Acts 4:1-20

What inspires Peter to speak?

Peter speaks through the power of the Spirit

(not his education or wisdom)

he could have said “God did this” (but gives full credit to Jesus Christ)

Boldness is from the Spirit

Greatest testimony is changed life 

(Taking down a bad billboard and leaving it blank …is not enough…

Put up the good ad for God)

Rom 16:19-20

Same peter who denied Christ before a servant girl now proclaims Christ before the same council that Jesus was tried before he was crucified 

Peter not only knows the word of God, he knows the god of the word and the difference is what the Sanhedrin sees, perceives, and realizes. 

Psalm 118:22 (King James Version) The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; … Answer: It actually says “head of the corner” as in KJV. Also called “chief cornerstone,” this stone can refer to the last stone to be placed into a building

therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation” (Isaiah 28:16). 

God uses the above story to create a mini-parable about “the stone which the builders refused is become the headstone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” Psalm 118:22-23. Jesus picks this story up and applies it to Himself in the gospels. This story about Jesus being the rejected Son, the “cornerstone” of the kingdom of His Father in heaven, is repeated in Matthew 21:33-44; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-18

story of the temple cornerstone being rejected, others tried and failed, finally they turn back to the stone sent by the quarry earlier and it is the only one that could pass all the trials and serve as cornerstone  (corner stone serves as a plum line, and an anchor for foundation)

want to stop them but cant deny the miracle

(twisted perception and goals)

they want to stop men from explaining the miracles are from God through Christ.

Is envy their problem ?

Great leveler (if it can’t level things up it will level things down)

Envy starts with “ if him then me too” and ends with “if not me, then not him either”

We should admire others, celebrate them, not envy, not be jealous 

That robs us of the celebration, the participation 

same type of miracles that Jesus did (that they refused to believe)

Saduccees vs Pharisees

(acts 23:6 reminds us that the two groups did not agree on spiritual matters)

“I am on trial for believing in the resurrection of the dead”

They tell Peter and John to stop

Peter reminds them of the order of authority 

In our legal system, one can appeal to higher court for overturning 

We are told to submit to authority over us but not if it means disobeying God

Rom 13:1

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

1 Peter 2:12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us. 13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, 14or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.…

look at their prayer when they returned

back to same statement about Peter at beginning of chapter

Great commission verses:

Matt 28:18-20

Mark 16:15

Acts 1:8