Acts 4
by Pastor Mark Hudson
Acts 4 is a continuation of the event of healing the lame man in chapter 3. In chapter 3, Peter preaches to the people at the portico of the temple. As Peter and John were speaking to the people, the religious leaders came out and arrested them (4:1-4), put them in custody until the next day. Yet, in the midst of this the report in v. 4 is that the church has grown to 5,000.
The next day these two, rather, common men stood before the august assembly of religious leaders. You can imagine the contrast of two common fisherman standing before the educated, well-dressed, and well-connected leaders of Jerusalem. The religious leaders must have known about what happened in chapter three because they get to the heart of the question: authority. Who has the power that you are talking about? Because, remember Peter and John, we have authority over you. What kind of power do you think you two really have?
Right out of the gate, Peter tells them exactly what he wanted to say. In verse 10, Peter points to “the name of Jesus Christ . . . whom you crucified . . . .” Peter charges them with opposing God by stating in v. 10, “whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead” In verse 11, “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.” This is not the power of positive thinking or seeker sensitive preaching. This is telling his audience the truth and laying responsibility at their feet. Contrast vs. 10 and 11 with 3:17. While in chapter 3 he attributes ignorance to the people (and leaders), in chapter 4 Peter does not allow the leaders any wiggle room. He charges these leaders with not just indifference to God but hostility toward God.
This will be a common theme you will notice as you read the book of Acts. The religious leaders express hostility to God, the gospel, and anyone who follows Christ. In fact, in this incident, the Jewish leaders are on their heels not knowing what to do. These ‘leaders’ fear the people. At times the people lean toward the right and other times the people are just as deceived as their leaders. In this chapter, Peter and John are released with a mere warning.
Peter and John return to their friends and pray together. Notice in their prayer these same themes. Kings are ‘against’ the Lord (v. 26), and in v. 27 these rulers ‘gather together against you holy servant Jesus.” God raises up; the rulers tear down. The Gentiles rage but it is ‘in vain.’ Peter and John and the other disciples have rock solid confidence that God raised up Christ and the religious leaders are against Christ which makes them also against the God they think they know.
Notice another theme that while not easily understood, is plainly taught: God is in absolute control and sinful people are guilty of doing ‘whatever your hand and your plan predestined to take place’ v. 28. While it may be had to reconcile in our minds, the Biblical authors see no need to reconcile those truths. Both are true. God is absolutely sovereign. His will has been done, is being done and will be done. And sinful people, acting in freedom (God not violating their freedom), are responsible for their sedition against God. The Bible does not have a problem with stating these truths side by side.
May I gently remind you that no one in heaven will ever question how these truths mesh or wonder if God is just. You may not understand this fully. Yet, you do not want to violate God’s sovereignty to make this truth more palatable. In fact, you should glory in God being God freely and wisely ordaining all that makes the gospel the good news it is. There is nothing deeper, more profound, yet nothing simpler and more accessible than the grace of God in the gospel. An essential or fundamental part of the gospel is the absolute freedom of God overcoming all the aggression of wicked people.
While this is a theological profundity, these very truths usher in the beauty we read at the end of the chapter. This is a beautiful, sensitive, caring section describing the bond of love these believers found in each other’s fellowship. What is touching is the expression, ‘one heart and soul’ in v. 32. The closeness that believers feel can be closer than we feel toward our biological family.
We can’t help but point out that this church both experienced close, warm, loving fellowship but also constantly reached out to the unbelieving community. The early church certainly had its share of problem with lying (5:2), racial discrimination (6:1-2), how to choose new leaders (6:2ff), martyrdom (7:57ff), persecution (8:1 et al), and how money and ministry can become strange bedfellows (8:18ff). The early church struggled, made mistakes, experienced growth, and stumbled along. But this balance of numerical growth and close spiritual nurturing and fellowship is a challenge to maintain. I imagine most of us wonder how we can experience the same dynamic.
Maybe the question is what are you doing to make these truths of caring fellowship, bold outreach, and spiritual growth real where you are? What can you point to that you do that pushes these truths in your church? And if not, what can you do to make your church more caring, more focused on the gospel of Christ, and bolder in outreach?
Father, we marvel at the boldness of the early church. We watch the church leaders and the everyday believers growing spiritually, reaching out with the good news of the gospel, and enjoying deep, loving fellowship. Our church experience does not always reflect those same dynamics. Lord, correct and encourage us to be the corporate body You desire. Mold us individually to believe in Christ and live out that truth. We pray for each other because we are all weak, sinful, and in need of the power of Your Spirit. In the holy name of Christ. Amen.