Sunday, July 4, 2021
Acts 4:1-22
“True Freedom”
Service Overview: Whenever Jesus’ followers are carrying out his mission in the world, our enemy is stirred to oppose. Persecution is the proof that the gates of hell are being stormed and that spiritual captives are being set free. But true freedom only comes by trusting in and living for Jesus. In him alone is true freedom, and the power to overcome.
Memory Verse for the Week: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NIV)
Background Information:
- Annas was the infamous power behind the ecclesiastical throne in Jerusalem. He had been high priest from a.d. 6-14. Five of his sons, and now Caiaphas, his son-in-law, had followed him in the powerful office. Before the Roman occupation, a high priest had held office for life, but by this time an appointment was made each year by the Roman governor. It went to the highest bidder and one who was willing to be a collusive collaborator with Rome. Annas had used his immense wealth to assure the continuance of his nepotistic dynasty. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 96)
- The Sanhedrin consisted of the high priest, who by virtue of his office was president, and seventy others, made up of members of the high priestly families, a few influential persons of various formal ideological allegiances or backgrounds within Judaism, and professional experts in the law drawn from both Sadducean and Pharisaic ranks. It was dominated by the Sadducees and probably came together mostly at their request. It met in a hall adjoining the southwest part of the temple area, probably at the eastern end of a bridge spanning the Tyropean Valley and next to an open-air meeting place called the Xystos. (Richard N. Longenecker, Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Acts, 302)
- The priests were primarily Sadducees in their religious affiliation (5:17); so the principal accusers were Sadducees. These people were distinguished by several characteristics: (a) a disbelief in a bodily resurrection and a denial of the existence of angels or spirits (23:8); (b) loyalty to the Roman government; (c) a desire to maintain the status quo; (d) an association with the wealthy class; and (e) adherence only to the Pentateuch. The Sadducees were greatly disturbed by Peter and John’s preaching because it directly opposed the Sadducees’ denial of the resurrection and would also shake the establishment. (John F. Walvoord, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, New Testament, 362)
- The Sadducees were the most powerful religious-political party in Jewish affairs. They were wealthy, socially prestigious, kept the high priesthood within their group, and cooperated with Rome. Religiously they were rationalists; they denied the existence of angels, spirits, the resurrection, or any life after death. They could not afford to ignore the threat of the new Jesus movement to their whole position. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 50)
- In addition, with their teaching, the apostles were upsetting the status quo and perhaps would bring the wrath of Rome (that had almost happened a few weeks earlier with Jesus—Luke 23). The religious leaders had thought this uprising would be finished with the death of its leader, so it disturbed them to find Jesus’ followers teaching the people in the temple. (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 57)
The question to be answered is…
What was it that so empowered the apostles to take the stand they did?
Answer…
The apostles knew and were emboldened by the Truth, and that truth made them fearless and free.
The word of the day is… Freedom
What does this text have to teach about true freedom?
- True freedom comes by knowing and holding to truth. (vv.8-11 | Psalm 145:18; John 8:32; 14:6; 16:13; 17:17; Ephesians 6:14; 2 Timothy 2:15)
In contrast with the joyous obedience of the apostles is the wilful, blind unbelief of the council. Although they marvel, they refuse to believe. Their blindness is self-induced. They suppress truth while the apostles confess it. The apostles are joyful; they are gloomy. The apostles are open and forthright; they are covert and complicated. The council is frustrated; the apostles are confident. The world has nothing to match the Church, when the Church is really the Church. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 55)
- True freedom is available to and for everyone.
(v.13 | Luke 24:47; John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; 6:40, 47; Acts 10:43; Romans 10:13)
The experience of the empty tomb, now maximized by the power of the Holy Spirit, gave them a mission and a message. The resurrection had enabled regeneration in them. Their character was being transformed by the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. The more they focused on the victory of the empty tomb, their experience of the resurrected Lord, and the fire of His Spirit burning within them, the more they sensed a new freedom from self-centeredness, competitiveness, pride, and defensiveness. What had happened to them, they wanted to happen through them to everyone. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 91)
- True freedom results in profound courage.
(v.13 | Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:9; Psalm 27:14; Proverbs 28:1; John 16:33; 2 Tim.1:7)
There are two kinds of courage. There is the reckless courage which is scarce aware of the dangers it is facing. There is the far higher, cool courage which knows the peril in which it stands and refuses to be daunted. It was that second courage that Peter demonstrated. When Achilles, the great warrior of the Greeks, was told that if he went out to battle he would surely die, he answered in the immortal sentence, “Nevertheless, I am for going on.” Peter, in that moment, knew the peril in which he stood; nevertheless, he, too, was for going on. (William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, 39)
To be with Christ frees from the fear of man. (Alexander MacLaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts, 90)
- True freedom only comes from knowing its Source.
(v.12 | Proverbs 29:25; John 8:36; 10:10; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 3:28; 5:1)
“Must” (Gk. dei) is an emphatic word indicating compelling necessity. If we do not find salvation through the name (Person) of Jesus, we shall never find it. Nowhere in the entire world is there another Savior— there never has been and never will be. (Stanley M. Horton, Acts, Kindle Locations 2305-2307)
Conclusion…
How can we be emboldened to live in true freedom?
A. By holding to truth regardless of consequence.
(Joshua 1:9; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 5:1; Eph. 6:11, 13; 2 Thes. 2:15; 1 Peter 5:9)
If you are a Christian, you should be prepared to die for that affirmation. If you are not, you are playing at religion, and you have missed the Son of God. (R.C. Sproul, Acts, 71-72)
While Acts is a record of powerful sermons, astounding miracles, and the rapid spread of the Christian church throughout the world, it is also a reminder of the truth of spiritual warfare. Whenever believers are seeking to impact their culture, whenever the gospel is preached in power, wherever the church is growing and making inroads, the enemy stirs up fierce opposition. Persecution is the proof that the gates of hell are being stormed and that spiritual captives are being set free. (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 55)
B. By boldly sharing truth when opportunities arise.
(Acts 28:31; 2 Corinthians 3:12; Ephesians 3:12; 6:19; 2 Timothy 1:6-7; Hebrews 13:6)
An undeniable sign of the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit is boldness. It’s the inner delight of a liberated person expressed in daring. (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 90)
As you read through the book of Acts, you discover that the apostles spoke about Christ at every opportunity. It was as natural for them to talk about Jesus as it is for us to talk about a day at work or a vacation at the shore. Why? Because they had personal experience with him. That’s the most fundamental truth about witnesses—they communicate what they have seen and heard. If Christ is real to us, if he’s important to us, if he’s first in our hearts and minds, we will be like those first-century believers. We won’t be able to keep from talking about him. (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 61)
C. By simply being with Jesus.
(Psalm 1:2; Mark 1:35-38; Luke 5:16; 1 John 5:3-5)
To be with Christ gives a living knowledge of Him and of truth, far in advance of the head knowledge of wise and learned people. (Alexander MacLaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts, 89)
A changed life convinces people of Christ’s power. One of your greatest testimonies is the difference others see in your life and attitudes since you have believed in Christ. What are the most obvious changes Christ has brought about in your life? (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 63)
Gospel Application…
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him, and no one can experience ultimate freedom apart from him.
(John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Peter 2:4; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:14; 10:26; 4:15; 1 John 2:2)
The best defense of the truth of the Christian faith is a changed life. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 332)
Many people react negatively to the claim that salvation is found in Christ alone (“There is salvation in no one else!”). “How narrow-minded, exclusive, and arrogant!” is the common charge leveled against Christianity. But two facts are worth remembering: First, this is not something the church arbitrarily decided; it is the specific teaching of Jesus himself (John 14:6). Second, rather than reacting to the phrase, “in no one else,” people would be better served to focus on the wonderful promise, “There is salvation.” That is the good news of the gospel! God has provided a way for sinners to be forgiven and granted entrance into eternal life! To be sure, it is a narrow way (Luke 13:24), but it is a way nonetheless. If your cruise ship is sinking, it is foolish to remain on deck criticizing the emergency evacuation plan. The wiser course of action is to take a seat in the nearest lifeboat! (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 62)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- What do we learn about the attitude of the religious leaders toward Peter and John in this text?
- Peter gave a comprehensive testimony to Jesus as rejected by humanity but vindicated by God, as the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecy, as demanding repentance and promising blessing, and as the author and giver of life, physically to the healed cripple and spiritually to those who believe. This aroused the indignation and antagonism of the authorities. Why do you think this proclamation of Jesus was disturbing to the religious leaders?
- What evidence do you see of the power of the Holy Spirit through- out this section?
- What risks have you encountered regarding your Christian faith? What risks may you encounter in the future?
- What rhythms do you have in your life to simply be with Jesus?
Quotes to note…
There is no tenet more basic to contemporary secular culture than that of religious tolerance. Our country was based on the principle that people of all religious creeds and backgrounds are welcome on our shores and are to be accorded the freedom of religious expression so that all religions are equally tolerated under the law. Today, however, the assumption of the secularist is that all religions are not only to be equally tolerated under the law but are equally valid (or invalid). (R.C. Sproul, Acts, Acts: An Expositional Commentary, 68)
No matter how powerfully Christians present the gospel, and no matter how active the Holy Spirit may be, there will always be those who reject the truth. (Phillip A. Bence, Acts: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, Kindle Edition)
Peter and John shared the gospel and ended up in jail. That’s not likely to happen to Western believers today. Still, there are risks in trying to win others to Christ—being misunderstood, rejected, ridiculed, ostracized, stared at, whispered about. We might be willing to face a night in jail if it would bring five thousand people to Christ, but shouldn’t we also be willing to suffer for the sake of one lost soul? What do you risk in witnessing? Whatever the risks, realize that nothing done for God is ever wasted. And no matter how great the risk, the reward will certainly be greater. (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 58)
If there were any other way of salvation, we could afford to take it easy. But there is no hope for anyone apart from the salvation through Christ. This may sound intolerant. “But it is also true.” Only through Him can we enter into the inheritance and glory God has promised to those who love Him. (Stanley M. Horton, Acts, Kindle Locations 2318-2321)
They were ‘with Jesus,’ as each of us may be. Their communion was in no respect different from the communion that is open and indispensable to any real Christian. To be with Him is possible for us all. (Alexander MacLaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts, 88)
Conformity with God’s will means nonconformity with the world. (Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Expositions: Acts, 54)
As with the prophets of old, God’s word was in Peter’s and John’s hearts like a burning fire; and they could neither contain it nor be restrained from speaking it (cf. Jer 20:9). (Richard N. Longenecker, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, John and Acts, 307)
True witness involves the “bad news” of sin and guilt as well as the “good news” of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. There can be no true faith in Christ unless first there is repentance from sin. It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to convict lost sinners (John 16:7–11), and He will do this if we faithfully witness and use God’s Word. (Warren Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, 332)
True boldness, which comes from “being with Jesus” is winsome because we know that He has won the battle with death, Satan, and the world (John 6:20). (Lloyd J. Ogilvie, The Communicator’s Commentary: Acts, 90)
When the Spirit enters a human heart, He imparts the life and power of the risen Lord Jesus. Because Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, he was as bold as a lion. (Ray C. Stedman, God’s Unfinished Book: Acts, 56)
Nothing is so offensive to the natural man as teaching that we cannot save ourselves, that we cannot choose our own way of salvation, and that if we are going to be saved it must be by God in the way he has appointed. (James Montgomery Boice, Acts, 78)
If we are offended by what the Lord God Almighty speaks, then certainly the problem is not with Him but with us. (R.C. Sproul, Acts: An Expositional Commentary, 67-68)
The resurrected Jesus had healed the crippled man physically. That same Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah, can heal all people spiritually. (Grant R. Osborne, Life application Bible Commentary: Acts, 62)