Acts 4;1-12: Whose Authority

This chapter highlights the first incident of persecution against the believers of Jesus. There are a couple things of note and they lead to one application for me.

First, verse 2 states what the persecution was initially about. Starting at the end of verse 1 this passage says, “. . . the priests and the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees, came upon them [Peter and John] being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” Those leaders in the temple were upset because these uneducated, untrained men were teaching (vs. 13) AND because they were proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. They also didn’t appreciate these common men doing miracles (healing the lame man in Acts 3). They really didn’t want to bring attention to the resurrection of Jesus – especially the Sadducees – because that would just fuel the idea of the resurrection and they didn’t believe in resurrection or miracles of any kind.

When the disciples were put on trial the next day, possibly after the Sanhedrin (the judging body of men) had a chance to discuss how they were going to accuse and prosecute Peter and John, they inquired only one aspect of what had upset them: “. . . By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” (vs. 7) The apostles knew they were talking about healing the lame man, so Peter responded by telling them all about whose name they were trusting in: “let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead – by this name this man stands here before you in good health.” He fully gives all the credit to Jesus. Just as Peter preached the gospel focusing on Jesus and His resurrection, that should be the focus of our gospel messages as we share Christ with those who don’t know Him.

Also, stemming from that, I had the thought (and some discussion with my Bible study partner, Kris) that we need to make sure we are not glorifying the Holy Spirit first. Some of our songs say things like, “Holy Spirit we welcome you . . .” I feel we should be asking Jesus to send His Holy Spirit to us as we may have need. I’ve heard many people (including some pastors) pray to the Holy Spirit asking the Holy Spirit to “fill us” when the focus should be on praying to Jesus and the Father, and He will send His Holy Spirit to be our Helper in whatever way we need help. The Holy Spirit only acts at Jesus’ and the Father’s commands. We need to make sure our focus is on glorifying and praying to Jesus as we keep Him the focus of our lives and ministries.

I was challenged by these concepts to observe and adjust how I share Christ with others and how I should be praying for Jesus to send His Holy Spirit to meet my needs. If you want to get an idea of how to share the gospel message with someone, study the sermons of Peter in the first 11 or 12 chapters of Acts. A good example is found in Acts 4:8-12.

Where Does Power Come From: Acts 3:1-11

Acts 3:1-11 is the telling of an incident in the life of Peter and John, and of a lame man. Basically, there was this man, lame since birth, sitting near the temple in Jerusalem begging for alms. This was his regular spot and the people going in and out of the temple recognized him as they passed that way. One day, the lame man turned his attention on Peter and John asking for alms as they passed by. Peter and John were not men of wealth – not even earning enough to give some away to this man. So what did Peter and John do? What would I have done?

What Peter did was recorded in verses 6-7: “But Peter said, ‘I do not possess sliver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene – walk!’ And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.” Peter provided healing from Jesus. He could have used this as an opportunity to promote himself and/or John, but he didn’t. It put all the focus on the true source of power: Jesus Christ the Nazarene. The man and the people nearby all had heard of this man, Jesus Christ the Nazarene. By this time they had probably heard the rumors and observations of Jesus’ teachings, death, burial, and resurrection.

The people who saw the man walking and leaping and praising God were “filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” (Verse 10) The man kept walking with Peter and John into the temple where even more people saw him and were amazed. In fact a crowd began to form. This healing, through Jesus’ power and working through the Holy Spirit, opened up another opportunity for Peter to preach a message to the gathered people. That’s what the rest of Acts 3 is: Peter’s second sermon in Jerusalem.

However, what I want to think about is where Peter’s and John’s healing power came from and what the purpose of the healing was. The power was a continuation of Jesus’ power and a continuation of the healings Jesus had performed during His ministry on earth. It was still Jesus doing the healing. It’s still Jesus today who gives us the power to heal and grow and mature. And the purpose of the healing? To provide a platform, an opportunity, for Peter and John to share more about Jesus. Today the purpose in healing –whether physical, emotional, or spiritual – is so the message and power of Christ might be shared and create a platform for witnessing of Jesus Christ the Nazarene.

I find it hard to see the power of Jesus working in my life through the Holy Spirit. Yet, I know it to be truth. And I know I often fail to take the opportunities God provides for me to proclaim the power of Jesus in my own life situations. I don’t believe I’m alone in my struggles in this area. And, I don’t have any solutions to it, either. However, reading about the apostles and the lame man, encourages me to proclaim Christ’s power whenever I am given the platform to do so. I can only imagine what my life would be like without His power in my life . . . I’d probably be dead and long buried. That possibility is enough to focus others’ attention on the true source of power.