious ones feared the people response!

- Over and over again, you'll see that religion is really only interested in what men think.

- The Sadducee council wants to be clear: We DID tell you not to teach in this name right?

- Instead of being quiet, the Apostles had filled Jerusalem with their doctrine or their teaching. Literally, they had filled Jerusalem full of their doctrine!

- The charge was wonderful and you and I would do well to pray that God would fill our Jerusalem with the Apostles doctrine regarding Jesus Christ and Him crucified!

- What doctrine are you filling your Jerusalem with? What do the people in your life know about Jesus Christ and salvation? In just months, the Apostles had filled a city with their teaching.

- The doctrine was not so much of their concern. The fact that their doctrine incriminated them was the real issue. Peter did not intend to expose their guilt. He intended to show that Jesus rose.

- But, every resurrection needs a death and every death a cause! They were the cause, technically of Christ's death!

- Without being racial, understand that Israel's leaders spoke to Pilate and said, "Let His blood be upon our heads as well as our children." Now, they are uncomfortable with that position.

•  Acts 5:29-32  :  "But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.'"  :  Note now the rejection of the fear of man.The Apostles had settled the question: We're going to obey God and not you!

- I pray that you have settled that question as well! Obey every law that the world has for you. Pay your taxes. Arrive for work on time and leave on time. Witness and study the bible at lunch!

- When there is no conflict between your convictions and the law, then there is no problem. But when there is, let it be your determination now that you will obey God rather than man.

- Underneath that concept is the fear of man that creeps into each of our souls. It's easy to be intimidated and scared into faithlessness. Don't let that be you!

- The Apostles did not get to that moment and then decide. They decided when the religious people first confronted the Apostles. They made the decision then. You should do the same!

- As for their claim, God resurrected Jesus, that they were responsible for crucifying.

- They rejected Jesus, God exalted Jesus to God's right hand, the place of honor. We've discussed that the word "exalted refers to the greatest place of opulence and prestige.

- Jesus was humbled in the greatest possible way on Earth, but is now sitting at the greatest place of honor. That is what God thinks of Jesus. He is the Prince and Savior.

- Peter has said this before, but affirms it again, that Jesus is the Author of life and the one who can save by giving repentance and forgiveness!

- Literally, because Jesus is the Author and Savior, He has made a way for the possibility for Israel, the ones that betrayed their Messiah, to change their minds and be released from their sins.

- That's the importance of Christ's resurrection. That's why the Apostles were eager witnesses to that fact. That is why the Holy Spirit beckons us to witness as well!

•  Acts 5:33,34  :  "When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while."  :  Literally, the religious leaders were "cut through!" Their fury led them to their usual solution, in that they plotted to kill them.

- These men had no other recourse. But just about the time when things would have gone in a certain direction, God raised up the voice of a famous Pharisee known as Gamaliel.

- Gamaliel had quite a pedigree, in that he was the Grandson of one of Israel's most famous Rabbis, Hillel. His greatest student was a man by the name Paul!

- He was one of those guys that is able to stand between parties. He is the man that Democrats, Republicans and Tea Party members can agree with. Whe he spoke, people listened.

•  Acts 5:35-39  : "And he said to them: 'Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.'" : In order for Gamaliel to make his point, he pointed to two well known men that had gained fame.

- Theudas made himself out to be somebody great, worthy of being followed. The 400 that followed him eventually died out when he died.

- The same happened with Judas. He gathered a following but died and his influence died with him. In both cases, there were men who gathered men to themselves.

- Both died and so did their movements! All of the hubub came to nothing. His logic was now applied to the Apostles. These men will come to nothing as well, that is, unless it's God!

- On the surface, things seem to be well thought through. The problem is that Gamaliel really had enough evidence to believe. There was a resurrected man and reports of healings!

- Add to that mysterious exits from prison! Gamaliel: What more do you need?

- At the least, it took the Sanhedrin off the scent of blood for the time being.

•  Acts 5:40-42  :  "And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."  :  Finally, take note of the church rejoicing on account of their suffering. For once they agreed not to kill, but they still chose to beat the Apostles to dissuade them.

- This was not a Roman beating, but a Jewish beating with rods, as prescribed in Deuteronomy 25:1-3. The Apostles were beaten in body, but not in Spirit.

- After being commanded not to speak of Jesus, they went out determined to continue, and rejoicing that they had suffered shame on account of Jesus.

- What attitudes that they had? They saw their shame as a badge of honor!

- They kept on teaching and preaching, wherever they went, that Jesus was the Christ. What they suffered did not stop them. In fact, it propelled them to greater boldness.

Conclusion

- The reputation of the church was flawless, known for purity and righteousness after the Ananias and Sapphira incident.

- Their resource was power to heal, freedom from bonds and a message of life.

- The church rejected the fear of men and chose instead the fear of God.

- The church rejoiced at their sufferings, looking at their bruises as badges of honor.

- I'd leave us with this comment: This church got reaction at each point. To their holiness, the world responded with respect. They wouldn't join then, but if they ever chose to...

- Believers responded to the church's reality. Finally, the religious rejected them, in one form or another, either through attempts at violence, silence or ignorance.

- The point: The real effect of a Christian life is that everyone that encounters it will have an opinion about you! Some will have an opinion to life, others an opinion leading to death.

- A silent church, a silent life is a biblical unknown. Don't let it be your testimony!