Acts 4:23-31
Acts 4:23-31
March 29, 2020
Acts 4:23-31
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported
what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
“ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’—
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 plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 1
If you weren’t able to be with us this week, let me bring you up to speed. We’ve been preaching through the book of Acts and last week,
1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 4:23–31). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. 1
Pastor Dres Lavanderos, one of our associate pastors and leader of our church planting team shared from the previous verses in this chapter. Peter and John had just been arrested. They were arrested in the city of Jerusalem and brought before the religious council for preaching the gospel of the risen Christ. Much has occurred since the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and these apostles’ boldness has grown as they’re reliance on God’s Spirit has deepened.
They were not sugar-coating their message. It was not a new message. In fact, it is the very same gospel being preached in churches and especially online today in thousands of places throughout the world. It is the message that sin kills, God loves, Jesus died as payment for the sins of all, an salvation is offered for all who would repent, receive, and surrender their lives to Christ’s lordship.
But...status quo religious folks of Peter and John’s day did not like this. Neither did the political leaders in the city. So...they’re arrested.
After threats before the council and steadfast speaking by Peter and John, the council finds no legal way to hold them (knowing that the city is watching) and in their frustration, they release them. God has more for these brothers and they are released from custody.
That’s where this story begins.
I’m taken by verse 23. Look at this again...
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
Maybe this isn’t a big deal verse for you, but there is this phrase that stood out as I read it – “they went to their friends.”
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Why?
After a week of self-imposed and recommended isolation, even the introverts in our communities are finding the need for connection. Friendship took a bit hit over the past few decades. It has been happening for a while, but once the word “friend” became a verb used to describe the collection of more social media followers, as in “I friended you” it seems the meaning of the term has been muddied.
I don’t watch a lot of television, but recently, I’ve watched more. In the old days, series were only available on the big three or four broadcast networks. Now, with streaming services and newer ones coming on all the time, the number of series available is astronomical. As is always the case, once a network has a hit series, copy-cat series tend to show up. It’s a never-ending race to gain viewers and advertisers.
One of the big hits that began a few seasons ago is “This Is Us.” It’s about a family who has journeyed through some very tough times (primarily the death of their father) and centers on the three adult children with numerous flashbacks and side stories, yet eventually (even through difficulties and fights) comes back to the connection between the siblings who are always eventually there for each other. There’s almost always constant slow music in the background of every scene that gets louder when an emotional point is about to happen.
Thus, other shows have come out. One is “A Million Little Things” which is also centered around a group of friends who despite many wrong and sad things (primarily the suicide of a main character) that have occurred in their lives tend to always be there for each other. There’s almost always constant slow music in the background of every scene that gets louder when an emotional point is about to happen.
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I just saw an ad for another show coming soon titled “Council of Dads” that also is about a group of friends and family members centered around a tragedy (this time it’s terminal cancer) and how they come together and eventually are always there for each other. And I’m sure there will be constant slow music in the background of every scene that gets louder when an emotional point is about to happen.
See a trend?
Beyond the common storylines, there is something that truly draws audiences to such shows, based on the reviews I have read. It’s the depiction of friendship. The imagery of people being there for other people they love, especially when the times are hard.
I have been reading a book written by friend and pastor Jack Eason. The book will available in October for purchase, but I’m taken by the subject matter so needed in today’s age. The book is titles The Loneliness Solution” and Jack speaks of the reality of loneliness in our culture and how overwhelming it is.
Friends are commodities collected online and often very difficult to actually find.
The two generations in our nation who are most lonely based on recent surveys are older adults and teenagers and young adults. The bookends of our adult generations continue to state how lonely they feel.
Only around half of Americans surveyed (prior to COVID-19) stated they have meaningful, daily face-to-face social interactions, including extended conversations with friends or spending quality time with family.
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Loneliness is a real issue and true friendships (not just acquaintances) are more rare than they should be.
That’s why this part of the passage stands out, especially today. When Peter and John were released, following the very challenging and stressful arrest for preaching the gospel, for doing the right thing, for being bold in their faith (all the things we would say even today are needful and good) they immediately go back to their friends. God has instructed his church to love one another, serve one another, honor one another, encourage and build up one another, in addition to many other “one anothers.” You cannot fulfill the “one anothers” of Scripture alone.
True, committed, covenanted brothers and sisters make up the church of Jesus Christ. God’s church, launched just a few chapters prior with what we call the beginning of the church age, was made up of men and women who would become brothers and sisters, under the lordship of Jesus Christ. The church of Jesus Christ is God’s plan for the expansion of his kingdom and the proclamation of the gospel. It was then. It is now.
It is this to this group of friends Peter and John go. It is this group who hears all that happened when the apostles were taken before the council. It is this group who responded not with panic, not with trending news reports, not with political posturing, but with prayer.
They went to the Word they knew. They began to pray and praise God and quoted psalm 2.
Look again at the account in Acts
24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and
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the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
“ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’—
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 plan had predestined to take place.
There is power in the word of God. They pray and rejoice that the difficulties before them are not surprising, but actually declarations from God’s man revealed generations prior.
Psalm 2
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants
to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch
out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed
through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
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against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart
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and cast away their cords from us.” 2
The confident, powerful prayers of the people of God, of the church of Jesus Christ is exactly what Peter and John needed at this moment. Peter and John are leaders. They’re the ones others look to for inspiration,
2 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ps 2:1–3). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. 6
words of wisdom, and examples of boldness. They fill that role very well and will until the end of their lives. But...they’re human and just like all of us, there are times in the midst of difficulty we need to be reminded that we are not on our own (even in self-quarantined social distancing situations.)
I’ve watched more movies and television in the last week or so than normal and a week ago I watched the film “Creed II.” For those unaware, this is the sequel to a spin-off of the popular Sylvester Stallone “Rocky” franchise. Yet, this one centers on Adonis Creed, the son of Apollo Creed from the first four Rocky films. I enjoyed it, but I also noticed something once more – and it is formulaic, but entertaining. Just as in the original Rocky movies the boxer would be beaten pretty soundly in the boxing ring, only to go back to his corner and be challenged and encouraged by either his trainer Mickey or Apollo or another friend. In this film, the trainer is Rocky and Adonis finds himself needing that encouragement, friendship, mentorship. It’s the same theme. The fight is hard. It’s bloody. It’s even deadly, but there’s always someone in your corner who has prepared you, is encouraging you, and speaks truth to you. Now, it’s just a movie and the scripted victories are expected, but in real life, the Christian needs to remember that regardless how difficult and bloody and desperate the world is, God has in his providence created and called his church to be the “one another” for each of us. The difference is we’re not fighting these battles, God is. Sometimes we just forget. We just need to press on and be bold.
Quickly, look at what occurs in this section of Acts after the apostles release.
1. There is Praying – first and foremost, the church gathered, the friends of the faithful begin praying. It’s not a last resort. It’s the first response. We should learn from this.
2. There is Shaking – this is a supernatural moment of the filling of the Holy Spirit. They are not shaken in fear of the world, but in the
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power of the Spirit. Now, these believers were not void of the Holy Spirit. Peter had been filled previously. He is filled again. The reference is to the God empowering his faithful and willing children in the moment for the great work to be done. You as a Christian received the Holy Spirit at the moment of your conversion – your new birth. He has never left you. He is there, if you are a Christian. Yet, you know there are days you choose to not walk in Christ or be filled by the Spirit. Your daily surrender, or multi-times a day surrender to his lead is an act of faith. Peter and John were shaken by the religious leaders, certainly. Wouldn’t your heart-beat increase? Yet, here they were shaken as was the building the friends were in, by the power of the Holy Spirit. This emboldened them.
3. There is Speaking – The speaking here was not just one to another nor only meant to be church member to church member, but was the speaking the Word of God in boldness to all. Trials come. They will continue to.
CONCLUSION
These are trying days. The challenges we face are strange, primarily because the fighting of the battle does not seem like a fight. Sitting in our living rooms day after day does not seem very bold.
I’m sure Peter and John felt very alone in front of the religious leaders. God reminded them shortly after their release that even when they couldn’t see all their friends and brothers and sisters, they were there. The church’s response of prayer and praise reveals the depth of this connectedness and a reminder to all of us today.
Church – our commission has not lessened. We are not quarantined from the Holy Spirit. We are not distanced from the Trinity.
Pray. Be filled (shaken from fear & loneliness). Speak boldly (even if online, by text, or phone call.) YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Footnotes
