[13-22] The high priests are stunned by the boldness of Peter: This bold acclamation of Peter in the previous passage was unexpected by the priests of Israel because they did not expect uneducated men to actively speak out against them. The thought of this along with the fact that the man that had been healed was in the presence of the court left the priests, namely, speechless. They “had nothing to say in opposition.” They knew that a notable sign had been done and they couldn’t speak against it. The people or Jerusalem were actively praising God for what had happened causing the Jews to fear loss of their own power. Not knowing what could be done, they decide to attempting stop the spread of the good news by charging Peter and John to not speak of the event in the name in which it had been done, Jesus Christ. Peter knowing that this was not an option for himself boldly proclaims, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
Timeless Principle: Peter, in this passage, is asked to deny the name of Jesus Christ, but he couldn’t. He knew that Christ was all that manifested and controlled his thoughts, thus being the dominating topic of conversation. It was his joy to stand in front of the Sanhedrin and reject the command he had been given because of the immeasurable worth of declaring Christ as lord. Why do we worry about what people think and harp on how people see us. We, as the church, have largely dropped the ball. Peter clearly knew that he could not but speak of the Savior. It dominated his thoughts and controlled his descisions. His life was built around the Gospel. We must let the Gospel move us and affect us to the point at which it would be something that would dominate our conversations, being the focus of our thoughts. My prayer is that the Gospel would so move me that I cannot help but talk about it.
*19-20 [I know, I know, these verses are balla]
[23-31] The apostles praise God for the persecution and pray for boldness: After being released, Peter and John told the other believer’s about the command issued to them at their trial and the impending persecution. They lifted their voices and praised God in the midst of this proclaiming the creation that God has made and then quoted a messianic prophecy from David (from Psalm 2:1,2) which stated the fact that God’s Anoited one would be slandered by kings, rulers, gentiles, and even the people who had been chosen by God (Deut.7:6, 1Pet. 2:9). This is stated to have been fulfilled because Christ was persecuted by Herod (king), Pilot (ruler), gentiles (us), and Israel (v.18). The church praised God for being a God who had “predestined” these things to take place in his sovreignenty and foreknowledge. They prayed that God would continue to reveal himself in the mighty acts that he was already doing. After the prayer the place they were staying in was shaken and more people received the gift of the Spirit. They continued to pray for boldness to proclaim the truth in the face of persecution.
Note: Another pattern is forming. Often in Acts, we see that the following pattern: 1)prayer 2)gospel message 3) people turning to Chirst 4)persecution 5)praise 6)repeat.
Note: The word that “Anoited” is translated from in verse 26 is the Greek ‘Christos’ which is also translated “Christ, the Anoited” furthermore indicating a prophecy of David foretelling the coming of the Messiah.
Timeless Principle: We should remind ourselves in the midst of persecution that God is in control is constantly at work in making all things work for our, people who are in Christ, good (see Rom. 8:28). We should praise God for being a God who has predestined all of these trials to take place so that they may strengthen our faith. The people, in this passage, prayed for boldness despite the threats that had been given. The pattern mentioned in the first note on this passage should be carefully looked at in this context. The first movement of Acts began with prayer (1:14) and ended with praise after persecution (v.24-29). We, in this time, say that we believe that God can move, but we don’t truly believe it. If we believed it then we would act on it like the apostles did in these circumstances. We say that God is “mighty to save” but we refuse to ask God in prayer to draw the world to himself and when even we do, how often do we truly believe that it will happen. What has happened to our authenticity and faith. Jesus said that if we pray and ask in his name that it will be given to us (if it is accords with his will) (Matt. 7:7-9). We must earnestly seek after God’s will in this dark world and begin actively attacking the rulers, the authorities, the cosmic powers of this present age, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12). We must have faith in the promise given by Christ in Matt. 7. If we do have this faith that is seen in this passage, then God has, can, and will move in miraculous ways, ways that could not be otherwise explained besides the fact of them being an act of God. And as the church does here, even in the midst of persecution, should praise God simply for who he his instead of complaining about earthly pain that bears no significance to eternal things (v.24, Phil. 2:14, Jam. 1:2-4). My prayer is that we might seek boldness from God to stand on his truth and stare persecution in face and be willing to take it in the knowledge that God has meant all things for our good.
*31 [be bold]
[32-37] Fellowship and stewardship of the believers/ Barnabas gives freely: Now the entire community of believers had been filled with the Spirit and were of one heart and soul, they were of one body (Eph. 4). They were actively giving to one another as any had need and there were no needy among them. In one such case, a believer named Barnabas sold one of his fields and laid the money at the apostle’s feet such that it might be distributed among the people.
Note: Barnabas means “son of encouragement”
Timeless Principle: We must strive to be one as Jesus was one with his Father (see John 17). The Greek word for ‘one’ in verse 32 is not a figurative word meaning to be close to the same or simply to have common similarities or traits, but rather it literally means to be “only one.” To be one in this case is a calling to be of only one mind and spirit. This is seen in Jesus’s unity with his father and so should it be seen in the relationships between believers. They were giving to one another and sharing with one another and encouraging (encouraged is defined as instilling courage) one another through the love of Christ. How often do we really see selfless giving and serving in the church today. Christ washed feet, likewise we need to get down off of our dysfunctional, imaginary palaces and kneel at the throne of Christ, serving one another with all humility and pureness of heart.
No comments:
Post a Comment