#1553 Acts 4 Part 2 A Holy Confidence

 

13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and comprehended that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15 But when they had ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy sign has happened through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But lest it spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.” 18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to hear you rather than God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this sign of healing had occurred.

23 So when they were released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Master, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,

‘Why did the Gentiles rage,

And the peoples devise vain things?

26 The kings of the earth took their stand,

And the rulers were gathered together

Against the Lord and against His Christ.’

27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. 29 And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your word with all confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders happen through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed earnestly, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with confidence. Acts 4: 13-31 LSB

Acts 4: 13-31 

V. 13 Comprehended that they were uneducated and ordinary men - I have said this a lot at work, the degree doesn't really matter if you don't know what you are doing. It's just a piece of paper if you don't know how to apply it. Your title doesn't make what you are saying true; it has to be true before you say it. If you went to a school that taught you wrong, well then you have a piece of paper that represents that. What if you were a Jew brought up in the traditions of the Pharisees, or like these priest, brought up in the traditions of the Sadducees, teaching that there is no resurrection, and then Jesus raises someone from the dead. Now you have His two followers performing miracles and teaching Christ, Whom you crucified, from the Old Testament? Well, you have a choice, either you accept what the Bible says about Him and was proven and fulfilled by Him, and denounce almost all your traditions, setting you back to zero. Or, you look at these unlearned men and make that the thing of most significance. They don't have a degree from the Harvard school of Sadducee. They have funny accents and are not part of your circles. These men don't have reserved seats at the table of the intellectuals. Pride is a funny thing, people would rather scream that they are right than have to dismount their high horse in order to actually be right. They are content to scoff at the true while calling themselves truth seekers.  

Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men - While I have nothing against attending seminary, it has always amazed me that many of the men God has greatly used never had any formal training (e.g., C H Spurgeon, A W Tozer, etc). Peter and John were the antithesis of hesitancy or equivocation. Despite the danger they refused to disguise their doctrine! May their tribe increase! Amen!

The question arises as to how they knew they were uneducated and untrained? Their Galilean accent? Their attire? The fact that they don't mention the rabbinical "seminary" they attended? We cannot say for sure, but we can say their assessment was correct. As Paul would later write

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh (LIKE THESE "WISE" SANHEDRINISTS), not many mighty, not many noble (LIKE THESE ARISTOCRATIC, RICH SADDUCEES); 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. (1 Cor 1:26-29) - Precept Austin

V. 14 They had nothing to say in reply - Peter preached and taught as instructed by his Master, Jesus, and with the power of being filled by the Spirit. They were taken back by this because these were not the type of men they would choose, but their forefathers had also persecuted the prophets that came before them. Peter takes them back to the OT, handles it with authority, and though they may want to say something, what could they possibly say, the lame man is standing there whole with them. They have already attested that it is by the power and name of Jesus that this man has been healed, so what do you say to that?

V. 16 We cannot deny it - The miracle was evident, and that is always the easiest route, if no one else saw it, to deny it happened, but this was undeniable, not easily hidden. Note though, they are still denying the power behind it, what it actually means, and I see people do this often now. As I have been going through the Bible it is amazing to see how many so called theologians approach it all as non literal, or except only certain parts, like the Sadducees did. I remember reading about people contesting the book of Isaiah on the grounds that it was too descriptive of a historical person that didn't live till 700 after the time of it's claim. They found evidence to support their theory in that most of the oldest copies they had were first century, around the time of Jesus, but then they found copies that predated Jesus by 200 years. It's strange, you knew Who Isaiah was referring to quite plainly, and too clearly to be that old, that would be prophetic, and so you stamp it with a more recent date until you find copies that are undeniably older. Does this cause them to believe now that the evidence is clear? No, it does not. During the time of Roe vs. Wade people would act like there was room in the debate due to uncertainty about when life began. That is the uncertainty of convenience, "how do we know it's alive, how do we know it's human, or when it's viable?" Well, science now shows unequivocally that life begins at conception, and at this time information (DNA) from two different people is combined to form an individual. So now that everyone knows the truth we stop killing babies, right? Wrong again, some people still think it's not human till it comes out of the womb, that magical door into Narnia, and others, who know the baby is human would be willing to entertain a question outside of the womb. Everyone makes up their own line based upon their own feelings, their narcissistic desire to play God. Some think it compassionate to kill the child because he or she was the product of rape, though not the perpetrator. I have heard others make the sentient argument, when the baby is certain to be aware of itself, can feel. I have seen horrifying videos of abortion, showing that the baby can feel, but this doesn't stop bully. God literally has to open men and women's eyes and change their hearts. 

…9Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” 10And after looking around at all of them, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and it was restored. 11But the scribes and Pharisees were filled with rage and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.… Luke 6: 9-11

…14So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves. 15For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.…

…17And you will be hated by everyone because of My name. 18Yet not even a hair of your head will perish. 19By your patient endurance you will gain your souls.… Luke 21: 14-19

Vs. 17-18 Lest it spread any further among the people - Let's put a stop to this Christianity thing. Spoiler alert, their plan didn't work, because this was from God, and it is Christ Who builds His church. Being filled with the spirit gives these men boldness, and they are not false professors, as they are willing to take this gospel all the way to their death. James is killed by the sword, Peter is hung upside down on a cross, and John is tortured in some of the most extreme ways, but nothing happens to them until it's their time. They fulfill their mission by the grace of God, the gospel goes out, and you can tell them to be quiet all you want, but it's not going to happen, you aren't that important, you aren't God. This would be the cruelest knowledge to hold up in one's self and not share with dying men. 

…11I raised up prophets from your sons and Nazirites from your young men. Is this not true, O children of Israel?” declares the LORD. 12“But you made the Nazirites drink wine and commanded the prophets not to prophesy. 13Behold, I am about to crush you in your place as with a cart full of grain.… Amos 2: 11-13

…7Egypt’s help is futile and empty; therefore I have called her Rahab Who Sits Still. 8Go now, write it on a tablet in their presence and inscribe it on a scroll; it will be for the days to come, a witness forever and ever. 9These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction.…

…10They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. 11Get out of the way; turn off the road. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!” 12Therefore this is what the Holy One of Israel says: “Because you have rejected this message, trusting in oppression and relying on deceit,…

…13this iniquity of yours is like a breach about to fail, a bulge in a high wall, whose collapse will come suddenly—in an instant! 14It will break in pieces like a potter’s jar, shattered so that no fragment can be found. Not a shard will be found in the dust large enough to scoop the coals from a hearth or to skim the water from a cistern.” 15For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “By repentance and rest you would be saved; your strength would lie in quiet confidence—but you were not willing.”… Isaiah 30: 7-15

Vs. 19-20 To hear you rather than God - You are supposed to be the religious leaders. You have witnessed a healing that no man can do, and we have attributed it to Jesus, the Messiah, Whom you killed. Tell us, who should we listen to, you or God? As Christians we are to obey those in rule over us so far as it does not go against God Who rules over all things. I can't steal in the name of Jesus, being a Christian doesn't get me out of paying taxes, but when they say not to worship Christ, not to tell others about Him, well, I will obey God rather than man. 

…15Now, if you are ready, as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the statue I have made. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?” 16Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king.…18But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

 Daniel 3: 15-18

…16“When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them on the birthstools. If the child is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live.” 17The midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had instructed; they let the boys live. 18So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”… Exodus 1: 16-18

…7All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions. 8Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed— in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” 9Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.…

10Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 12So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?” The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.”… Daniel 6: 7-12

Vs. 21-22 - And when they had threatened them further - How blind, you have no basis to charge them, so no basis to threaten, yet you persist. What was their crime? Healing a man and talking about Jesus, Who these members of the Sanhedrin unjustly put to death. Despite this people were praising God. There will come a day when the false shepherds are permanently silenced, when they have no more effect on the masses. 

Vs. 23-26 Against the Lord and against His Christ - They are seeing the OT prophecies of the Psalmist fulfilled before them. They are aware that they are walking through prerecorded history, of that which was declared from eternity, predestined by God and written down by His prophets through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

1Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:… Psalm 2: 1-2

As MacArthur says "God is the supreme Historian Who wrote all history before it ever began. Having done their worst, they merely succeeded in fulfilling God's eternal plan (cf. Acts 2:23). As the psalmist expressed it, "The wrath of man shall praise Thee" (Ps. 76:10). (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Acts)

Bob Utley - Even before creation God had His plan of redemption (cf. Matt. 25:34; John 17:24; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:20; Rev. 13:8; Acts 2:13; 3:18; 13:29). These enemies of Christ only performed that which God wanted them to perform. Jesus came to die (cf. Mark 10:45)

Predestined (4309)(proorizo from pró = before + horízo = determine boundary or limit<> English word horizon - God's boundary between heaven and earth) literally means to designate before, to mark out beforehand, to set the the limits or boundaries in advance of any place or thing. When used of persons, proorizo means to put limitations upon that person thus conveys the idea of to determine his destiny. Though proorizo meant simply to plan in advance, in the New Testament it attracted a special meaning. Here the idea is a divine decree of God, whereby He determined in advance that something should happen. - Precept Austin

Vs. 27-31 That Your slaves may speak Your word with all confidence - They do not shrink from terms like we do today. They are proud to be called slaves of Christ, and there is a deep reverence here, for a slave does not do according to his own mind or whims, but is under the strictest orders to only say what his Master has said, and only do what his Master tells him to. If only. Look too, this is a prayer, and it is met with more filling of the Spirit, which translates into more boldness in preaching the gospel that men so desperately need. 

…12Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.… John 14: 12-14