1. Acts 4:1-12

2.  Before we get into Acts 4, let’s just recall what has taken place.  Peter & John see a lame man and they heal him (3:1-7).  A great crowd assembled when they saw the man walking around praising God (3:8-11).  Peter uses the opportunity to preach (3:12-26).  Peter’s sermon lays out important themes:  Jesus is the Servant of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (v 13).  He was killed and raised from the dead (3:13-15).  The people need to repent (3:19).  Jesus is the Prophet of whom Moses wrote (3:22-23).

3.  A common feature in Acts is that speeches are often left unfinished, and they are often interrupted.  About 1/3 of Acts is composed of speeches.  Luke seems to be making the point that the speeches in Acts drive the action.  That seems to be a quite apt way of looking at the Gospel in general.  The Gospel always prompts action of some sort or another.  What sort of action might the Gospel prompt?

4.  “As they spoke to the people” (v 1).  Apparently John spoke as did Peter.  I’m not at all sure how Peter and John did the preaching.  It’s important to notice that they are both preaching the same message—only one sermon is recorded.  The Jewish leadership shows up while Peter & John are speaking.  The message they are preaching has prompted action.  Why does the Gospel often bring about anger?  Do we sometimes make the Gospel too easy? In other words, should the Gospel make some people angry?

5.  Peter & John are at the temple, and their message angers those who have authority over the temple.  The captain of the temple guard was the commanding officer of the temple police force.  He was second in command to the high priest.  He had oversight of the whole body of priest.

6.  The Sadducees were Levitical priests who claimed to represent the ancient orthodoxy.  They opposed any developments in biblical law.  They also denied the resurrection.  They also believed that the Messianic Age began with the Maccabees (168-134 BC).  They believed the Messiah was an ideal, rather than a Person.  Thus, the preaching of Peter & John is going to anger them.

7.  Two things bother the leaders:  Peter & John are teaching the people.  The Sadducees were the recognized teachers of the people.  Do we sometimes fall into the trap that only certain people can be teachers?  Peter & John are teaching “in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”  The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection.  The resurrection was an Old Testament concept (e.g., Dan 12:2).  The Greek means “from the realm of the dead ones.”

8. How is the resurrection from the dead “in Jesus”?

9.  It was too late in the day to begin a court hearing.  It should be pointed out, however, that the time of day had not prevented the Sadducees from giving Jesus a mock trial.  It could be that the Sadducees weren’t expecting trouble out of Peter & John.  They already had a plan in place to take care of Jesus.  The Sadducees become the first opponents of Christianity.

10. How should Christians respond to being opposed? Why is Christianity so opposed?

11.  Many of those who heard the word believed.  Notice the connection between hearing the word and believing.  Why is hearing the word such an important part of believing that word?  What might this say about our preaching & teaching?  What is the importance of believing?

12.  The number of believers came to about five thousand men.  The Greek term is for male.  In Acts 2:41, “about three thousand souls were added to them.”  The term here is not gender neutral; Luke says that these believers are all male.  I wonder why the number of males is given.  Granted, women were very undervalued in that society.  But, I wonder if this doesn’t say something about male spiritual leadership.

13. How should men exercise their leadership role? Why is male spiritual leadership so important?

14.  Peter and John are brought before the Sanhedrin.  The Sanhedrin was both the senate and supreme court of Israel.  The council (v 15) consisted of the high priest (who served as the presiding officer) and seventy other men.  The majority (the aristocrats) were Sadducees, but there were Pharisees on the council also.  The Sadducees were considered more conservative, and the Pharisees were considered liberal.

15.  This is the first of four times that Jesus’ followers stand before the Sanhedrin in Acts.  The other occurrences:  Peter & the apostles (Acts 5:27).  Stephen (6:12).  Paul (22:30).

16.  The Sanhedrin asks, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” (v 7).  The “you” is plural here—The Sanhedrin is addressing both Peter and John here.  Why did it really matter by what authority Peter and John had healed this man?  Why did the Sanhedrin want to know by what authority Peter and John had acted?  Does authority matter that much today?

17.  Peter was “filled with the Holy Spirit” (v 8).  This was a promise of Jesus (Lk 21:12-15).  Jesus said that the apostles would be able to use such occasions “for testimony” (Lk 21:13).  That seems to go back to Acts 1:8 where the apostles are called upon to be witnesses of the Risen Christ.  Why was it important that the apostles be “filled with the Holy Spirit” when before hostile crowds?  Are there any lessons we might learn?  How can we handle hostile opponents of truth?

18.  Peter and John are being judged “for a good deed done to a helpless man” (v 9).  The man was “lame from his mother’s womb” and was carried to the gate of the temple to ask for alms (3:2).  This man could do very little for himself.  This man’s helplessness says a great deal about the miracle—He was really healed, he couldn’t do heal himself, he couldn’t give Peter and John something in return.  Does that make a good analogy to Christianity?

19.  Might the lame man’s helplessness say something about helping others?  What are some good ways to help those who are helpless?  Have you ever been helped when helpless?  The word “made well” in verse 9 is the word for “saved.”  Throughout Scripture, this word is used to refer to salvation from sickness, enemies, etc.  However, the usage at v 9 prepares for a more specific meaning at v 12.

20.  Peter tells the Sanhedrin that in the name of Jesus Christ this man had been made whole.  They had killed this Jesus, but they could not deny Him forever – the miracle they had witnessed had been performed by the power of the One they had killed.  Why can people not deny Jesus forever?

21.  It’s somewhat surprising to me that the Sanhedrin does not attempt to discredit the Resurrection.  If the Sanhedrin had produced Jesus’ body, the disciples’ claims would have been over.  If the Sanhedrin had good-sounding arguments, the disciples would have needed to meet that challenge.  Nowhere in Scripture is there any attempt on the part of Christianity’s opponents to discredit the Resurrection of Jesus.

22.  At verse 11, we find the Messianic prophecy of this text.  “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builder, which has become the chief cornerstone.’”  The prophecy comes from Psalm 118.  This is an important Psalm for understanding the Messiah.  Let’s read the Psalm in its entirety to understand the text.

23.  Psalm 118 can be divided as follows:  A call to worship the L ORD, for “His mercy endures forever” (vv 1-4).  Why is it interesting that a psalm which predicts the Messiah calls on Israel to worship because God’s mercy is ever present?  The psalmist is in distress, but his confidence is in God (vv 5-9).  The psalmist details his distress (vv 10-14).  The psalmist understands God’s power (vv 15- 18).

24.  Psalm 118 can be divided as follows:  An appeal for God to open “the gates of righteousness” (vv 19-20).  The psalmist will praise God, for He is his salvation (v 21).  Do we praise God enough for our salvation?  I fear many people want salvation, but they aren’t interesting in praising God.  The rejected stone has become the chief cornerstone (vv 22-24).  Praise of God for His salvation (vv 25-29).

25.  How is Jesus “the chief cornerstone”?  There are two main interpretations of this text:  Jesus is the cornerstone, the foundation of God’s building.  Is 28:16.  1 Pet 2:4-7.  Jesus is the capstone, the final piece of God’s plan.  Dan 2:34-35.  Both interpretations fit Scripture.

26.  Salvation can only be found in Jesus.  This verse stands in stark contrast to the religious pluralism so many advocate.  Why is Jesus the only way to the Father?  How can we help people understand that Jesus is the only way to God?