Morning Message: Follow Me

Bobservations' Column

Titled - "Follow Me"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz

Long ago, I heard an analogy of God’s role in our lives. Coming from a career in the Fire Service, it became immediately clear. I was told to consider a Fireman’s Parade on the 4th of July. (I had participated in dozens!) People line the parade route, seeing one marching unit at a time, as they approach. The Bands, the Scout groups, Majorettes and high school bands, and local politicians, and of course, the local Beauty Queen and her Court riding on a flashy convertible; the Firemen in their uniforms, and the Ladies Auxiliary too. If the town was big enough, maybe a news helicopter would fly overhead to capture the scene for the 6 O’clock News broadcast.

The people watching from the sidelines see each unit marching along. But up in the helicopter, the news videographer see the entire parade from beginning to end, all at once!

This is God’s perspective of every life. From His heavenly Throne, He sees everything all at once. From our growing years to the final ones. The training, the preparation, major events and minor; the good times and the troublesome ones too. He sees influences upon us, and the ways we influence others. The pitfalls and the victories, He sees everything.

But like the Author-of-Life that He is, He has the ability to guide our steps to the straightest path possible, avoiding potholes, traversing the rough climbs, slippery slopes, and little seams in the uneven pavement of Earth. Nothing escapes His notice. He sees the plots that others have made against us, and those made against Him and His Church, and He knows a way through!

The apostles had been put in jail twice, at the hands of wayward Priests and Temple Leaders. Each time throughout Acts, they had somehow been released and brought to freedom; this is the Lord’s doing. This is specifically why Jesus’ plea to us is “Follow Me"… to freedom from sin, and the Good News of His Gospel is the path we are to follow.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” - John 10:27

Bobservations' Column: Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Acts 5:19-42 - "Follow Me"

Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:

As we finish up chapter 5 in the book of Acts, a few things are really beginning to stand out.  First, that despite facing growing persecution, the power of a bold witness and suffering expands, yet the church is continuing to grow, not shrink.  It's becoming clearer that the early church was becoming unstoppable.  Why?

One thing that seems rather undeniable about the church in America today, is that it’s in a state of decline. It's declining at a very significant rate, and is having major implications in our culture.

According to the Gallup poll, less than 50 percent of people in America are members of a Christian church.  Approximately 62% to 68% of the U.S. population identifies as Christian, but actual and self-reported weekly worship rates are significantly lower. The reality is that approximately about 21% to 30% of Americans actually attend worship services regularly on a weekly basis, while roughly 40% attend at least once a month.  They didn't take into account what percentage of those only attend church for holidays, funerals and weddings.

The natural question to ask is, why? What’s causing this decline? Well, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that it’s probably not that we don’t have enough resources. America is the most prosperous nation in the world, and the American church has an extraordinary amount of wealth. In addition to having such remarkable financial resources, we have a staggering array of Bible-related resources. We have ten times as many tools to help us read, study and understand the Bible at our fingertips than previous generations could even dream of. So, it’s not that we don’t have enough resources.

When we consider the early church, both during the New Testament era and during the first few centuries afterward. The early Christians didn’t have anything close to the wealth that we have—most of them were from the lower classes of society. And neither did they have the biblical resources we now enjoy. For most of the first century, the Bible was still in the process of being written. And even after that, most churches were lucky to even have access to a single copy of the Scriptures. Then add to all of this the fact that they were severely persecuted. This meant that their best and brightest leaders were routinely executed and that they couldn’t own any church buildings but instead were forced to meet in homes or occasionally in public halls.

While they had all of these things working against them, yet, against all odds, they grew. They didn’t just grow a little bit—they grew exponentially.  What in the world was their secret? Why did the early church see such explosive growth despite all of their disadvantages, while the church in America today is in a state of decline despite all of our advantages? What was it about these early Christians that enabled them to be so effective in reaching their society with the gospel?

The answer is that they had unshakable faith and trust in Jesus Christ which means, having deep, steady trust in God that does not change when you are faced with hard questions, imprisonment, or even death. The apostle's willingness to face persecution for the gospel stems from deep spiritual conviction, profound love for Christ, and the belief that eternal union with God outweighs earthly suffering.  God hasn't left them alone, His Spirit is upon them providing them with inner strength, joy, and peace even in the middle of severe trials.  And we see that here after Peter and the apostles were beaten and threatened not to preach the gospel, "they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name...and ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." - Acts 5:41, 42

To be candid with you, if Christianity in America continues to be oriented around a bunch of motivational speakers peddling a message of "three steps to a better life," there's virtually no hope for making an impact. If it continues to be oriented around a bunch of leaders who are more captivated by the latest leadership and marketing strategies than they are by Jesus himself and the breathtaking beauty of his sacrifice, there's virtually no hope for making an impact. And if Christianity in our country continues to rely on entertainment to draw people in rather than on the glories and wonders of the gospel, there’s virtually no hope for impacting anybody in any significant way.

But if we are captivated once again by Jesus, we’ll be just as unstoppable as they were. It won't matter if churches in our country manage to maintain their tax-exempt status, it won't matter if religious liberty is upheld in the courts, it won't matter if we're allowed to own church buildings, it won't matter if we’re scorned and mocked even more than we are now. If we’re captivated by Jesus to the extent that, like these early Christians, we rejoice at being counted worthy to suffer dishonor for his name, we too can expect the world to be turned upside down by our witness. If there was ever a need for God to do a work of revival in the church, it’s now.

Sunday Morning Audio Message:  Coming Soon!

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

Angel of the Lord (5:19) - This person should not be confused as the manifestation of the Lord Himself as "The Angel of the Lord" in the Old Testament. The lack of any article means that this is simply an angel, or messenger, of the Lord and not a manifestation of the Lord Himself. This messenger has been sent as is later stated in Hebrews as a “ministering spirit” who is directed to help those saved by the Lord. With him now sent, it says that he “opened the prison doors.”

It is not uncommon for people to claim angelic visitations. Just search the internet and there is an almost unlimited supply of such accounts in blogs, on YouTube videos, and so on. However, you probably won’t find any people claiming they were miraculously released from a locked prison in the middle of the night. Something verifiable like that can easily be disproven. Rather, claims of angelic visitations are general in nature and they make wild and fantastic claims about things that have been seen, special words from God that have been given, and so on. And more, those who make these claims aren’t just made by “Christians.” They are found among people of almost any religion you can think of.

And if there are innumerable claims of such things from non-believers concerning their angelic visitations, then why should we believe anyone, even those who claim to be Christians, concerning such things? That is what got millions of people going down the wrong path when Joseph Smith claimed he was visited by the angel Moroni. It is what got countless souls misdirected by Ellen G. White, the leader of the Seventh Day Adventists. And so forth. If God truly intended for us to accept the testimony of such false prophets, He would have given us more credible proofs of their claims to look for in His word. But He has not. Rather, He has given us His word that has been completed. It is now the place where we are to turn in order to hear the voice of the Lord.

What is recorded in Acts describes what occurred as the church was being established. These things happened, they were sufficiently witnessed to and recorded, and they prescribe nothing. Nor are they considered normative for the church age. Normative for us means, “Pick up your Bible and read it. There you will find your instruction.” Who will you trust? God has spoken. Trust Him!

The Temple (5:20) - The apostles, having been brought out of their place of custody by an angel, are now instructed by him, saying, “Go, stand in the temple.” This is the public place where the people would hear their message. It is also the place where things would be most carefully monitored by those on duty at any given time. This then speaks of both a public charge and one that is to be without fear of reprisal. They are to go back out and get about the business set before them by the Lord, which is to “speak to the people.”

The Words of this Life (5:20) -The Gospel (cf. Philippians 2:16; 1 John 1:104). Jesus Christ came into this world to provide abundant and eternal life to spiritually dead people (cf. John 1:4; 11:25; 1 John 5:20).

The words “this life” then do not refer to a new philosophy about how to live out our lives as better people. They do not refer to how we can obtain status, wealth, power, or any other such thing. They do not refer to how to be free from sickness or troubles, nor do they speak about how to be content and satisfied in all situations. These are earthly approaches to an earthly existence. Although any of these things may come upon a follower of Christ, none of them may come as well. And yet, the life that is now lived is one that has a hope that extends beyond what we now experience. What “this life” means is atonement of sin, freedom from condemnation (resulting from sin), eternal life in a new and incorruptible body, and the hope of an existence that has been prepared by God for those upon whom His favor shall eternally rest. It is an existence that comes solely by faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ. And it is also a life that comes with a guarantee that it is so, the sealing of the Holy Spirit.

The Council . . . Elders...Sent to the Prison...Officers Came...Reported (5:21-26) - Luke is carefully recording what took place as if he was an eyewitness from a distance.  Each word and each thought reflect what he had been told as he investigated the matter concerning this time of incarceration of the apostles.  Because of this, his words are credible and there is no reason at all to not take them as they are written.  Those who are literally the eyewitnesses are the apostles, the council, the elders, the chief priests, and the officers.  That's a lot of witnesses.

Doctrine (5:28) - The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Not only had the apostles taught upon the name of Jesus, but they had been having immense success in doing so, as testified to by the mouth of the high priest, saying, “And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine.” They not only taught and brought the word to the people, but they did so after having been strictly charged by the leaders of the nation to not do so. And so bold had they been that the city had become filled with the teaching. It demonstrates that what is said about Jesus has power. If there was no proof of the resurrection, the teaching of the apostles would be laughed at and ignored. But their own Scriptures, which the apostles argued from, testified to the fact that Jesus had to come, fulfill the law, and die in fulfillment of it – This is the teaching that went forth from the apostles, and it was backed up by the very Scriptures that they had heard read throughout their lives. The high priest and the council knew this very well. But they sat upon Moses’ seat. Because they did, they knew they would lose their position and authority if Christ – who initiated a New Covenant in His blood – was fully revealed to the people.

This Man's Blood on Us (5:28) -The Sanhedrin had apparently forgotten the brash statement its supporters had made before Pilate that the responsibility for Jesus' death should be on them and their children (Matthew 27:25). Because of their rejection of Jesus, they rightly took it as a personal offense against them, as the high priest says, “and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”  The blood can only come upon them if Jesus was innocent. And if He had resurrected, then He was found innocent of any sin before God. If this is so, then He is the Lord God incarnate. Each point becomes a greater and greater indictment upon the actions of those who conspired against Jesus. Whether it was the “intent” of the apostles to do this, or whether it was simply a consequence of the preaching, the result does not change. Those in the council did bear the bloodguilt, and it was being highlighted through the message.

Obey God Rather than Men (5:29) - The apostles are under order of an angel of the Lord (the Lord’s messenger), and they are under obligation of the truth of the gospel itself. Hence, their response is one that had to be stated to the leaders at this time. They must obey God. Of the word translated as “obey,” the Greek word is a new one to Scripture, "peitharcheó." It comes from two words signifying “persuade” and “what comes first.”
Thus, it signifies being obedient to the higher authority. Disobedience to Moses, of whom the council represents (see Matthew 23:2), must take place. This is not because God is overriding His own words in the law, but because the law is annulled through the work of Christ. The verse here is one that sets a clear and defining line between the covenant at Sinai (Old Covenant) and that found in Christ (New Covenant). The angel from the Lord told the apostles to go out and preach to the people what is now found in Christ. That is in distinction to what was said in Acts 4, and the words of this verse now are in direct defiance of the words of the high priest and the council again in Acts 5. This shows, without any doubt or ambiguity, that the New Covenant is the higher priority, and it is to be obeyed. 

The God of Our Fathers (5:30) - This is referring to YHVH (Jehovah), the covenant Lord God of Israel, such as is recorded in Exodus 6:7. The apostles are claiming that their worship is not of a new God, a false God, or a misrepresentation of the true God. They are aligning themselves with the people at the council (our), and they are aligning themselves with the God whom the council represents (our fathers).

Raised Up Jesus (5:30) - an obvious reference to the resurrection of Jesus. The council was fully aware of the claim that Jesus had been raised. By saying God raised Him up, it meant that God was fully satisfied concerning His innocence and that His sacrifice was acceptable before Him.

Whom Ye Slew and Hanged on a Tree (5:31) - Peter and the apostles firmly avow that what happened to Jesus was a willful, violent, and unjustified attack against the Lord’s Messiah. God had approved of His life, He had raised Jesus from the dead, and thus those of the council (the verb is plural – “you all”) were guilty of His death. But more, they then added in the most striking words of all, saying, “by hanging on a tree.”

Him Hath God has Exalted with His Right Hand (5:31) - Jesus was hung on a tree, having been lifted up (see John 3:14 where the same Greek word is used) by the leaders of Israel, but God has lifted Jesus up “with His right hand.” The right hand signifies power, both in action (ability) and in position (authority). As noted, the previous verse just said that God raised Jesus. The apostles, though stating a truth, are letting the council know that there is hope for them. The actions of Israel’s leaders actually served the greater purposes of God. Forgiveness is possible if they could but accept the matter and acknowledge what they had done. With this, their next words state, “to be Prince.”

Prince and a Saviour (5:31) - The word there translated as Prince signifies “a file-leader who pioneers the way for many others to follow” (HELPS Word Studies). It is also found in Hebrews 2:10 and 12:2. Reading those verses will give a fuller idea of the thought now being presented. Jesus is the “File-leader.” He is the One who leads the way for all others who will be raised up by God, lifted up at His right hand. This is because He is also the “Savior.” This is specifically referring to Jesus Christ in His position of ability to save. The word specifically refers to Him as the One “who saves believers from their sin and delivers them into His safety” (HELPS Word Studies). It is in this capacity that Jesus is able “to give repentance to Israel.”

Repentance to Israel (5:31) - Salvation for the Jews. Salvation demands repentance. The word metanoia, or repentance, signifies changing of the heart and mind.

We are his witnesses...so also, is the Holy Spirit (5:32) - The Holy Spirit, the third member of the Godhead and the One who inspired God’s prophets to write out Scripture, is a witness to the workings of God in Christ –The visual, audible coming of the Holy Spirit upon these men also provided a supporting witness to their testimony. That witness continues again in their ability to properly convey the meaning of Scripture, of their healing of the sick, and so on. The acts of the apostles are another part of the witness of the Holy Spirit, testifying to the fact that Jesus is the Christ. With this understood, the apostles next say of the Holy Spirit, “whom God has given.” The Holy Spirit is God, giving of Himself. It is not unlike God giving of Himself in Christ. Christ was given for the sin of the world, but that forgiveness is only applied to those who appropriate it through belief. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is given by God to humanity, but this only comes to those who appropriate the offering, and that only occurs for “to those who obey Him.”

Gamaliel (5:34) - Like his grandfather the prominent rabbi Hillel, Gamaliel - the most noted rabbi of his time - led the liberal faction of the Pharisees. His most famous student was the apostle Paul (22:3). This man is said to have died 18 years after the destruction of Jerusalem, and he died as he had lived, a Pharisee. There is not the least evidence that he was a friend of the Christian religion; but he was evidently a man of far more liberal views than the other members of the Sanhedrin. Luke next notes him as “a teacher of the law.” The meaning is that he instructed others in the law (as noted above concerning Paul), but he also would have interpreted the law, learned the traditional views of the scholars of the law before him, preserved the traditions of the Jewish culture and society, and so on.

Theudas (5:36) - An otherwise unknown individual who led a revolt in Judea in the early years of the first century, not to be confused with a later Theudas cited by Josephus as a revolutionary.

Judas of Galilee (5:37) - The founder of the Zealots who led another revolt in Palestine early in the first century. Zealots, a party of Jews who were fanatical nationalists, believed that radical action was required to overthrow the Roman power in Palestine. They even sought to take up arms against Rome.

Days of Census (5:37) - One ordered by Quirinius, governor of Syria in 6-7 B.C. (cf. Luke 2:2).

To Him (Gamaliel) They Agreed (5:40) - With Gamaliel’s recommendation now stated, Luke next records, “And they agreed with him.” His argument was convincing because it was based on precedent. Further, it was based on the assumption that if the movement of the apostles was simply the work of man, it would die out, but if it was truly the work of God, nothing could thwart it anyway. The advice was sound and reasonable. With that decided, they still could not let the apostles go away without a demonstration of their authority. Hence, it next says, “and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them.” In such a tribunal, there must be a reason for such a punishment. However, none is given.

Beaten Them (5:40) - The apostles were unjustly flogged, probably with thirty-nine lashes, the standard number given to avoid exceeding the OT Legal limit of forty (cf. Deuteronomy 25:3).

Morning Message: Purging to Power

Bobservations' Column
Titled - "Purging to Power"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz

In Acts 2:44 and 4:32, we read that the members of the Church had adopted a communal style of living, allowing anyone to use anything owned by anyone. Personal possessions were a thing of the past, and all things were held in common, for the good of the Church.

Today we see one of the pitfalls of commune-style living. Some members are wealthier than others, and sooner or later, the wealth dwindles. In full dedication, Church members gave all they had for the Church.

We will meet Ananias and his wife Sapphira today. We know little about this couple, other than what we read. They had a possession they were willing to sell, and gave a portion of the proceeds to the Apostles. Others had given all their possessions and made them available to anyone in the Church. Ananias and Sapphira had agreed to give only a portion to the Apostles. But for some reason, these two presented their gift as though it was all they had.

Communal living is essentially as old as humanity itself. Early hunter-gatherer societies, and many Indigenous cultures predating written history survived by pooling resources and sharing communal spaces.

Religious communes rose in the late middle-ages. Hippie communes became popular in the 1960’s. And Commune style living is still popular today among close friends; sharing resources, possessions and even domiciles.

Studies of Cast Societies, materialism, capitalism all promote reasons for commune-ism, evening out the wealth of a small group or an entire nation, such as Communist Russia. Karl Marx promoted this in his book, “Communist Manifesto.” His thinking was in philosophy, the crown peak of human thought. But the absolute wealth of such a society has to “go” someplace, and often it ends up going to those in governance, the minority ruling class. It can be dedicated to them, or quietly skimmed, away from public view.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” - Isaiah 55:8,9

“It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in princes.” - Psalm 118:9

Bobservations' Column:  Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Acts 5:1-18 - Purging to Power

Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:

Acts 5 now records a rather negative incident in the development of the early church. It is an event that somewhat contrasts that of the account of Barnabas.   

The story of Ananias and Sapphira is found in Acts 5, and it is a sad story, indeed. It actually begins at the end of chapter 4 with the description of the early church in Jerusalem, a group of believers so filled with the Holy Spirit that they were of one heart and one mind. Great power and grace were on the apostles, who preached and testified of the risen Savior. So knit together were the hearts of the people that they held all their possessions loosely and willingly shared them with one another, not because they were coerced but because they loved one another. Those who sold land and houses gave of their profits to the apostles, who distributed the gifts to those in need.

Two members of this group were Ananias and his wife, Sapphira; they also had sold a field. Part of the profit from their sale was kept back by the couple, and Ananias only laid a part of the money at the apostles’ feet. However, Ananias made a pretense of having given all the proceeds. This hypocritical show may have fooled some, but not Peter, who was filled with the power of the Spirit. Peter knew instantly that Ananias was lying—not just to him but to God—and exposed his hypocrisy then and there. Ananias fell down and died (Acts 5:4). When Sapphira showed up, she, too, lied to Peter and to God, saying that they had donated the entire proceeds of the sale of the land to the church. When her lie had been exposed, she also fell down and died at Peter’s feet.

Some speculate that these two deaths were from natural causes. Perhaps Ananias died from shock or guilt, but Peter pronounced Sapphira’s death before she died, and the coincidental timing and place of their deaths indicate that this was indeed God’s judgment. The question is why. Why would God kill two people for lying?

God’s reasons for bringing about the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira involve His abhorrence of sin, the hypocrisy of the couple, and the lesson for the rest of the church, both then and now. It can be easy today to gloss over the holiness of God, to forget that He is righteous and pure and that He hates sin wholeheartedly. This particular sin of hypocrisy in the church was dealt with swiftly and decisively.

The sudden, dramatic deaths of Ananias and Sapphira served to purify and warn the church. “Great fear seized the whole church” (Acts 5:11). Right away, in the church’s infancy, God made it plain that hypocrisy and dissimulation were not going to be tolerated, and His judgment of Ananias and Sapphira helped guard the church against future pretense. God laid the bodies of Ananias and Sapphira in the path of every hypocrite who would seek to enter the church.

Sunday Morning Audio Message:  

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

Ananias . . . Sapphira (5:1) - Ananias is a transliteration of a common Hebrew name, Khananyah. That comes from khanan, meaning to show favor, or be gracious, and Yah, which is a contracted form of Yehovah, the Lord. Thus, the name means "Yah has been gracious." He is noted along "with Sapphira his wife." Her name is derived from the Hebrew word sappir, a sapphire. That is derived from saphar, to count or recount. The reason for this may be that the sapphire is an especially hard stone that may have been used to scratch other substances. As such, a tally could be made when counting. As she is the wife of Ananias, the account demonstrates that deceit of the heart can be something that spreads to others. It is not something isolated when it has its influencing effects. As such, it says that they, husband and wife, together “sold a possession.”

These are two classic examples of hypocrisy among Christians who faked their spirituality to impress others (cf. Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18; 15:7; 23:13-36).  They were "in the congregation of those who believed" (4:32) and were involved with the Holy spirit (v. 3), but remained hypocrites.

Kept Back Part (5:2) - The Greek work, translated as "kept back," is nosphizo. It signifies purloining pilfering, or embezzling. It is the clearly wrong action of setting apart something for oneself.  In this case, the setting apart is not what is wrong.  The disposition of the money would be up to them, However, what accompanies the setting apart of the money is what makes their actions inappropriate and sinful.  It is clearly to be understood that their actions imply that the entire amount is supposedly being offered to God. Thus, it is the lie that accompanies the offering that is being focused on. Ananias has looked to find favor in the eyes of the people through a dishonest display of charity. But the guilt of the act extends beyond him because of “his wife also being aware of it.” They are both complicit in the deceitful act, they had promised, perhaps publicly, that they were giving the full amount received to the Lord.  Their outward sin was lying about how much they were giving to the church, but the deeper, more devastating sin was their spiritual hypocrisy based on selfishness.

Satan Filled Your Heart (5:3) - This is one of two times Satan is spoken of by name in Acts. The other being in Acts 26:18. It is a clear indication that he is alive and active in the world after the time of the cross. In this case, it was to fill the heart of Ananias. The heart is reflective of the seat of reason and understanding. Ananias’ thought process was clearly afflicted so that he would presume to be deceitful with the money that was intended for the aid of the church. It is an egregious offense because the apostles represented the leadership of the church, and they were those who demonstrated the power of God working through them. Ananias and Sapphira were satanically inspired, according to this scripture, this is in contrast to Barnabas's Spirit-filled gesture (4:37). There are two avenues by which we are tempted: Satan and our own sinful flesh. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, wanting to appear more spiritual than they really were, lied to the apostles and pretended they were giving as an offering the full price of some property they had sold. Peter confronted them: “How is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?” (verse 3). In this instance, Peter knew that the temptation to lie had come from Satan. Ananias and his wife both gave in to that temptation (verses 7-10).

Lie to the Holy Spirit (5:3) - Ananias lied to the ever-present Holy Spirit in him (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20) and in the church (Ephesians 2:21, 22). In Christian theology, lying to the Holy Spirit is a severe offense because it is considered lying directly to God. Consequences span from immediate divine judgment, such as physical death, to spiritual alienation, loss of fellowship, and ongoing spiritual corruption.

Great Fear (5:5) - This was one of the reasons for the swift, strict, and sudden event. It was to instill in the minds of the people the terrifying nature of just how close the judgment of the Lord can be at any time. People sin every day, as if God doesn't see or care about it, but it is not as if God is far off and unconcerned. He is right among His people, and He is perfectly aware of the things that we do – be they right or wrong. They were afraid about the seriousness of hypocrisy and sin in the church. The people learned that death can be the consequence of sin (see 1 Corinthians 11:30-32; 1 John 5:16). That fear extended beyond those present to all who heard about the divine judgment (v. 11). Cf. 1 Peter 3:10; 4:17. It is a common practice among Charismatics and Pentecostals to claim to be “slain in the Spirit.” They fall down and roll around on the ground in supposedly ecstatic states. This type of religion is not found in the epistles, and it does damage to the beauty of the Christian experience, sensationalizing what should be a dignified approach to the holiness of God. When Ananias was slain in the Spirit, it was a permanent effect, and it was because he deserved what happened to him. If believers were punished for treating the holiness of God with such contempt every time they did so, there would very quickly be a lot fewer people filling the halls of churches.

Buried (5:6) - The Jews did not embalm but, customarily, buried the dead the same day, especially someone who died by divine judgment (see Deuteronomy 21:22, 23).

Tempt the Spirit of the Lord (5:9) - Sapphira had gone too far in presuming upon God's forbearance.  The folly of such blatant human presumption had to be shown as a sin, hence the ultimate divine chastening that followed.

Church (5:11) - Here, the word ekklésia is used and translated as “church.” It was used by Jesus in Matthew 16:18 and again twice in Matthew 18:17. It signifies a called-out assembly. It will be used many times as Acts continues, and it will then fill Paul’s epistles. It will also be used in Hebrews, James, 3 John, and Revelation. The word refers to the people who comprise the faith, meaning the faith that leads to an individual’s inclusion in the body of Christ. Faith in what Jesus has accomplished is the key to inclusion. When faith is demonstrated before God, that person is sealed with the Holy Spirit and becomes a member of the ekklésia, or “called out assembly.”

HELPS Word Studies provides a more important meaning for the student of Scripture to remember, saying, “The English word ‘church’ comes from the Greek word kyriakos, ‘belonging to the Lord’ (kyrios). 1577 /ekklēsía (‘church’) is the root of the terms ‘ecclesiology’ and ‘ecclesiastical.’” This called-out body is who Luke is referring to now. They, meaning all of the believers in Christ, are the church, and it is said that great fear came upon them because of what happened to Ananias and Sapphira. They have now come to understand one of the traits of the Lord. He is not just merciful and forgiving, but He is also holy. He is to be treated as such. It is reminiscent of what was said in 1 Samuel 6 when the people realized the sternness of the Lord in judgment –

Signs and Wonders (5:12) - The words here are teras and sémeion. The teras, or wonder, is something that is done in order to bring about a reaction from those who see it. The effect upon those who witness it is intended to bring about a change in them. A wonder is a thing that is evident in itself. It is something that extends beyond what is normal and is thus considered miraculous. When it is done, it is to be attributed to the Lord because there is no other explanation for it to occur. The sémeion, or sign, is a sign, a miracle, a token, and so on. It generally is given to authenticate, corroborate, or confirm a person or a matter. Whereas a wonder is the thing itself, the sign stands for, testifies to, or points to something else. A simple example of a sign would be the blood of the Passover applied to the doorposts of a house. It is a sign. Jesus’ miracles, at times, are noted as signs. Though they may be miraculous, like the changing of water to wine, they are signs that were given to authenticate Him as the Messiah and His ministry as approved by God. These things, having been done through the apostles, were clear demonstrations of the power and effective working of the Lord, and they were given as confirmations of their office and of the approval by the Lord concerning their ministry.

No Man Join Himself to Them (5:13) - These unbelievers had respect for the followers of Jesus, but feared the deadly potential of joining the church. 

Believers . . . Both Men and Women (5:14) - While the unbelievers stayed away due to fear of the consequence of sin, there were multitudes who heard the gospel witness gladly believed, and joined the church.  Growth did continue. As Luke records, “And believers.” This is referring to people who have heard the gospel that Christ died for their sins, that He was buried, and that He had risen again. They believed this, accepting the words as true. Thus, they are reckoned among believers. It is to people of this group, believers, that they “were increasingly added.” The verb is imperfect, signifying an ongoing process. They were increasingly (kept on being) added. It shows a continued growth that means people were truly converted, and they had been saved according to the words of the Lord that “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Shadow of Peter (5:15) - The people truly believed Peter had divine healing power and that it might even extend to them through his shadow (cf. 3:1-10).  BUT... Scripture does not say Peter's shadow ever healed anyone; in fact, the healing power of God through him seemed to go far beyond his shadow (v. 16), "multitude . . . all were healed").   The sick were not being healed by shadows or auras or magical garments; they were being healed as a direct answer to the apostles’ prayer in Acts 4:30: “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” The miracles performed by the apostles were demonstrations of the Lord’s power and mercy, affirming Christ Jesus as Savior and testifying that their message was true. This outpouring of healing was an answer to the prayer in 4:29, 30.  

Unclean Spirits (5:16) - They are demons, fallen angels (Revelation 12:3) who are so designated because of their vile wickedness. They frequently live inside unbelievers, particularly those who vent their wicked nature.

Rose Up (5:17) - The previous verses spoke of the multitudes who were bringing the sick out into the streets and others coming from surrounding cities, all to be healed. In this, healings were taking place, and it signifies that people were believing that healing was possible. When 457 it came about, the message of the good news would be more readily accepted as well. As such, it would obviously cause consternation to the leaders. In their healing, the people were “rising up,” but this caused a rising up in anger by the jealous leaders of the people. But more, the same word is also used of rebels in Acts 5:36, 37. And so another contrast is probably being inferred between the true leadership of the Lord and the rebellious leadership of the high priest against the Lord. Depending on when this occurred, this high priest could be Caiaphas, noted in John 11:49. He was already opposed to Christ and His message. If he is still the high priest, his rebelliousness against the Lord continues on now. Further, Luke next says, “and all those who were with him.” When one understands that this is a rising up against the purposes of the Lord, which is exactly what is being described, the expression unites these people with the high priest as if they are a bunch of thugs thronging together in order to work their mischief. Of this group, Luke specifically notes it “is the sect of the Sadducees.”

The Common Prison (5:18) - This is the public jail. There is an active arrest going on. This time it isn’t just Peter and John, but it more generally says, “on the apostles.” No indication is given if it is all the apostles, or just some of them, but those that had been meeting together at the time are certainly who are being referred to, be it five, eight, or all twelve. From there, it next notes the actions of those arresting them, saying, “and put them in the common prison.”

Morning Message: Error in the Sanhedrin

Bobservations' Column
Titled - "Error in the Sanhedrin"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz

Last week we read of the healing of a man born lame. That teaching led us to the questioners of that miracle, and Peter’s second sermon to the people who were still there from Pentecost. Peter reproved the Sadducees for their unbelief, in spite of all that the Prophets had spoken, namely the healings by Messiah, and that “they” had been the ones to kill Jesus, Messiah, whose appearance they all awaited.

It is clear from today in Chapter 4 that at least part of the Sanhedrin was present to hear Peter’s words. The Sanhedrin formed the leadership of the Temple, being made up of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Scribes. Sadly, the Sadducees did not believe in the spiritual realm and its possibilities. (One time, I heard a Pastor say, “That’s why they are ‘sad, you see?’ ”)

They were missing the things of the Spirit; He by whom the Prophets had all taught. For the Sadducees, seeing was believing. Reality was the only thing that made sense to them. And after hearing Peter’s words of faith-in-Jesus, they laid hands on Peter and the Apostles for teaching the people, believing that the Apostles were simple, unlearned men. They questioned and undermined the ability of the Spirit to directly teach His children. But ever the legalists, you can bet they touched their Mezuzahs each time they entered or exited their homes, the scroll inside, reminding them of “The Shema,” in Deuteronomy 6:4,5 - This is our Triune God.

“Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

The Sadducees were in denial of the connection that the Holy Ghost supplied. Therefore, they could deny Jesus as the Holy One, Jesus as Messiah, and His Resurrection. But how could they worship God in the Spirit if they denied the Spirit? Just the same, about 5,000 who had heard Peter and the Apostles, believed anyway. For these, the Prophets and the recent history in Jerusalem convinced them. Oh! For a time such as this! Prophecies fulfilled in their lifetime. And for us also, the Prophets have foretold of our times as well! Is any lacking the Spirit? Ask, and receive Him!

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches…”  - Revelation 2:7, 11, 17 and 29; 3:3, 13 and 22.

 

Bobservations' Column:  Audio Version

Sunday Morning Message:

Acts 4:1-22 - "Error in the Sanhedrin"

Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:

Last week, chapter 3 ended with Peter addressing the men of Israel at the temple complex at the “porch which is called Solomon’s.” It is while Peter is addressing the people that Chapter 4 begins. That is noted with the words, “And as they spake unto the people.” Peter is still in the process of giving his sermon as this occurs, and his words were heard by some who were not at all pleased with what they were hearing. That will be seen in the coming verses. But, for now, the narrative continues with the identity of those who are not pleased, beginning with “the priests.” 

The first case of persecution against the church is described in this chapter. Peter and John are put into custody because their preaching on the resurrection of Jesus disturbed a number of the religious leaders (in particular the Sadducees who denied any resurrection, Matthew 22:23; Acts 23:8). In the New Testament, the Sanhedrin is best known for their part in the series of mock trials that resulted in the crucifixion of Jesus. The Sanhedrin began with an informal examination of Jesus before Annas, the acting high priest (John 18:12-14, 19-23), followed by a formal session before the entire Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57-68). There the decision was made to turn Jesus over to the Roman authorities to be tried and crucified. 

The religious leaders of the New Testament—the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Priests—frequently usurped God's authority by elevating their own man-made rules above Scripture, denying His supernatural power, and using the Temple system for political and financial control. We saw them in action in the gospels, and here we are seeing them in action once again. In spite of this, the number of men who believed came to be about five thousand. It is not men who command the work of God, rather it is God who works in the hearts of men.  

After a night in jail, Peter and John are brought before the council, including the high priest and members of his family. Challenged to explain themselves, Peter proclaims the healing was done in the name of Jesus Christ, the very one they crucified yet whom God raised from the dead and who has now become "the chief cornerstone" (cf. Psalm 118:22), and in whose name alone salvation is now available. Amazed at Peter and John's boldness, and unable to deny that the lame man had been healed, the council sends them outside and confer among themselves. They decide to prevent the spread of the apostles' doctrine by threatening Peter and John not to preach or teach in the name of Jesus. The apostles respond that they must speak what they have seen and heard. The council, unable to do anything more at this time because of the people, simply threaten the apostles once again and let them go.

Sunday Morning Audio Message:

Key Words and Definitions with Reference:

Priests (4:1) - The Office of priest in the Old Testament began with Aaron and his sons (Leviticus 8).  They became the human intermediaries between holy God and sinful humanity.  They were characterized by three qualities: (1) they were chosen and set apart for priestly service by God; (2) they were to be holy in character; and (3) they were the only ones allowed to come near to God on behalf of the people, with the high priest being the chief go between on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). Jesus is our Mediator and our High Priest: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).  Hebrews 4–10 details how Jesus is our ultimate High Priest and how His priesthood is far superior to the Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament. The writer of Hebrews also explains how the Old Testament system of priests served to foreshadow the ministry of Jesus. The Levitical priesthood of Aaron’s line was not intended to continue forever. Jesus’ priesthood is eternal.

The Captain of the Temple (4:1) - Chief of the temple police force (composed of Levites) and second-ranking official to the high priest.  The Romans had delegated the temple-policing responsibility to the Jews.

Sadducees (4:1) - The Great Sanhedrin was the supreme court of ancient Israel, made up of 70 men and the high priest. In the Second Temple period, the Great Sanhedrin met in the Temple in Jerusalem. The court convened every day except festivals and on the Sabbath. The Sanhedrin as a body claimed powers that lesser Jewish courts did not have. As such, they were the only ones who could try the king or extend the boundaries of the Temple and Jerusalem, and were the ones to whom all questions of law were finally put.  The Sadducees were known for denying the supernatural, including the resurrection of the dead and the existence of angels (Acts 23:8). Unlike the Pharisees, they rejected human tradition, accepted only the Pentateuch (Genesis - Deuteronomy) as authoritative, and scorned legalism.  They tended to be wealthy, aristocratic members of the priestly tribe and, in the days of Herod, controlled the temple.  They were rationalists, liberals, compromisers and political opportunists. The only time they united with the Pharisees was to oppose and crucify Jesus.

Preached through Jesus the Resurrection (4:2) - This part of the apostles' message was the most objectionable to the Jewish leaders.  They had executed Christ as a blasphemer, and now Peter and John were proclaiming His Resurrection.

Eventide (Already Evening) (4:3) - The Jews detained Peter and John overnight in jail because Jewish law did not permit trials at night.  It had been too late to convene the Sanhedrin that afternoon, so the apostles would face a hearing the next day before that council. 

Five Thousand (4:4) - The cumulative total of men in the Jerusalem church by this time, not the number of those converted after Peter's latest message. All people were to attend each pilgrim feast, without exception. However, the reckoning is based upon the males. In the feeding of the five thousand, only the men were counted. As such, the number was at least double and possibly triple or more of that number, depending on how many family members were present.

Rulers, Elders, and Scribes (4:5) - These positions made up the Jewish ruling body, the Sanhedrin. 

Annas . . . Caiaphas (4:6) - Even though Annas (A.D. 6-15) had been replaced and Caiaphas was now high priest (A.D. 18-36), he retained his title and wielded great influence.

John . . . Alexander (4:6) - Their identities are uncertain. "John" could be an alternate reading for "Jonathan," who was one of Annas' sons and replaced Caiaphas as high priest in A.D. 36. The Pulpit Commentary says – “Of John and Alexander nothing further is known, but Farrar conjectures that John may be "the celebrated Johanan Ben Zakkai, and Alexander perhaps the wealthy brother of Philo.” Regardless of their identity, they were known at the time of Luke’s writing, and thus they add validity to his narrative that would otherwise be lacking. Along with these, it next says, “and as many as were of the family of the high priest.”

Filled with the Holy Spirit (4:8) - Because Peter was under the control of the Holy Spirit, he was able to face persecution and preach the gospel with power (cf. Luke 12:11, 12). This is something explicitly said to the disciples of Jesus concerning their ministry – 350 “Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” -Luke 12:11, 12 In fulfillment of that, Peter is filled with the words and the wisdom of God to respond in the manner best determined by Him. As this is so, the exact and perfect words necessary to fulfill His purposes will be realized.

Rulers . . . Elders (4:8) - Peter is standing before the leaders of Israel. The high priest was the mediator of the sacrificial system of the covenant. It is a minutely detailed system that was set up to anticipate the work of Jesus Christ. But a main point of that system was that various levels of authority within the nation required particular sacrifices for guilt. In other words, when the high priest sinned, the sacrifice and the blood of the sacrifice had to be handled differently than for the common people (see Leviticus 4:1-12). This is true with a ruler of the people (see Leviticus 4:22-26) and of a sin committed by the entire congregation (see Leviticus 4:13-21). However, because Christ had come and fulfilled the typology of all of these sacrifices, and because He had then brought the Mosaic Covenant to its fulfillment and annulment, those in these positions must come through Him to receive atonement – meaning the high priest, the rulers, and indeed the entire congregation. The national guilt exists, and it cannot be cleansed apart from acceptance of the work of their Messiah. The Scribes and the Pharisees - these rulers sat upon the seat of Moses. They administered the legislative aspect of the covenant. Along with the high priest who administered the sacrificial parts of it, they should have known better. They were responsible for knowing Scripture and understanding the time of their visitation. But they failed in this. The national guilt rested upon them. Peter is, once again, speaking to them in hopes of removing this guilt. If they reject His words, which are now recorded in Acts, those words will stand as a witness against them.

This is the Stone . . . Set At Nought (Rejected) . . . the Head of the Corner (Chief Cornerstone) (4:11) - Peter just referred to Jesus, who was crucified by the leaders. Now, to directly show the fulfillment of Scripture in this, he cites Psalm 118:22, beginning with, “This is.”  The words are clear enough to get the sense of Peter’s intent. With this subject given, he then says that He is “the stone.” The Hebrew word, translated as “stone,” is eben. That comes from the same root as the word banah, "to build." As such, it is something that is employed in a building process. For example, one builds an altar with stones. Also, one builds a temple with stones. In Genesis 28, Jacob is said to have used a stone for resting his head when he had his dream of a ladder reaching to heaven. One can see the symbolism of Christ in it. A stone was set, and from it a ladder was placed reaching back to heaven. Christ is the stone, Christ is the ladder, Christ is the gate (the door) at the top of the ladder – He is the means of access to restoration with God. In the morning, Jacob set up the stone, building a pillar as a memorial to what occurred. Since ancient times, builders have used cornerstones in their construction projects. A cornerstone was the principal stone, usually placed at the corner of an edifice, to guide the workers in their course. The cornerstone was usually one of the largest, the most solid, and the most carefully constructed of any in the edifice. The Bible describes Jesus as the cornerstone that His church would be built upon. He is foundational. Once the cornerstone was set, it became the basis for determining every measurement in the remaining construction; everything was aligned to it. As the cornerstone of the building of the church, Jesus is our standard of measure and alignment.

No Other Name (4:12) - This refers to the exclusivity of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.  There are only two religious paths:  the broad way of works salvation leading to eternal death, and the narrow way of faith in Jesus leading to eternal life.  The Lord Jesus spoke of this.  (Matthew 7:13, 14; cf. John 10:7, 8; 15:6).

Unlearned (Uneducated) and Ignorant (Untrained) Men (4:13) - Peter and John were not educated in the rabbinical schools and had no formal training in Old Testament theology. It is a new word in Scripture, idiótés. One can see the immediate connection to our modern word “idiot,” of which it still bears a similar meaning to that of the Greek. It signifies a person who lacks education or proper instruction. Because of this, his words would be poorly structured and easily misunderstood. However, despite being unlettered and unlearned Galileans – apparent idiots in comparison to them – the apostles spoke with an eloquence and flavor of speech that amazed the council. As such, “they marveled.” They were trained by the Son of God, Himself and filled with the Spirit of God who empowered them and gave them utterance.

Conferred Among Themselves (4:15) - The apostles were proclaiming Jesus was alive when those of the council had seen Him crucified and dead. They were proclaiming He was the Messiah when the leaders of the nation had rejected Him. They were proclaiming healing in His name while these same leaders had ambled past the man day after day without ever entertaining such a thought. What was happening was like a stain upon them in many ways and they wanted it washed away. As such, they looked for an answer to the matter and “they conferred among themselves.” The main reason for this private deliberation was to come to an agreed resolution on the matter. Each division of these men had something to gain from stopping the speech of the apostles, and each of them surely had something to lose if the matter was not handled properly. Certain aspects of their previous involvement in the crucifixion of Christ could come to light. But more, and this surely had to be on their minds, is the continued nagging thought that what these men had been preaching might be true. The evidence of the healing was undeniable. The conversion of many thousands had already taken place. These things were not hidden in a corner. What was decided by this council wasn’t just a matter of imprisoning a couple of hicks from Galilee. Rather, it was something that appeared to be substantial, and it was growing more so with each day that passed.

To Hearken (Listen) to You More than to God (4:19) - This is what is of paramount importance, and their words clearly indicate it as such. The highest human authorities in the land have gathered, those who sit on Moses’ seat, those who minister in the temple, the elders, and so on. They all have rendered a decision concerning a matter, but Peter and John together voice their minds, elevating the matter to one that must be pleasing to God, first and foremost. The implication clearly is that they believe those in authority before them are – by default – not pleasing to God in their judgment. Their words want to know if it is right in God’s sight “to listen to you more than to God.” The Son of God had come. He had demonstrated His position and authority, and He was now to be heard, confirming the very words of Moses that the council had rejected. So, who should the apostles listen to, God or these men? With this stated to them, they adamantly state, “you judge.” Christians should obey governmental authority (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17), but when government decrees are clearly contrary to God's Word, God must be obeyed (cf. Exodus 1:15-17; Daniel 6:4-10).