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GuateDevos - Acts 4

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Acts 4
Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
1The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

5The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"

8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10then 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. 11He is
" 'the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the capstone.[a]'[b] 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."

18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

21After 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. 22For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
The Believers' Prayer
23On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25You 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?
26The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the Lord
and against his Anointed One.[c]'[d] 27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people[e] of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

31After 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.
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

36Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.





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5 Responses to "GuateDevos - Acts 4"

  1. Unknown Says:
  2. Speak the name of Christ boldly. We often apologize that we are witnessing in the name of Christ. Maybe not directly with the words I'm sorry but with our timidness to share His good...no His AMAZING news of salvation.

    In the face of persecution and rejection the disciples said they could not help but to speak of what they had seen and heard.

    It is ALL about the name of Jesus Christ. The only name which can bring hope to this dying world!
  3. Invert Ministries Says:
  4. Jaima - I am amazed at how many people got saved in just a couple of chapters!

    James - The people who got saved believed it was because of Jesus the man got healed.

    Helen - Verse 32-33 "The whole congregation of believers was united as one." I think we really need to allow Christ to unite our team as one to go and meet the people's needs here and in Guatemala. The more we share how the scriptures are revealed to us, the closer we become.

    Dale - Exactly right! It is only through Jesus that we have salvation and we either say I am sorry, but I need to share this with you or we do not share at all because what our friends might say about us. The disciples shared even though they knew they would be severely punished.
  5. Frontline Student Ministries Says:
  6. God was on the throne then and He still is today. He can give us the boldness to share His love, grace and mercy to others without apology. All we need to do is "just do it". Not just preparing for a mission trip but in our everyday lives. There are so many times when I missed the opportunity to share God's love simply because it made me uncomfortable. God, help me to live by the disciples example.
  7. Anonymous Says:
  8. That was my comment, not Frontline Student Ministries comment.
  9. Anonymous Says:
  10. This chapter, I was drawn to Gamaliel, the Pharisee, because God had put him in that time and place to demonstrate to Peter and John that He was still in control and they had nothing to fear. Every person on the council had decided death for them and then God shoved a bamboo stick up Gamaliel's fecal cavity and he stood up to save them.

    Other cool things in Ch. 5.
    -...he fell to the floor dead
    -...she fell to the floor and died

    -...they rejoiced because God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus