2. 3. One Name Under Heaven
Acts 4:5-22
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3. Today – we don’t want to offend anyone!
A Momentous Moment
Peter & John were arrested for:
Teaching the people
Proclaiming resurrection in Jesus
Quite a Canadian moment:
Not asked to stop believing themselves
Just don’t spread them
Today – we don’t want to offend anyone!

4. 1. New Teachers Separation of Church and State – the ordained order
Get a morally bankrupt society when church has no voice
Separation to prevent state power from corrupting church
Mutated to state being anti-church.
Ancient Israel – religious & political leadership same.
Sanhedrin responsible for both.
It was their religious duty to teach and guide the people

5. Sanhedrin assembles: all the bigwigs are there (v 6)
1. New Teachers . . .
Sanhedrin assembles: all the bigwigs are there (v 6)
Peter & John spreading a new, dangerous teaching
Agenda & authority of ruling class would be undermined
BUT God is changing the system forever!
Disciples (and we) are the New Teachers
Mandated by God and accountable to Him
The disciples do not hold back!

6. 2. New Message
Peter, filled with the Spirit (v 8) is dangerously explicit
Starts with an indisputable fact: a “good deed” – healing
He has a much bigger message:
It is good, and bold – about salvation.
Also dangerous – “You crucified him; You rejected him”
Peter & John are the New Teachers of the people:
Jesus is the new way predicted in Psalm 118 (v 20-23)
Jesus is the “gate” (Matt. 7:13-14)

7. 3. New Power Peter is “filled with the Holy Spirit” (v 8)
He did not need education, clothes, connections, …
Holy Spirit was enough – “they were astonished” (v 13)
Noted: “these men had been with Jesus”
Jesus promised what played out here (Mark 13:9-11)
Not sitting around: Spirit will show up in tough situation
They were on their way to the prayers (Ac 3:1)
The situation escalated from there!

8. Living It They were faithful: Link between prayer & power.
They did their part ... God took care of the rest.
They had opportunity to proclaim Jesus to the highest council in the land.

9. “Salvation is found in no-one else” (v 12)
Living It . . .
They did not compromise their message:
Annas & Caiaphas condemned Jesus (John 18:13, 24)
Now Peter & John stand before them (v 6)
“You crucified ... you rejected”: Peter is accusing them
Not vindictive: The issue is crucial –
“Salvation is found in no-one else” (v 12)
It is a message we cannot compromise on!
Keep it private – OK! Proclaiming it is offensive!