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David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Guzik comments that "In the Western world, Christians rarely face persecution. Satan instead has attacked us with worldliness, selfish pride, a need for acceptance, and status. The martyr can impress unbelievers with his courage and faith; the self-centered, compromising Christian is despised by the world." And Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander - Annas (official high priest from 6-15 AD until Romans replaced him with his son Jonathan and then with son-in-law Caiaphas) is referred to as "high priest" but in fact Caiaphas was the high priest. Annas bore the title just as do former presidents in America. Annas unlike former presidents was still the major power broker behind the scenes. The identity of John and Alexander is uncertain, but some feel they were sons of Annas who had five sons.
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Guzik says "If someone wishes to believe that all are saved or that there are many roads to heaven or that one can take the best of all faiths and blend them into one; fine. Believe so and bear the consequences; but please do not claim this is the teaching of the Bible." F F Bruce -- If the rulers persisted in their repudiation of Jesus, no such deliverance could be hoped for from any other quarter or by the power of any other name . . . The course of duty and wisdom for the rulers was therefore clear; if they refused it and persisted in their present attitude, they would involve their nation as well as themselves in destruction. John MacArthur aptly sums up this great passage writing "The exclusivism of Christianity goes against the grain of our religiously pluralistic society. A chapel built at the North Pole in February 1959 by the men of Operation Deep Freeze 4 typifies the prevalent attitude today toward religious belief. The structure contained an altar, over which was hung a picture of Jesus, a crucifix, a star of David, and a lotus leaf (representing the Buddha). On the wall of the chapel was an inscription that read "Now it can be said that the earth turns on the point of faith."Christians preach an exclusive Christ in an inclusive age. Because of that, we are often accused of being narrow-minded, even intolerant. Many paths, it is said, lead to the top of the mountain of religious enlightenment. How dare we insist that ours is the only one? In reality, however, there are only two religious paths: the broad way of works salvation leading to destruction, and the narrow way of faith in the only Savior leading to eternal life (Matt. 7:13-14+). Religious people are on either one or the other. Sadly, the Sanhedrin and all who followed them were on the broad road to hell." (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Acts) Of course the exclusivity of Acts 4:12 always raises questions - what about infants who die? what about the native who never heard the Name?, what about OT people who never heard the Name of Jesus?, etc See the resources below. Related Resources: What happens to babies and young children when they die? What does the Bible say about the evangelization of children? Do the souls of aborted babies go to heaven? What happens to those who have never heard about Jesus? Can a person be saved through general revelation? How were people saved before Jesus died for our sins? Ian Paisley - The Where Gospel "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:10 Wherein "Neither is there salvation in any other" Salvation is in Christ and Christ alone. It is not in the church, in the sacraments, in good works nor in the creed. It is in the living Person of the Son of God alone. Wherefore "for there is none other name under heaven given among men" Wherefore? 1. Because there is none other name. Jesus means Saviour. 2. Because under heaven you will find none other. 3. Because none other is given. He is the only Saviour. Whereby "we must be saved" Salvation is not only in Christ but by Christ. He is not only the Life but He is the way to Life. If you are not saved in Him through Him and by Him you will be forever lost. (A Text a Day Keeps the Devil Away) Josh McClellan: Are there really many roads to God – the question of religious pluralism -- Commonly asked questions: 1) What if someone is sincere in their belief? Would God really send them to hell? 2) Isn’t it arrogant for one group to claim that they have the right answer? 3) Is there anything right in other religions? 4) If only one religion is right, why are there so many religions? 5) What about all of the people who never did or never will hear about Jesus? http://joshmcclellan.wordpress.com/2009/01/03/are-there-really-many-roads-to-god-thequestion-of-religious-pluralism/ Paul Apple has examples of well known individuals who were confronted with questions about the exclusivity of the Gospel... Exclusivity of the Gospel -- Look at waffling statements regarding that exclusivity – 1) Larry King interview with Joel Osteen: KING: But don’t you think if people don’t believe as you believe, they’re somehow condemned? OSTEEN: You know, I think that happens in our society. But I try not to do that. I tell people all the time, preached a couple Sundays about it. I’m for everybody. You may not agree with me, but to me it’s not my job to try to straighten everybody out. The Gospel is called the good news. My message is a message of hope, that’s God’s [message] for you. You can live a good life no matter what’s happened to you. And so I don’t know. I know there is condemnation, but I don’t feel that’s my place. . . . . [Later in the interview] KING: What if you’re Jewish or Muslim, you don’t accept Christ at all? OSTEEN: You know, I’m very careful about saying who would and wouldn’t go to heaven. I don’t know . . . KING: If you believe you have to believe in Christ? They’re wrong, aren’t they? OSTEEN: Well, I don’t know if I believe they’re wrong. I believe here’s what the Bible teaches and from the Christian faith this is what I believe. But I just think that only God will judge a person’s heart. I spent a lot of time in India with my father. I don’t know all about their religion. But I know they love God. And I don’t know. I’ve seen their sincerity. So I don’t know. I know for me, and what the Bible teaches, I want to have a relationship with Jesus. 2) President George W. Bush – interviewed by prominent news anchor: News Anchor: Do Christians and non-Christians, do Muslims go to heaven in your mind? Bush: Yes they do. We have different routes of getting there. . . I don’t get to decide who goes to heaven . . . 3) President Obama: President Obama’s brand of Christianity leaves enough leeway to cause confusion and concern among evangelicals. “My particular set of beliefs may not be perfectly consistent with the beliefs of other Christians,” Obama told Newsweek. “There’s the belief, certainly in some quarters, that if people haven’t embraced Jesus Christ as their personal savior, they’re going to hell.” In a discussion with Franklin Graham, Mr. Obama explained, “I do not believe that my mother, who never formally embraced Christianity as far as I know, went to hell.” http://www.standingforgod.com ONLY ONE WAY - Many people react negatively to the claim that salvation is found in Christ alone ("There is salvation in no one else!"). "How narrow-minded, exclusive, and arrogant!" is the common charge leveled against Christianity. But two facts are worth remembering: First, this is not something the church arbitrarily decided; it is the specific teaching of Jesus himself (John 14:6). Second, rather than reacting to the phrase, "in no one else," people would be better served to focus on the wonderful promise, "There is salvation." That is the good news of the gospel! God has provided a way for sinners to be forgiven and granted entrance into eternal life! To be sure, it is a narrow way (Luke 13:24), but it is a way nonetheless. If your cruise ship is sinking, it is foolish to remain on deck criticizing the emergency evacuation plan. The wiser course of action is to take a seat in the nearest lifeboat! (Life Application Bible Commentary – Acts) Paul Apple - Tactics of the Enemy: 1) Threatening the Preachers -- example of Peter and John we will study today 2) Killing the Missionaries Karen Watson was one of our young missionaries to Iraq. On March 15, 2004, she was killed by unknown assailants. Later an envelope was found that said, “Open in case of death.” Inside was a letter that said in part: “Dear Pastor Phil and Pastor Roger, You should only be opening this in the event of death. When God calls there are no regrets. I tried to share my heart with you as much as possible, my heart for the nations. I wasn’t called to a place; I was called to Him. To obey was my objective, to suffer was expected, His glory my reward,. . .The missionary heart: Cares more than some think is wise; Risks more that some think is safe; Dreams more than some think is practical; Expects more than some think is possible. I was called not to comfort or to success but to obedience. ...There is no Joy outside of knowing Jesus and serving Him. I love you two and my church family. In His care, Salaam, Karen.” 3) Burning the Bibles a. We are familiar with the fact that the English Reformer William Tyndale was burned at the stake for his labours in seeking to provide a faithful translation of the Scriptures in the English language. In fact, Rome persecuted the translation and circulation of the Scriptures in all the countries of the European Reformation. The persecution was particularly fierce, however, in England and Scotland. The threat of being put to death as a heretic did not extend merely to translating the Scriptures into the English language, but also even to reading or possessing such a translation or any part of it. As Tyndale translated and published portions of Scripture in English it was eagerly taken up and read. Although many thousands of copies of Tyndale's translation were printed, so fierce was the persecution that only one complete copy of the first edition has survived the systematic destruction ordered by the Romanist clerics. Tyndale knew that the Roman Catholic authorities would go far beyond destroying the printed copies of his translation: 'In burning the New Testament, they did none other thing than I looked for; no more shall they do if they burn me also, if it be God's will it shall so be. Nevertheless in translating the New Testament I did my duty and so do I now...'. When asked about his impression of "born-again Christians," George Brown, a Presbyterian real estate seller, has this to say: I am not a born-again Christian and don't know any to my knowledge. Christians have talked with me several times but they came across sort of narrow-minded. It made me feel like they were condescending and wouldn't recognize other people's beliefs....In many ways I consider myself a Christian, just not a born-again one. I've already been born once. Why would I want to be born again? I think that too many Christians will not believe that there are other religious faiths in the world. To me that's the greatest shortcoming of the Christian church. Christians should be something we often are not: humble. D.T. Niles: "Evangelism is one beggar telling another where to find bread." An illustration from concept of law. 1) Some laws are determined by society - stop lights. 2) Other laws cannot be determined by society - law of gravity. 3) Spiritual laws are inherent, like gravity. a) God has revealed himself to us through Jesus. b) Christ's death is the only way our sins can be paid for. Out of thousands of religions in world, how can Christians say they are only way to heaven? We are not the only ones - Muslims do as well. Today’s The Day Read: Acts 4:1-14 There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. —Acts 4:12 During a television interview, a comedian was asked, “What do you intend to say when you meet your Maker?” The comedian, assuming possible rejection by God and reflecting today’s mindset, quipped, “I’ll simply ask for a second opinion!” There was a time when the opinion of an expert in any field was taken as correct and final. But today we often seek the advice of many professionals until we find the one we think is best. This has given us many valuable benefits. But when we are looking for answers about our eternal destiny, only one opinion matters. God has the final answer. In Acts 4:12, Peter boldly declared that Jesus is the only name given by God through which we can be saved. We stand condemned before a just and holy God because of our sin. But the good news is that His love has found a way to save us. He sent His Son Jesus Christ to take our place of punishment. We need only to acknowledge our sinfulness, ask for His forgiveness, and trust Him to save us. There’s simply no other way to heaven than through Jesus and His sacrificial death on the cross. What will you say when you meet your Maker? If you’re unsure, settle it now—for it will be too late then. It's foolish to say "tomorrow" when God says "today." The Only One Who Saves Read: Acts 4:1-12 Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. —Romans 10:13 A book in my library describes a marshal in Napoleon’s army who was completely devoted to the emperor. One day the marshal was mortally wounded in battle. As he lay dying in his tent, he called for Napoleon, who soon came. The officer thought the emperor could save his life. But Napoleon just shook his head and turned away. The book describes the tragic scene: “As the dying man felt the cold, merciless hand of death drawing him irresistibly behind the curtain of the unseen world, he was still heard to shriek out, ‘Save me, Napoleon! Save me!'” In the hour of death, that soldier discovered that even Napoleon could not rescue him. Similarly, when a person seeks deliverance from spiritual death, he finds that no human being has the power to save—no minister of the gospel, no priest, not even those who are great prayer warriors. Only Jesus can save a soul. The Bible says, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Have you asked Jesus to save you? If not, do it now! He always answers those who plead for His mercy and put their trust in Him. He is the only One who saves. There is no other name on earth By whom salvation's given Save Jesus Christ the Lamb of God, God's precious gift from heaven. —Stairs Christ believed is salvation received. Supermarket Religion Read: Acts 4:5-12 There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. —Acts 4:12 It’s amazing how many brands of breakfast cereal are offered by a typical American supermarket. And regardless of the countless ads that extol the virtues of one cereal over another, most brands are comparably nutritious and hunger-satisfying. Is the salvation of our souls like that? In the supermarket of religions, aren’t all beliefs and dogmas spiritually nourishing and true? Absolutely not! But that’s the common conclusion of many people—including some so-called Bible scholars. One theologian who clings to such a radically wrong view of Scripture wrote, “If ‘saved’ means being united and reconciled with God, then Acts 4:12 is palpably false. There are many authentic roads to God, and no religion holds the franchise for illumination.” The writer’s insistence is an outright denial of God’s Word, which tells us that Christ’s sacrifice for sin is the only way we can gain a right relationship with God. Salvation is available through faith in Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:6), and it is absolutely free to anyone who accepts it by faith. Finding spiritual truth is not like shopping for cereal. There’s only one right choice. Make sure you, and those around you, know the difference. Sincerity is no substitute for truth. Mention the Name Read: Acts 4:5-20 I am in the Father, and . . . the Father is in me. John 14:10 A church group invited a speaker to address their meeting. “Talk about God,” the group leader told him, “but leave out Jesus.” “Why?” the man asked, taken aback. “Well,” the leader explained, “some of our prominent members feel uncomfortable with Jesus. Just use God and we’ll be fine.” Accepting such instructions, however, was a problem for the speaker who said later, “Without Jesus, I have no message.” Something similar was asked of followers of Jesus in the days of the early church. Local religious leaders conferred together to warn the disciples not to speak about Jesus (Acts 4:17). But the disciples knew better. “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard,” they said (v. 20). To claim to believe in God and not in His Son Jesus Christ is a contradiction in terms. In John 10:30, Jesus clearly describes the unique relationship between Himself and God: “I and the Father are one”—thus establishing His deity. That is why He could say, “You believe in God; believe also in me” (John 14:1). Paul knew that Jesus is the very nature of God and equal with God (Phil. 2:6). We need not shy away from the name Jesus, for “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus, You are God. Thank You for showing Yourself to us in the Bible and in our lives. You have done so much for us. Help us to share with others what we know of You and have experienced of You. The name of Jesus is at the heart of our faith and our hope. No Other Name Read: Isaiah 9:1-7 There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. —Acts 4:12 The angel announced to Joseph, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Mt. 1:21). The name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew word Joshua, which is a contraction of two words, Jehovah and Hoshea, which means “God the Savior” or “Savior God.” This is His name. This is the name which is above every name, and the name of the only One who can save us. No one can take His place or approach God without Him. We respect the names of the patriarchs of the Bible and the godly men and women of more recent history, but everyone will one day bow before Jesus (Phil. 2:9-11). Even His own mother acknowledged her need of a Savior (Lk. 1:47). Jesus alone is the mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5-6). Yes, we honor godly men and women of the Bible. And we give due respect to those who throughout history have faithfully lived for Christ and proclaimed the gospel. But we are not to worship them or pray to them. Jesus alone is the One whose name means “Savior.” He is the Son of God, of whom Isaiah proclaimed, “His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6). My heart is stirred whene'er I think of Jesus, That blessed Name which sets the captive free; The only Name through which I find salvation; No name on earth has meant so much to me. —Eliason © 1950 Alfred B. Smith For time and eternity, Jesus is all we need. A Person Is The Pathway Read: John 14:1-6 There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. —Acts 4:12 The pilot of a military plane was forced to parachute into a jungle in southeast Asia. How could he possibly find his way out? A local man saw what had happened and came to the pilot’s rescue, slashing through the tangled underbrush. The frightened pilot cried out, “Where’s the road? Where’s the way out?” The rescuer shouted back, “No road! I’m the way! Follow me!” The pilot trusted the man, who led him through the jungle to safety. Some people have a difficult time accepting similar words spoken by the Lord Jesus. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Critics call this teaching intolerant and divisive. But because the Son of God said it, and the Word of God records it, it is true no matter how much it is challenged. Faith in Jesus is the only way to eternal fellowship with God. The pathway to God is not found by following a creed, developing moral character, or attending church. It’s found by trusting Jesus to forgive our sin and reconcile us to the Father. When we open our hearts to the crucified and risen Savior, we are on the only pathway that will bring us home to God. Not all roads lead to God, As many people claim; There's only one true way— Christ Jesus is His name. —Sper No one can bypass Jesus and get to heaven. Two Ways To God? Read: John 14:1-6 I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. —John 14:6 In the marketplace of ideas, all vendors have an equal right to sell what they believe. But that doesn’t mean all their ideas are equally right. Christians proclaim that Jesus is the only way to God not because they are bigots but because they believe it is true. They take at face value His claim that He alone is the true and living way to God. Many people shrug off the claims of Jesus as the only Savior of the world by saying, “Well, that’s all fine and good, but you have your way to God and I have mine.” Jesus stood such thinking on its head when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn. 14:6). If Jesus’ claims are true, they are true for everyone. If they are false, the sooner we are proved wrong and put on the right road the better. As C. S. Lewis put it, “Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, is of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.” There are no two ways about it. Jesus doesn’t ask for our vote as the most appealing candidate for Savior of the world. He simply states His lordship of the universe and demands our allegiance. Does He have yours? THINKING IT OVER What did Peter say about Jesus in Acts 4:12? What did John the Baptist say about Jesus? (Jn. 1:29). What did Jesus say about Himself? (Jn. 14:6). Christ is the only door into heaven. Running For Nothing Read: Romans 4:4-17 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. —Acts 4:12 As my friend Roger Weber started the 2006 Chicago Marathon, he noticed something on the ground. It was a runner’s chip—the device each runner puts on his or her shoe to record progress at various timing stations during the race. Apparently, one poor runner would be traversing the next 26.2 miles on foot with nothing to show for it. Officially, that runner did not run the race. There would be no record of his participation. Even if he had finished the race in record time, it wouldn’t have mattered. The folks who organize the race set the rules, and no matter how well someone runs, if the officials say the runner doesn’t qualify, that’s the way it is. In one sense, that’s also the way it is with all of us. We can run what appears to be a good race by doing good things for others and obeying lots of rules. But when we arrive at the final checkpoint—heaven—and haven’t made sure our name is recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life by putting our faith in Jesus as our Savior, we’re disqualified to enter. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Are you trusting in Jesus? If not, you’re running for nothing. It’s not what I achieve that qualifies, It matters not if I gain wealth or fame; The only thing I must be certain of Is “Have I put my trust in Jesus’ name?” —Hess If we could earn our salvation, Christ would not have died to provide it. Nowhere Tickets Read: John 14:1-6 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. —Acts 4:12 We kept getting tickets to nowhere. We had finished a missions trip to Jamaica and were trying to get home. However, our airline was having problems, and no matter what our tickets said, we couldn’t leave Montego Bay. Over and over we heard, “Your flight has been canceled.” Even though we had purchased our tickets in good faith, the airline could not back up its promise to transport us to the US. We had to stay an extra day before boarding a plane that could take us home. Imagine thinking that you are headed for heaven, but discovering that your ticket is no good. It can happen. If you trust the wrong plan, you will get to the gate of eternity but be denied entrance into heaven to live with God forever. The apostle Peter said there is salvation in no one else but Jesus (Acts 4:12). Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). The only ticket to heaven goes to those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ and His death on the cross as payment for their sin. Some offer other ways. But those tickets are worthless. To make sure you’re going to heaven, trust Jesus. He’s the only way. Lord, I know I’m a sinner and cannot save myself. I need You as my Savior. Thank You for dying in my place and rising again. I believe in You. Please forgive my sin. I want to live with You in heaven someday. Jesus took my place on the cross and gave me a place in heaven. The Wrong Stuff Read: John 14:1-6 There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. —Acts 4:12 It was a simple task, but I was in over my head. One of the items on the grocery list was soy. Problem was, I didn’t know what kind of soy my wife, Sue, had in mind when she made the list. After searching the aisles and asking the advice of a worker who was stacking soup cans, I grabbed a bottle of soy sauce, placed it in the cart, and went on my way. Only after I unloaded my bags at home did I discover that Sue didn’t want soy sauce. She wanted soy milk for our granddaughter Eliana. I was sincere in my search. I even asked for help and confidently pulled my selection off the shelf. But it didn’t do me (or Eliana) any good. I had the wrong stuff. Sadly, some people are walking through the grocery store of life with “heaven” on their list, but they are not getting what they need. Despite their sincerity and the intended help of others, they grab something that won’t get them to heaven because they find a “different gospel” (2 Cor. 11:4). Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). And Peter said, “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Trust Jesus. Don’t settle for the wrong gospel. Not all roads lead to God, As many people claim; There’s only one true way— Christ Jesus is His name. —Sper Christ is the only door into heaven. Straight To Heaven Read: John 3:1-8 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name . . . by which we must be saved. —Acts 4:12 An old spiritual warns, “Everybody talkin’ ’bout heaven ain’t goin’ there.” Since heaven is God’s dwelling place where His presence and glory are manifested in all their splendor, He has the sovereign right to determine who will be admitted and under what conditions. Any other beliefs about the how and why of admission into heaven are sadly mistaken. Take, for example, the confidence expressed by a well-known actress. Questioned about her faith, she replied, “I pray. I read the Bible. It’s the most beautiful book ever written. I should go to heaven; otherwise it’s not nice. I haven’t done anything wrong. My conscience is very clean. My soul is as white as those orchids over there, and I should go straight, straight to heaven.” God alone determines who goes straight to heaven. In the Bible, God’s holy Word, He tells us that only those who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior will be admitted. The apostle Peter said, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Self-judgment regarding the purity of one’s soul and one’s heaven-deserving character is not the criterion. Only God’s Word gives us the standard for admission. I must needs go home by the way of the cross, There’s no other way but this; I shall ne’er get sight of the gates of light, If the way of the cross I miss. —Pounds Christ believed is salvation received and heaven gained. None Other Name - Biblical Illustrator A few persons were collected round a blind man, who had taken his station on a bridge in the City Road, and was reading from an embossed Bible. Receiving from the passers-by of their carnal things, he was ministering to them spiritual things. A gentleman on his way home from the City was led by curiosity to the outskirts of the crowd. Just then the poor man, who was reading from Acts 4., lost his place, and, while trying to find it with his fingers, kept repeating the last clause he had read, "None other name, — None other name, — None..." Some of the people smiled at the blind man's embarrassment, but the gentleman went on his way musing. He had lately become convinced that he was a sinner, and had been trying in many ways to obtain peace of mind. But religious exercises, good resolutions, altered habits, all were ineffectual to relieve his conscience of its load, and enable him to rejoice in God. The words he had heard from the blind man, however, rang their solemn music to his soul — "None other name." When he reached his home and retired to rest, the words, like evening chimes from village towers nestling among the trees, were still heard — "None other name — None other name." And when he awoke, in more joyful measure, like matin bell saluting the morn, the strain continued, "None other name — None other name." The music entered his soul, and he awoke to new life. "I see it all; I see it all! I have been trying to be saved by my own works — my repentance, my prayers, my reformation. I see my mistake. It is Jesus who alone can save me. To Him I will look. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name — none other name — none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." A young French nobleman, a particular friend of Napoleon III., becoming unaccountably gloomy in mind, and threatened with insanity, was urged by the Emperor to apply for advice and treatment to the celebrated Dr. Forbes Winslow. He came to London, and the great doctor, after careful questioning, discovered the character of his disease. He was tormented with a thought — and the thought was "Eternity! where shall I spend it?" This haunted him day and night. Dr. Winslow told him he could not help him. He had sought in the wrong quarter for his cure. "Is there no hope, then!" exclaimed the nobleman in despair. "Yes; listen to me, and I will tell you how I was helped and healed" said Dr. Winslow. "When I was younger I had your complaint; and I tried every resource but the right one. At last I carried my case to the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer, and He gave me health and peace. Go thou, and do likewise." The nobleman was astonished, but he stayed while the doctor read to him the portions of Scripture that had been blessed to himself, and after prayer, light and comfort came to him. The new medicine had cured him. It is not long since that a prominent business man, when closely pressed by his pastor, who had lately come to the church, replied with a call force which was meant to put an end to further pertinacity: "I am interested in all religious matters; I am always glad to see the ministers when they call; but I have in the years past thought the subject over long and carefully, and I have come to the decision deliberately that I have no personal need of Jesus Christ as a Saviour in the sense you preach." Only two weeks from this interview, the same man was suddenly prostrated with disease; the illness was of such a character as to forbid his conversing with any one, and the interdict from speaking was continued until he was within an hour of death. A solemn moment was that in which a question was put to him, intimating he might talk now if he could — nothing would harm him. The last thing, and the only thing, he said was in a melancholy and frightened whisper, "Who will carry me over the river?" (C. S. Robinson, D. D.) Standing opposite Fort William, a missionary heard the Mussulmans and Chinamen saying, "There are very many gates into Fort William — there is an hospital gate, a water, gate, and others. Now, Sahib, it is just the same in regard to heaven. Chinamen get in at one gate, Mussulmans in at another, and Hindoos in at another!" "Yes," the missionary said, "that is true; but there is a sentinel at every gate, and every sentinel has the same watchword, and you cannot get into it without that watchword." There is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved, but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." "You have been a good child to your parents," said the venerable George III. to his daughter, the Princess Amelia; "we have nothing for which to reproach you; but I need not tell you that it is not of yourself alone that you can be saved, and that your acceptance with God must depend on your faith and trust in the merits of the Redeemer." "I know it," replied the dying princess, with gentle resignation, "and I could not wish for a better trust." Acts 4:13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. KJV Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. they were uneducated and untrained men Acts 2:7-12; Mt 4:18-22; 11:25; John 7:15,49; 1 Cor 1:27 they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus Mt 26:57,58,71,73; Luke 22:52-54,56-60; John 18:16,17; 19:26 Acts 4 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SPIRIT FILLED CONFIDENT SPEECH IS AMAZING A T
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Guzik - This request is consumed with God’s cause and glory, not the comfort and advancement of the disciples. They ask for things that will lead to more confrontation, not less. (Commentary) Grant - There is a sense of urgency in their use of the aorist imperative. It is not in the sense of commanding God, but "Please do it now!" is the idea. That Your bond-servants - Not "your apostles," but "your bond-servants," your "doulos," - those who recognize that they are not their own but have been bought with a price and whose purpose is to bring glory to Jesus (cf 1 Cor 6:19-20+), those who have no will of their own, but those whose will is encompassed in the will of their Master. Earlier in addressing God as despotes they had acknowledged Him as their Master, the One Who held authority and power over their lives. Bond-servants (1401)(doulos from deo = to bind) (Click additional notes on doulos) was an individual bound to another in servitude and conveys the idea of the slave's close, binding ties with his master, belonging to him, obligated to and desiring to do his will and in a permanent relation of servitude. A bond-servant is one who is surrendered wholly to another’s will and thus devoted to another to the disregard of their own personal interest. In sum, the will of the doulos is consumed in the will of the master. It is amazing that these men and women as "baby" believers readily acknowledged that they were bond-servants of God! They were saying in essence "Not our will be done, but Thine!" Oh my! What a difference it would make in our churches and our daily lives if we truly, willingly, gratefully acknowledged that we were not our own but belonged to Jesus (Titus 2:14+), as His possession (1 Pe 2:9+) having been redeemed (lutroo) and purchased (agorazo) by His precious blood (Rev 5:9+, 1 Pe 1:18-19+) off of the slave block where we were slaves to our old master Sin! May speak Your Word (see "message" = logos) with all confidence (boldness, fearlessness - see parrhesia) - Literally, the Greek text reads "with all boldness to go on speaking (present tense) Your Word." Speak (laleo) is in the present tense - they are praying for continual boldness! In context, Your Word is refers to "Your Gospel," the Good News found only in the Name of Jesus. This is fascinating -- Peter and John have exhibited amazing supernatural boldness before the intimidating semi-circle of Sanhedrin (Acts 4:13) and the church still senses the need to pray for boldness! While they are not praying for filling by the Spirit per se, there is a sense in which they are somehow praying for His Presence and power and/or their perception and possession of His enablement for boldness. What a prayer to imitate! God grant us grace to do so! Amen! Peter and John's prayer reminds us of Paul's prayer (while in prison for the "Word," the Gospel) request to the saints at Ephesus (see preceding note on Paul's prayer in Eph 6:19-20).
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Guzik - It is a snare to long to be used to do miraculous things. It is often rooted in the pride that wants everyone to see just how greatly God can use me. I should be delighted in the power of God, not because He has used me to display it.(Commentary) And signs and wonders take place through the Name of Your holy servant Jesus - The power is Jesus, His Name representing His Person, power and authority. Such radical supernatural evidence was necessary to confirm to the Jews the truth of the Gospel message which was so radically different from what they had heard all their lives in the synagogues!
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Guzik - This earthquake is recorded in Acts 4:31. Someone pointed out that the significant 1994 Northridge earthquake happened at 4:31 in the morning. This means nothing; we can regard it as simply a curious coincidence, especially because there is nothing particularly inspired about the chapter and verse divisions of modern translations. Was shaken (4531)(saleuo from salos = wave) means to cause to move to and fro, cause to waver or totter, make to rock. To shake or agitate as by winds or storms. It refers to unexpected and disastrous shaking, of what would be thought to be stable, e.g. earth or sky shake. Here in Acts 4:31 the prayer meeting was literally shaken by the power of God! Saleuo describes the effects of the earthquake that occurred while Paul and Silas were in jail at Philippi, the earthquake opening the jail cells, which in turn resulted in the jailer and his family's salvation (Acts 16:26-32+). Saleuo described a ship at anchor slipping its mooring in the midst of a heavy wind. The "seismographic" movement indicated that God was in their midst. In the OT shaking was one of the signs of a "theophany" (a "God sighting" so to speak) as shown by uses of this verb saleuo in the Septuagint renderings of Exodus 19:18 and Isa 6:4+. It is interesting that there were signs of the Spirit's presence in Acts 2:3-4+, and here again the shaking is an indication of the Spirit's presence. Of course, this is not normative, nor to be expected when we pray and/or we are filled with the Spirit. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit (See comments on filled with Spirit in Acts 4:8) - This is actually the third time for Peter! It is notable that the the effect of the filling was not to cause them to speak in other languages, but to speak boldly. As noted, being filled with the Spirit is manifest in one's speech. Of course as Jesus said out of the mouth comes that which fills the heart, so it should not surprise us if the Spirit of Jesus fills our heart, our speech is much more likely to be Christ-like and God pleasing! Can I ask you (as I look in the mirror) how's your speech been this past week? Guzik - The idea that we are “Spirit filled” only at an experience known as the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” is wrong, though there may be a wonderful and first yielding to the Spirit’s power. We must be continually filled with the Holy Spirit, and make our “immersion” in Him a constant experience. Filled (4092)(pimplemi from the obsolete pláō = to fill) to fill, to make full, to complete. The passive voice is "divine passive," indicating the filling is not from themselves but from God, His Spirit. And remember that they are not getting more of the Spirit. He is getting more of them (so to speak). And to be filled with the Spirit, is to be controlled by His supernatural power. They (and we) did not just need a little "help" (implying they could get the spiritual ball rolling, so to speak) but they (like we) need His enablement, His desire and power (Php 2:13+), to work out their salvation in fear and trembling (and not trembling before men but before God in reverential awe and wonder). Filled with wonder & amazement Acts 3:10 Filled with the Holy Spirit Acts 4:8,31. 9:17, Acts 13:9 And began to speak the Word of God with boldness - Imperfect tense means over and over, again and again they were speaking the Word of God, in context referring to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And even in the face of Peter and John's persecution for speaking the Word of God and the Name of Jesus, the Spirit supernaturally enabled these believers to be bold rather than fearful that they might also be persecuted. While some of the uses of Word of God may not necessarily be synonymous with the Gospel, several appear to be synonyms. Read the texts and decide for yourself. Word of God in Acts = Acts 4:31 Acts 6:2 Acts 6:7 Acts 8:14 Acts 11:1 Acts 13:5 Acts 13:7 Acts 13:44 Acts 13:46 Acts 17:13 Acts 18:11 The disciples had just prayed in Acts 4:29 that they might "speak Your Word with all confidence." And God immediately answered their prayer, giving them filling and boldness to speak His Word. The modern church would do well to frequently pray a similar prayer. Has your church ever prayed this prayer? Boldness (3954)(see previous discussion of parrhesia, "all speech"). This chapter introducing the first persecution of the church, prepares for the persecution with a repeated emphasis on Spirit wrought boldness (Acts 4:13, Acts 4:29, Acts 4:31). Do you speak the Word of God in boldness? Are you filled with the Spirit? Boldness in this context is a gift of God, empowered by God. That is the kind of boldness the church needs today! We need Spirit filled churches. Illustration: I read that in a certain cotton factory, the management had sign posted everywhere that said, "If you get your threads tangled, Send for the Boss." There was a new worker who got her threads tangled, so she tried to untangle the threads herself. But the more she tried to untangle them, she only made the problem worse. Then when she recognized she couldn’t handle the problem, she sent for boss. So, he came in and looked at her tangled threads and asked her why she didn’t send for him when her threads first got tangled? She said she had done her best to untangle them herself. But he told her, "No you didn’t. Because doing your best was sending for me." Many times we get our Threads Tangled. We can’t handle our Problems. The more we try to unknot our tangles, the knottier they get. We just can’t handle Our Problems! No matter how small the problem is, we can’t handle it; all we can do is mess it up. That’s why the Lord says "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path." Whenever a problem comes up, Send For the Boss! Are we tuned in to the Report of God’s saving activity through His servants? Are we dedicated to praying for the spread of the gospel? Are we speaking the Word of God with power and confidence and boldness? God Answers Prayer Specifically - Shortly after Dallas Theological Seminary was founded in 1924, it almost came to the point of bankruptcy. All the creditors were going to foreclose at noon on a particular day. That morning they met in the president’s office for prayer that God would provide. In that prayer meeting was a man by the name of Harry Ironside. When it was his turn to pray, he said, “Lord, we know that the cattle on a thousand hills are Thine. Please sell some of them and send us the money.” While they were praying a tall Texan stepped up to the business office and said, “I just sold two carloads of cattle in Ft. Worth. I’ve been trying to make a business deal but it fell through and I feel compelled to give the money to the seminary. I don’t know if you need it or not, but here’s the check!” The secretary took the check and knowing how critical things were financially, went to the door of the prayer meeting and timidly tapped. When she finally got a response, the president took the check out of her hand. It was exactly the amount of the debt! When he looked at the name, he recognized the cattleman and turning to Dr. Ironside said, “Harry, God sold the cattle!” When People Pray Read: Acts 4:23-31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken. —Acts 4:31 Peter and John were in danger. The religious leaders in Jerusalem opposing the gospel had warned them to cease their missionary efforts (Acts 4:18). When the apostles reported this to the other believers, they immediately held a prayer meeting. What happened next is thrilling. The believers first praised God. Then they asked for boldness that they might continue the work. The results were dramatic. The house shook, and the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit. They boldly witnessed, enjoyed spiritual unity, and gave unselfishly to those in need (vv.31-37). I’ve never felt a building shake at a prayer meeting, but I have seen God’s power at work. When I’ve tried to help repair a broken marriage or a divided church, I’ve asked those involved to pray. Sometimes they refused. Other times, though, they mumbled carefully worded prayers. Those meetings failed. But occasionally someone would pray in earnest. Almost immediately the atmosphere would change. Confession and forgiveness soon replaced charges and countercharges. When we pray sincerely, praising God and seeking His glory, great things happen. Prayer must always come from the heart. Dissension's fuse is easy to ignite— It fuels our anger, yet it dims the light; Help us, we pray, to humbly seek Your Name, And in pride's place restore the Spirit's flame. —TLG Sincere intercession is the key to God's intervention. Acts 4:32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. KJV Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul Acts 1:14; 2:1; 5:12; 2 Chr 30:12; Jer 32:39; Ezek 11:19,20; John 17:11,21-23; Ro 12:5; 15:5,6; 1 Cor 1:10; 12:12-14; 2 Cor 13:11; Eph 4:2-6; Php 1:27; Php 2:1,2; 1 Peter 3:8 not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own Acts 2:44-46; 1 Chr 29:14-16; Luke 16:10-12; 1 Peter 4:11 Acts 4 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SPIRIT WROUGHT CORPORATE CONSCIOUSNESS Marshall comments that "The sequel to the previous story (Acts 4:23-31) begins at Acts 5:12. The temporal gap between the two incidents involving the arrest of the apostles for preaching is neatly filled by the account of another event from these early days of the church. We are given a further summary of the inner life of the church and a contrast is drawn between the attitudes of Joseph Barnabas and Ananias and his wife to the practice of sharing property for the sake of the poor. " It is interesting that in Acts 2 after filling with the Spirit Luke described the life in the Body of Christ (Acts 2:42-47) and we again see the same pattern as Luke proceeds to describe the Body life in Acts 4:32-37 (and then the negative aspect in Acts 5:1-11 as Satan attacks). Notice ALL in Acts 4:32 and Acts 2:44 and they were united in Acts 4:32 compared with Acts 2:42, 44. Congregation is plethos which literally means "a great number" (fullness, magnitude) which emphasizes the rapid growth of the infant church. It was young but growing. And as we shall soon see, with growth comes "growing pains," and in Acts 5 Luke mentions two by the names of Ananias and Sapphira. As Dr McGee said "This (oneness) did not last very long. Carnality came into the church very soon." And the congregation of those who believed (pisteuo) - The congregation does not yet appear mixed with tares, but consisted of those who believed. What a wonderful time to be a believer. Notice that their belief brought forth recognizable fruit, attesting to the the reality of their conversion. What a beautiful example of Christian fellowship, based on oneness of heart and soul wrought by the a common Spirit and founded on their faith in a common Lord, Jesus Christ the Nazarene, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Cor 12:13) This oneness was what Jesus had prayed for asking His Father "that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me." ( Jn 17:21) John Piper defines belief in Jesus as follows - "It's to be satisfied with all that God is for you in Christ." This is his favorite definition of saving faith. He goes on to observe that the "Two of the effects of believing in Jesus are that the heart is loosened in relationship to things and tightened in its relationship to people....Being a Christian means being changed from the inside out so that you fall in love with people and fall out of love with things." (Bolding added). (Be Like Barnabas Not Like Ananias!) G Campbell
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Guzik - All things in common: It isn’t accurate to see this as an early form of communism. Communism is not koinonia. “Communism says, ‘What is yours is mine; I’ll take it.’ Koinonia says, ‘What is mine is yours, I’ll share it.’” (LaSor) But all things were common property to them - The word common property is koinos which reflected their oneness in the Spirit. This does not teach that the believers had no personal property because clearly the did (Acts 5:4+). What this says is that the believers with property were willing to sell some of what they had if some of the poorer brethren had need. "Their generosity sprang not from coercive legislation (as modern Socialism, Marxism) but from a true union of hearts made possible by regeneration." (Homer Kent). Common property (2839) (koinos) refers to that which is common to everybody. The NET Note however points out that this was "not a reflection of political philosophy, but of the extent of their spontaneous commitment to one another. Such a response does not have the function of a command, but is reflective of an attitude that Luke commends as evidence of their identification with one another."
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Guzik - This is both the result and the root of the attitude in the previous verse. Acts 4:32 shows they put God first, people second, and material things a distant third. The apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus - They were giving (imperfect tense - again and again) witness that Jesus was alive! It does not say it here but clearly the great power manifested itself in great boldness as the gave testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The apostles had clearly heard and heeded their Lord's exhortation to be His witnesses (martus/martys) in the power (dunamis) of His Spirit (Acts 1:8+) The apostles preached NOT a dead Jesus, but an ALIVE Savior. The preaching of the resurrection was a repeated theme in Acts - Acts 2:24, 32; 3:15; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30, 33, 34, 37. And keep in mind this doctrine was especially offensive to the religious leaders, especially the Sadducees who did not accept this doctrine. Nevertheless, the apostles did not "soften" the message and compromise the truth of the Gospel! As pointed the Gospel must first "offend" the sinner, exposing their need, before it can "mend" the sinner. Resurrection (386)(anastasis from ana = up, again + histemi = to cause to stand) literally means “to stand again" or "to cause to stand again" and most NT uses refer to a physical body rising from the dead or coming back to life after having once died. Here are Luke's 11 uses of anastasis in Acts - Acts 1:22; Acts 2:31; Acts 4:2; Acts 4:33; Acts 17:18; Acts 17:32; Acts 23:6; Acts 23:8; Acts 24:15; Acts 24:21; Acts 26:23
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Guzik - Later the Apostle Paul taught regarding who should be helped and how they should be helped. Paul’s directions were that: · The church must discern who the truly needy are (1 Timothy 5:3). · If one can work to support himself, he is not truly needy and must provide for his own needs (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, 1 Timothy 5:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:11). · If family can support a needy person, the church should not support them (1 Timothy 5:3-4). · Those who are supported by the church must make some return to the church body (1 Timothy 5:5, 10). · It is right for the church to examine moral conduct before giving support (1 Timothy 5:9-13). · The support of the church should be for the most basic necessities of living (1 Timothy 6:8). For (gar) - Term of explanation. What is Luke explaining? This is easy to observe, but go ahead and do it as it helps this become a habit on other passages which are not so easy to "unravel." Proceeds - Literally, "the prices of the things being sold" All who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales - This description parallels Acts 4:32 where "all things were common property to them." From time to time they would sell property as needs arose. Note that there is no identical practice described for caring for the needs of the poor in the rest of the NT. Of course, the church still has a duty to care for its own (Act 11:28, 29, 1 Ti 5:3-16). Robertson on sell them and bring - Present active participle (sold) and imperfect active indicative (bring). Selling they brought from time to time, as there was occasion by reason of need. Hence the wants were kept supplied. (Word Pictures in the New Testament) Sold (4097)(piprasko from perao = to cross, to transport to a distant land) means literally to sell, and is used figuratively of one "sold into bondage to sin" picturing sin as "possessing" the individual, thus a "slave to Sin!" (Woe!) (Ro 7:14+) Christians have long been known for their caring. By the fourth century, the churches in Rome were feeding an estimated 20,000 poor people each week. The church at that time presented to the world a visible alternative to the prevailing social order. Illustration - When candy manufacturer John S. Huyler started out in business, he took Jacob's pledge: "...of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee" (Gen. 28:22). Going to the bank, he opened a special account which he initialed "M.P." Into that fund he regularly entered a proportionate amount of his income. When anyone asked what the strange label meant, they were told that it stood for "My Partner." As he kept God uppermost in his mind in all his transactions, his industry grew at a phenomenal rate, and each week the "Lord's treasury" received increasingly large sums. His gifts to worthy causes and private individuals amazed his business associates. These contributions were always accompanied with the request that the donor should not receive any thanks or glory for his actions. He asked each recipient to offer praise to God alone, for he said, "After all, the money isn't mine; it's the Lord's!" Martin Luther astutely observed, "There are three conversions necessary: the conversion of the heart, mind and the purse." Acts 4:35 and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. KJV Acts 4:35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. lay them at the apostles' feet Acts 3:6; 5:2; 6:1-6; 2 Cor 8:20,21 they would be distributed to each as any had need Acts 2:45; 6:1 Acts 4 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DISTRIBUTION OF PROCEEDS TO THE POOR And lay - Lay is in the imperfect tense depicting this action as occurring over and over, again and again. Them at the apostles' feet (again in Acts 5:2) - Under their authority. Not as tribute, but so that these Spirit filled leaders with wisdom and discernment might fairly and equitably distribute the proceeds to the poor. What a contrast these first apostles were to those serpentine tel-evangelists today (some of whom even claim apostleship) who request money in exchange for prayer cloths! See What is a prayer cloth? And above all dear brother or sister in Christ, be a Berean! (Acts 17:11+) Marshall comments that the apostles in addition to preaching "also had the additional burden of dealing with the common fund of the church; and, while at first this may not have been too heavy a task, it was not long before new arrangements were needed (Acts 6:1–6)."