Study 9. Acts 4:1-31

1. What happens in 4:1-31, and how is the passage connected to 3:1-26? 

 The apostles are called to account for the authority by which they healed the lame man and proclaimed their message - they we put on trial.

 

3. The Sanhedrin did not doubt that a healing had occurred; they only demanded to know by what authority (power or name, see Acts 4:7) the apostles were preaching and healing. Peter responded that his authority came from Jesus. Specifically what did Peter claim about Jesus (see 4:8-12)?

Jesus was the 'Christ', crucified and raised from the dead

The stone rejected that has become the cornerstone (Ps 118:22)

Salvation is only through Him

For Thought and Discussion: 

a. Why were the priests and other Sadducees so upset that the apostles were proclaiming Jesus resurrected (see 4:2; 23:8)?

The Sadducees did not believe in the Resurrection. That the apostles proclaimed Jesus' resurrection went against their understanding of theology and rebuked them for their rejection and condemnation of Jesus.

b. The Sadducees did not believe in Jesus even though the healing was indisputable. Think about the Sadducees’ beliefs, priorities, and values as reflected in John 11:47-53 and the background on pages 56–57. Why did they find it impossible to believe that Jesus was the Messiah? 

Their concern was their own privilege and place, not inconvenient truths. To accept Jesus as Messiah would to admit that all they stood for was wrong,

 

c. What assumptions and priorities make it difficult for various groups of people today to accept Jesus even when they can’t refute the evidence? How is it possible for these barriers to be overcome? 

 We need to have a greater motivation to follow the truth than to ignore it.

Many times, true objections to the gospel are moral, not intellectual.

People can be invested in their religion (e.g. ancestor worship)

 

For Thought and Discussion: 

a. Peter and John were committed to obeying God rather than the Jewish leaders when commands conflicted (see 4:19). What had God commanded them to do (see 1:8)?  

 Be witnessses. Preach the gospel. 

 b. According to 4:19, under what circumstances must Christians disobey human authorities, and when must we obey human authorities?

We must diobey authorities when asked to do what God forbids, or to not do what God commands. Otherwise we are to be subject to civil authorities because their authority comes from God (cf. parents-children, masters--slaves, church leaders to followers)

For Further Study: 

a. How does Acts 4:1-22 reflect Jesus’ teaching in Luke 12:11-12 and 21:12-19? 

Peter and John received boldness and the words to use. They bore witness to Jesus

b. What does Peter say in 1 Peter 2:13-17 about how to treat human authorities? Does he follow those instructions in Acts? 

Subjection to human authority is 'for the Lord's sake'. We are to seek to avoid evil and to do good, so that by our conduct we put those to shame who would slander us. We have freedom in Christ to be slaves of God. 

 

c. What does Paul say in Romans 13:1-7 about this subject? Does Peter do in Acts what Paul teaches? 

Peter shows respect ("Rulers of the people and alders"), but makes his first allegiance clear.

 

4. So far, Peter and John had done nothing wrong, and the Sanhedrin couldn’t deny the miracle, so at this point they could only issue a command and a warning (see 4:13-18). How did Peter respond (see 4:19-20)?

They refused to obey the command, asking their judges to listen to God. He spoke of the compulsion to witness to the truth.

5. What principles for Christian behavior before authorities do Peter and John exemplify (see 4:5-13,18-20; 5:29-32)?
Respect for the position

Clarity as to the work and will of God

Priority of witness to the truth

Boldness

Obedience to civil authority

•The Christian is a citizen of a heavenly country and is only an “alien and stranger” on earth

• •But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,(Php 3:20)
• •Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. (1 Pe 2:11)
• •“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.” (Jn 18:36)

God instituted earthly authority and expects us to submit to it

• •” Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed” (Tit 3:1).
• •” Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and the praise of those who do right” (1 Pe 2:13-14).
• •“Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king” (1 Pe 2:17).”
• •“Jesus answered [Pilate], ‘You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above” (Jn 19:11)
• •He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; (Da 2:21)
• •but it is God who executes judgment,  putting down one and lifting up another. (Ps 75:7)

 

•Therefore, Christians should follow all laws of the land, unless those laws conflict with Scripture. Our first and highest allegiance is to God.

•We are to obey civil authority, both to avoid punishment and also because this is right in God’s sight.

•We should support civil authority by paying taxes (c.f. Matt 22:21)

•We are to pray for civil authorities.

•“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Ti 2:1-2). 

 

•Every human government is accountable to God to rule justly and wisely. When the government fails to do this, then it is the task of the church to call the state to task and tell the state to repent and do what God commands it to do.

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Christians should not fear entering politics. 

 

•The Christian may bring the evil deeds of criminals to the attention of civil authorities.

•Paul reported to the Roman commander the plot of more than forty Jews against his life (Acts 22:12-35).

•We have the right to exercise the privileges of citizenship in an earthly nation

• •” Paul said to them, ‘They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out.” (Acts 16:37).
• •“Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, ‘Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?’” (Acts 22:25). 

 

•We disobey when obedience to authority would mean disobeying the clear Word and will of God, our ultimate Authority.

• •The Hebrew midwives (Ex 1:17-21)
• •Moses’ parents (Heb 11:23)
• •Obadiah (1 Ki 18:4-16)
• •Esther (Est 4:16)
• •Shadrach Meshach and Abednego (Da 3:1-18)
• •Daniel (Da 6:10)
• •The wise men (Mt 2:12)
• •Peter and John (Ac 4:19-20)
• •The apostles (Ac 5:29)

 

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