Acts 4: Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

Alongside our Sunday teachings, we’re keeping things simple. We’ll be reading through the book of Acts, featuring the many unique voices of the ClearView Church congregation. Each week, we’ll release two chapters, followed by a few reflection questions.

In this  episode, you’ll hear a brief introduction from Pastor Phil, followed by a reading of Acts 4 and some reflection questions from a member of our congregation.

Follow along with these reflection questions:

As you reflect on this story, how has God’s Word been stirring in you? What has especially connected with your heart or stayed on your mind?

Peter and John said to the Sanhedrin, “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Take a few minutes and think about the life of Jesus; review the stories of Jesus in the gospels. What have the disciples witnessed Jesus do during his three years of ministry on earth? 

Aside from the powerful teaching, miraculous healing, profound deliverance, what did they just witness that has changed them forever and has shaped the church for all time?

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”What do you notice or feel as you hear this today? What might it mean for you personally? (repeat quote).

And at the center of it all - how is Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection good news for you today?

Faith Matters is a ministry of Clearview Church, Oakville, On.
https://clearviewchurch.com/

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:11

You are listening to the Faith Matters Podcast from Clearview Church, where we explore everyday faith in a complex world. Our goal is to strengthen and equip followers of Jesus just like you through practical and theological discussions and resources. In this season of the podcast, we're diving deeper into the practices of prayer and study. Each week, we'll release two episodes featuring voices from our congregation reading a chapter from the book of Acts, along with a few reflection questions. Each episode will begin with a short introduction to help set the context of the passage. As you listen, we encourage you to go slow. There will be built-in pauses with gentle background music, giving you space to reflect and wonder about what you're hearing. You might choose to follow along in your Bible or use a Bible app as the passage is read aloud. Above all, invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you and reveal what you need from the text. Now, onto the book of Acts and the passage of the day.

SPEAKER_00 1:34

The same counsel that condemned Jesus now faces his followers, but they are filled with the Spirit, so they are bold and unshaken. And the church responds to all the threats not with fear, but with bold, earnest prayers.

SPEAKER_01 2:03

They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching to the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed, so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. The next day the rulers, the elders, and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. And so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others of the high priest's family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers and elders of the people, if we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame, and are being asked how he was healed, then know this. You and all the people of Israel, it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and conferred together. What are we going to do with these men? They asked. Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name. Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, Which is right in God's eyes, to listen to you or to him. You be the judges. As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. After further threats, they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. The believers pray. On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. Sovereign Lord, they said, You made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our Father David. Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord, and against his anointed one. Indeed, Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in the city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and your will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in all of them that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the Apostles called Barnabas, which means son of encouragement, sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the Apostles' feet. As you reflect on this story, what has God's word been stirring in you? What has especially connected with your heart or stayed on your mind? Peter and John said to the Sanhedrin, We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. Take a few minutes and think about the life of Jesus. Review the stories of Jesus in the Gospels. What have the disciples witnessed Jesus do during his three years of ministry on earth? Aside from the powerful teaching, miraculous healing, profound deliverance, what did they just witness that has changed them forever and has shaped the church for all time? Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved. What do you notice or feel as you hear this today? What might it mean for you personally? Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved. And at the center of it all, how is Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection good news for you today?

SPEAKER_02 8:46

Thank you for listening to the Faith Matters podcast. We hope this time has helped you slow down and create space to hear from God. Join us again for our next episode as we continue through the Book of Acts together. Go in peace and may you continue to grow your life with Christ.