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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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THE
FIRST ARREST OF THE CHURCH Acts 4:1-12
(8/11/13) Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. ARREST BY THE PRIESTS AND SADDUCEES
(4:1-4) A. Priests, Temple Guard, and Sadducees (4:1) 1. Even though a new chapter has begun, it
is a continuation from Ch. 3. While Peter and John were still speaking to the
crowd, the religious leaders approached them for their disturbance on the
temple area. 2. The religious leaders were comprised of
the priests, temple captain, and Sadducees. The “priests” (hiereis - pl)
were probably the ordinary priests who performed the regular duties which
included, sacrificing, setting showbread, lighting lamps, and burning incense
(Ex 40:23-29,31,32). 3. The “temple captain” (ho
stratēgos tou hierou) was a Levite commander over the temple police.
He was responsible for order on the temple area and was second in command to
the high priest (cf. Lk 22:4; Ac 5:24, 26). 4. The “Sadducees” (Saddoukaios) were
the most influential of the four religious groups (Sadducees, Pharisees,
Essenes, and Zealots) that made up Judaism. The Sadducees were connected with
the Maccabean (i.e. Hasmonean) rule and were the wealthy politicians. They
were legalistic traditionalists who rejected the resurrection, an afterlife,
God’s providence, and even a literal Messiah. The passage in Jn 11:47-53 sums
up their mere self-serving political ends. B. Reason for the Arrest (4:2-3) 1. When these religious leaders approached
them, they were not simply curious, rather they were “greatly disturbed” (pres.
mid. part. - diaponeomai - troubled, worked up). The Sadducees especially
were worked up because Peter and John were teaching and proclaiming the
resurrection of the dead in Jesus. 2. The Sadducees had unsuccessfully
attempted to deal with Jesus concerning the resurrection (Mt 22:23; Mk 12:18;
Lk 20:27). Now they were going to try to deal with the apostles over the same
issue. In fact, this issue will also be dealt with later in Acts (Ac 23:6,
8). 3. It was not just the issue of the resurrection
of the dead that disturbed the Sadducees, but it was also the claim that
Jesus was the Messiah. The Sadducees believed that their own Maccabean
ancestors (Mattathias, Judas, Jonathan, and Simon, 168–134 B.C.) had ushered
in the Messianic Age (cf. Jub 23:23–30; 31:9–20; 1 Macc 14:4–15, 41). They
believed that the Messianic Age was an ideal, not a person, and they were
part of the process. 4. Luke mentioned that it was evening,
several hours after Peter and John entered the temple area (Ac 3:1). It was
too late to convene the Sanhedrin (supreme Jewish court, cf. Ac 4:15
“Council” - sunedrion - lit. “sitting together”, Eng. Sanhedrin) to
deal with this matter. So they imprisoned Peter and John. C. Many Still Believed (4:4) 1. It is at this point the Luke makes a most
important entry, “many of those who had
heard the message believed.” Though this is the beginning of persecution for
the church, the gospel cannot be imprisoned. 2. Luke records that the cumulative number
of “men” (anēr - male gender) that believed since chapter 2 was
about five thousand. It would have been mostly men in the temple, but they
would have shared their conversion with their families at home. II. INTERROGATION BY THE RULERS AND ELDERS
(4:5-7) A. Rulers, Elders, and Scribes (4:5-6) 1. On the next day, the Sanhedrin, made up
of rulers, elders, and scribes, gathered together in Jerusalem. The Sadducees
had to share in Jewish authority and had to co-rule in the Sanhedrin. 2. The “rulers” (archōn) were
the heads of priestly orders also called “chief priests.” The “elders” (presbuteroi)
were the family heads of the tribes of Israel. The “scribes” (grammateis)
were experts in the Law and were made up mostly of Pharisees. The rulers and
elders were predominantly Sadducees. 3. The Sanhedrin (seventy-one members), was
led by the high priest, former high priests, and those with high-priestly
descent. 4. Annas was not the current high priest,
but the former high priest. Nevertheless, he was the leading influence of the
Sanhedrin (Lk 3:2; Jn 18:13, 24). Caiaphas, who was the son-in-law of Annas
(Jn 18:13), was the presiding high priest (Mt 26:3; Jn 11:49; Jn 18:28). 5. There is nothing known of John and
Alexander. However, some manuscripts read “Jonathon” instead of John. Annas
had a son named Jonathon who eventually replaced Caiaphas as high priest. B. Question of Authority (4:7) 1. Having brought in Peter and John into the
“center” (mesos - middle or midst) of the council, they began to
investigate (“inquire” punthanomai - question or investigate). 2. The sole question had to do with the
authority by which the apostles healed the crippled man. Both phrases, “by
what power” (dunamis) and “in what name” reflect the idea “by what
authority.” Their insinuation was that the miracle which afforded the message
was not performed on God’s authority (cf. Mt 21:23; Jn 2:18). So the
Sanhedrin was implying that these were in essence “false prophets” (Dt
18:20). III. FIRST DEFENSE BY THE APOSTLES (4:8-12) A. Authority in Jesus Christ (4:8-10) 1. Luke recorded that Peter was filled with
the Holy Spirit, who would guide him into all truth (Jn 16:13) and would give
them the words to speak (Lk 12:11-12). 2. Similar to a response given by Jesus,
Peter subtly indicts the Sanhedrin for putting them on “trial” (anakrinō
- examination, investigation) for “benefitting” (euergesia - good deed
or service) a cripple man (cf. Jn 7:23; Jn 10:32) and questioning the
authority of God (cf. Jn 7:28-29). 3. Peter boldly spoke to the Sanhedrin and
to all of Israel. If there was any question, Peter made it clear that the
authority upon which the crippled man was healed was on the authority of
Jesus Christ the Nazarene (‘by or in the name” Ac 3:6, 16). 4. This infers that Jesus the Nazarene was
God’s Messiah and that God and His Messiah had confirmed the miracle and
message of the apostles. 5. In the middle of his explanation, Peter
bluntly informs the Sanhedrin and Israel that they crucified the Messiah (Ac
2:23, 36; Ac 3:14-15). In addition, because Jesus was the Messiah, God raised
from the dead (Ac 1:8; 2:24, 32 3:15, 26). Nevertheless, it was on the
authority of Jesus that the crippled man stood before them able to walk. B. Chief Cornerstone (4:11) 1. In order to establish Jesus as the
Messiah, and to show that Israel crucified Him, Peter quoted Ps 118:22.
Though one of the Hallel Psalms (Ps 113-118), Ps 118 had been identified as a
Messianic Psalm by Jesus (Mt 21:42; Mk 12:10-11; Lk 20:17) and the apostles
(1Pe 2:7). 2. Jesus Himself taught that He was “the
stone” which the Israel “the builders” rejected. But through Christ’s death
and resurrection, Christ became the “chief cornerstone.” The Jews understood
Jesus’ interpretation and that He applied it to Israel. After that, they
sought to apprehend Him (Mt 21:42-46). 3. Accordingly, Peter identified Jesus as
the crucified and risen Messiah as well as the basis of authority for the
miracle. C. Salvation in No One Else (4:12) 1. With Peter’s explanation, he draws a
conclusion which has been a mantra for the church ever since. It means that
salvation is found in Jesus alone. 2. Salvation is not (ouk estin) found
in any other (allos…oudeni). The reason is that no other name
has been given by God (except Jesus) by which it is necessary to be saved.
So, no one can receive salvation in any other person or in any other
additional method. 3. Salvation can only come to the sinner who
trusts in Jesus’ atonement for sin on the cross. We can know for certain that
Jesus is God’s Messiah by His resurrection. And we can have salvation by
trusting in Jesus’ atonement for our sin on the cross. IV. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. Basis of Authority - At the time of the
church, everyone was looking for a basis of authority. The people looked to
the Sadducees and Pharisees for authority. The religious leaders looked for
the basis of authority for Peter’s miracle. But Peter based his actions on
the authority of Jesus Christ and the Scriptures. The authority of Jesus
Christ and the Scriptures is the only sure authority for the believer,
foundation for truth, and foundation for witnessing the unbelievers. B. Chief Cornerstone - Christ has been
appropriately called the Chief Cornerstone. After being the stone that was
rejected (crucified), he was placed (resurrection) at the foundation as the
Chief Cornerstone. The apostles teaching (Scripture) was the built upon the
foundation of the Chief-Cornerstone (Ep 2:20). So the church is built upon
the Scriptures which teach the death and resurrection of the Christ. The
church then, is being made into a holy temple, built and indwelt by the Holy
Spirit for a dwelling of God (Ep 2:21-22). C. Gospel Message - The miracle of the
resurrection of Jesus points to a divine message. The divine message is that
salvation is not found in anyone except Jesus. Therefore, we must put our
trust in Christ’s death on the cross for our sins for salvation. Salvation is
not by works or found in any other religion, but only in the person and work
of Christ (Ac 4:12; Jn 14:6). As John states, either we have the Son and have
salvation or we do not have the Son and do not have salvation (1Jn 5:12). |
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