Text: Acts 4:23-31
Introduction: Peter and John return to the company of disciples after their arrest and release, report to them, and they join in united prayer.
I. God is creator; He made heaven and earth.
A. Genesis 1:1, In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
B. Nehemiah 9:6, Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
C. Psalm 33:6, By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
D. Acts 14:15, . . . the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.
E. Hebrews 11:3, Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
F. "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth." Apostles' Creed
G. Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 9: What is the work of creation? Answer: The work of creation is, God's making all things of nothing, by the word of His power, in the space of six days, and all very good.
A. Genesis 1:1, In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
B. Nehemiah 9:6, Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
C. Psalm 33:6, By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
D. Acts 14:15, . . . the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein.
E. Hebrews 11:3, Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
F. "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth." Apostles' Creed
G. Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 9: What is the work of creation? Answer: The work of creation is, God's making all things of nothing, by the word of His power, in the space of six days, and all very good.
II. God speaks; He interpreted these things through David in the Second Psalm.
A. The nations rage.
B. The people imagine vain things.
C. Kings and rulers unite against the Lord and His Christ.
D. Luke 23:12, And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
E. "Psalm 2 reveals the utter foolishness of the nations in plotting against God, for all their efforts are in vain. The kingdom of God's Son shall last forever." Simon Kistemacher
A. The nations rage.
B. The people imagine vain things.
C. Kings and rulers unite against the Lord and His Christ.
D. Luke 23:12, And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
E. "Psalm 2 reveals the utter foolishness of the nations in plotting against God, for all their efforts are in vain. The kingdom of God's Son shall last forever." Simon Kistemacher
III. God establishes His Son; He anointed Jesus as Lord and Christ.
A. Psalm 45:7, Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
B. Isaiah 61:1, The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.
C. Acts 2:36, Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
A. Psalm 45:7, Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
B. Isaiah 61:1, The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.
C. Acts 2:36, Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
IV. God is sovereign; He determined these things and all things.
A. Deuteronomy 4:39, Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
B. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12, Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
C. Psalm 93:1, The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
D. Psalm 135:6, Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
E. "God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass." Westminster Confession of Faith III.1
A. Deuteronomy 4:39, Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
B. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12, Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
C. Psalm 93:1, The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
D. Psalm 135:6, Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
E. "God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass." Westminster Confession of Faith III.1
V. The disciples' request.
A. Behold the threatenings. "It is a comfort to us that if we be unjustly threatened, and bear it patiently, we may make ourselves easy by spreading the case before the Lord, and leaving it with Him." Matthew Henry
B. Grant that the disciples can speak the word with all boldness.
C. Ephesians 6:20, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
D. Colossians 4:4, That I may make it manifest (clear, NASB), as I ought to speak.
A. Behold the threatenings. "It is a comfort to us that if we be unjustly threatened, and bear it patiently, we may make ourselves easy by spreading the case before the Lord, and leaving it with Him." Matthew Henry
B. Grant that the disciples can speak the word with all boldness.
C. Ephesians 6:20, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
D. Colossians 4:4, That I may make it manifest (clear, NASB), as I ought to speak.
VI. The answer.
A. The place was shaken.
B. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
C. They spoke the word of God with boldness--parresia, from pas, all, and rhesis, speech; freedom of speech, unreservedness of utterance, confidence, clarity, plainness.
A. The place was shaken.
B. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
C. They spoke the word of God with boldness--parresia, from pas, all, and rhesis, speech; freedom of speech, unreservedness of utterance, confidence, clarity, plainness.
"The request of the whole church is, that the disciples might not be intimidated by the menaces of the Sanhedrin; but go on to declare the word with all freedom of expression, with all boldness, courage, and intrepidity of mind, and all openness and faithfulness, and in the most public manner. And such a petition shows, that as it is gift of God to speak His word, or preach His Gospel, so it also is, to speak it freely, boldly, and faithfully, as it should be spoken." John Gill
"The opposition of the world is often a very great blessing to the Church. If it be met by holy boldness, it is sure to yield a glorious triumph to the servants of God. It becomes an incentive to greater zeal. Now that the foeman is determined to conquer, the Church will be resolved to hold its own. Pressure from without drives the members of the Church together, and so promotes holy love, and when love and zeal come together, then there is such a blessed unity of action, and such a power in every effort that great success must follow. Woe unto the world when it persecutes the Church, for it kicks with its foot against the pricks; it stirs up a nest of hornets about its own ears; yea, it provokes the Lion of the tribe of Judah to spring upon His enemies. Our text celebrates the release of Peter and John and the confusion of the priests and scribes. Every persecution shall yield psalms of victory to the people of God. There is one sweet result which always flows from the opposition of the world, namely, that it draws true disciples nearer to their Master." Charles Spurgeon
"Observe, [1.] Those that are sent on God's errands ought to deliver their message with boldness, with all boldness, with all liberty of speech, not shunning to declare the whole counsel of God, whoever is offended; not doubting of what they say, nor of being borne out in saying it. [2.] God is to be sought unto for an ability to speak His word with boldness, and those that desire divine aids and encouragements may depend upon them, and ought to go forth and go on in the strength of the Lord God. [3.] The threatenings of our enemies, that are designed to weaken our hands and drive us off from our work, should rather stir us up to so much the more courage and resolution in our work." Matthew Henry
"'Our God is in Heaven; He does whatever pleases Him!' Psalm 115:3 There is no attribute of God more comforting to His children, than the doctrine of Divine Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe troubles--they believe that Sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children of God ought more earnestly to contend, than the dominion of their Master over all of His creation, the kingship of God over all the works of His own hands, the throne of God, and His right to sit upon that throne! On the other hand, there is no doctrine more hated by worldlings, no truth of which they have made such a theological football to kick back and forth--as the great, stupendous, but yet most certain doctrine of the Sovereignty of the infinite Jehovah! Men will allow God to be everywhere, except on His throne! 'The LORD does whatever pleases Him--in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths!' Psalm 135:6 'Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns!' Revelation 19:6" Charles Spurgeon