ACTS 4

No other Name, unwilling, would not believe, obey government or God, moved driven or carried along

by the Holy Spirit, filled with is controlled by the Holy Spirit, boldness, koinonia, Socialism

Acts 4:1-22• The first Christian

persecution, and the apostles reply with confidence, boldness, confrontation of sin, and the good news gospel of salvation in Christ Jesus.

Acts 4:1, The Liberal Sadducees

• NAU Acts 4:1 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

• Liberal religious folks like the Sadducees generally deny the atoning blood, cross, miracles, and the resurrection.

• As well as the sin nature, total depravity, and need for a Savior.

• The NAU uses “Sadducees” 5 X’s in Acts, the last NT use is in Acts 23:8.

Acts 4:2, In Jesus The Resurrection

• Acts 4:2…proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead…

• John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;

Acts 4:4, Now Five Thousand

• Acts 4:4…the number of men grew to about five thousand.

• Up from 3,120 in ch. 2.

Acts 4:7, What Power, What Name

• Acts 4:7…"By what power or what name did you do this?“

• Deut 13:1-3 If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, 2 and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, "Let us follow other gods" (gods you have not known) "and let us worship them," 3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer…

Acts 4:7, What Power, What Name

• Acts 4:7…"By what power or what name did you do this?“

• Acts 4:10…It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…

Acts 4:7, What Power, What Name

• Peter answers them with Ps 118:22 they would know the following verses;

• Ps 118:26-27…Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. 27 The Lord is God…

Acts 4:10, By The Name Of

Jesus Christ

• NAU Acts 4:10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-- by this name this man stands here before you in good health.

• NAU 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Acts 4:10, Jesus of Nazareth

• Acts 4:10…by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…• 17 uses of Nazareth in NAU, 29 in NKV, KJV, 12 in NET, CSB,

28 in ESV, 18 in YLT• 7 NIV, KJV, NKJ, ESV uses of “Nazareth” are in Acts, 1 in CSB,

NET, 4 in YLT• Greek BGT, BNT, 4 uses of “Nazareth,” BYZ has 12• NAS “Jesus Christ the Nazarene”• KJV “Jesus Christ of Nazareth” • NAU Isaiah 11:1 Then a shoot will spring from the stem of

Jesse, And a branch from his roots will bear fruit.• �ֶצ�ר <05342> )netser )666a ֵנ• Meaning: a sprout, shoot

Acts 4:10, Jesus of Nazareth

• Isa 11:1-2• A shoot [netser] will come up from the stump of Jesse;• from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. • 2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him —

• Jer 23:5• "The days are coming," declares the Lord,• "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch,• a King who will reign wisely• and do what is just and right in the land.

Acts 4:12-37

Only One Path

A Good Memory Verse, 4:12

Acts 4:12, No Other Name

• There are only 2 paths,• There is the broad path of works

salvation that ends at the Great White Throne Judgment;

• Or, there is the narrow path that ends in heaven.

• Matt 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Acts 4:12, No Other Name

• Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

• John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

• John 10:1 "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.

• Matt 26:39 "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.

Acts 4:12, “other” allos or heteros

• NKJ Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other [allos] , for there is no other [herteros] name …

• 243 ἄλλος allos {al'-los} • Meaning: 1) another, other…• 2087 ἕτερος heteros {het'-er-os} • Meaning: 1) the other, another, other 1a) to

number 1a1) to number as opposed to some former person or thing 1a2) the other of two 1b) to quality 1b1) another: i.e. one not of the same nature, form, class, kind, different…

Acts 4:12, “other” allos or heteros

• NKJ Acts 4:12 "Nor…any other [allos] , for there is no other [herteros] name …

• NAU Galatians 1:6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called [call, name, address as, invite]

you by the grace of Christ, for a different [herteros] gospel; 7 which is really not another [allos] ; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Acts 4:12, No Other Way To Heaven

• The Rev. Billy Graham tells of a time early in his career when he arrived in a small town to preach a sermon. Wanting to mail a letter, he asked a young boy where the post office was.

When the boy told him, Rev. Graham thanked him and said, “If you’ll come to the Baptist church this evening, you can hear me telling everyone how to get to Heaven.”

• “I don’t think I’ll be there,” the boy said. “You don’t even know your way to the post office.”

Acts 4:13, Unschooled, Ordinary Men

• Acts 4:13…they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

• The Holy Spirit transformation of these men “astonished” them.

• Even the enemies of the cross “were astonished”

• John 12:21…"we would like to see Jesus.“…

Acts 4:14, And Seeing, Anagrams

• NAU Acts 4:14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.

• THE EYES: • When you rearrange the letters:

THEY SEE

Acts 4:16, Everybody In Jerusalem Knows

• NAU Acts 4:16 saying, "What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

• CNN has been broadcasting it all.• They now had at least five thousand (male)

witnesses.

Acts 4:16, Unwilling, Would Not Believe

• NAU Acts 4:16 …we cannot deny it. • NAU John 7:39, 5:40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so

that you may have life.• NAU Matthew 22:3, 23:37 “…you were unwilling.• NAU Isaiah 30:15 For thus the Lord GOD…But you were not

willing,• NAU Ezekiel 20:8, 3:7 yet the house of Israel will not be willing

to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me. Surely the whole house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate.

• NAU Acts 28:24 Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe.

• 1 Co. 7:12, 1 Co. 14:24, 2 Co. 6:15, 1 Tim. 5:8

Acts 4:16, Unwilling, Would Not

Believe

Acts 4:19, Obey You Or God?

• Acts 4:19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.

• Dan 3:16-18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Acts 4:19, Obey You Or God?

• Acts 4:19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God.

• Ex 1:17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.

Please open to Rom 13:1-5Obey Government Or God?

• Rom 13:1-5 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

Acts 4:20, We Cannot Stop

• Acts 4:20…For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

2 Peter 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried [present passive] along by the Holy Spirit.

• Acts 27:27…we were still being driven [present passive]

across the Adriatic Sea…• Moved driven or carried along by the Holy Spirit

Acts 4:24, With One Accord

• Acts 4:24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM,

• My granddaughter asked me how many people you could put in one Honda. She said 12

• because the disciples were all of one in one Accord.

Acts 4:25, God Spoke

• Acts 4:25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant…

• God spoke • by the Holy Spirit • through David

Acts 4:31, Prayer Causes Earthquake

• NAU Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken,….

• Wow!• Pentecost was the birthday of the church• Birthdays only happen once.• J. Vernon says when a deacon prayed for God’s

fire to fall on them, he immediately countered that prayed and asked God to not let His judgment fall on them.

Acts 4:31, Filled With The Holy Spirit

• NAU Acts 4:31 …and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

• Filled with the Holy Spirit always means “controlled by”.

• Filled with the Holy Spirit always results in boldly speaking for God.

• 8X’s in NIV

Acts 4:31, Filled = Speak The Gospel With Boldness

• NAU Acts 4:31 …to speak the word of God with boldness. • Filled with the Holy Spirit always results in boldly

speaking for God.• 6 X’s in NAU• NAU 2 Corinthians 3:12 Therefore having such a hope,

we use great boldness in our speech,• NAU Ephesians 3:12 in whom we have boldness and

confident access through faith in Him.• NAU Ephesians 6:19 and pray on my behalf… to make

known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

Acts 4:32, One In Heart And Mind

• Acts 4:32 All the believers were one in heart and mind…

• True koinonia 1st. then sharing• This culminates in poverty in the church at

Jerusalem, Acts 5;• Acts 6:1…the Grecian Jews among them

complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

Socialism Or Generosity?, gracethrufaith.com

• Q. I often see people say that Jesus (and the Bible) promote Socialism. While I know most Christians are against Socialism, I can see passages where it does sound like the early Church was practicing what we now call Socialism. Just one passage for example: 2 Corinthians 8: 13-16 and there are others. Any light you can shed on this would be appreciated.

• A. In Acts 4:32-36 we’re told how the believers in the early church shared everything they had with one another so there were no needy persons among them. And in 2 Cor. 8:13-16 Paul encouraged the believers in Corinth who had more that they needed, to share their plenty with others who were hard pressed.But none of this was done because of an enforced economic system. It was done voluntarily out of a conviction that the Lord would see to their needs (2 Cor. 8:8-9). Each one who had more than they needed did not think it was necessary to store up their excess because they trusted the Lord to provide for them. Therefore they felt

Socialism Or Generosity?, gracethrufaith.com

• comfortable giving it to others.This was not just an issue for their time. The Bible encourages all of us to give of our excess to help those in need, promising that the Lord will respond to our generosity with blessings in kind. Read Luke 6:38 and 2 Cor. 9:6-11 to confirm this.This is not socialism, which ultimately inhibits enterprise and brings a society to its lowest common denominator. It’s faith based generosity, which rewards enterprise and brings a society to its highest common denominator. In 2 Cor. 9:6 Paul promised that everyone who sows generously will also reap generously. And in 2 Cor. 9:11 He said we’ll be made rich n every way so we can be generous on every occasion. Socialism makes no such promises.

• http://gracethrufaith.com/ask-a-bible-teacher/socialism-generosity/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gracethrufaith+%28GraceThruFaith%29

2 Corinthians 8:13, Help Each Other

• 2 Corinthians 8:13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality-- 14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; 15 as it is written, "HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK."

So, In Closing

No Vacancies

• We had been on the road for 15 hours en route from New York to California and were looking for a place to spend the night. At four different motels, though, we were told, "Sorry, no vacancies.“ Heading back to the car, my seven-year-old asked solemnly,

• "Mom, are we vacancies?"

The End