Sermon Notes 9/19/21 “Apostles Arrested”

The Book of Acts Series #9 9/19/21
The Birth and Expansion of the Church of Jesus Christ “…you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 (NASB)
Introduction – The transitional nature of the Book of Acts 1:1-5 I. Christian witness in Jerusalem 1:6-8:3
A. The Risen Lord – The 40 days between Jesus’ resurrection & ascension 1:6-26

B. Pentecost – Outpouring of the Holy Spirit – The birthday of the Church 2:1-47

C. Healing the lame man in the Temple, Peter’s 2nd Sermon 3:1-26

D. The beginning of persecution 4:1-37

Part 1 – Acts 4:1-12 “Apostles Arrested” (“Door”- Jail Cell Door)
“…‘what must I do to be saved?’ They said,
‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’” Acts 16:30-31 (NASB)
Key Verse(s)- Peter and John continue to confidently confront sin, even in the Council Acts 4:7 (NASB) *People should also wonder why and how we do what we do!
“When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, ‘By what power, or in what name, have you done this?’” *Note: “in the name of” = “in the power of”
Acts 4:8-10 (NASB) *Peter, filled (controlled) by the Holy Spirit points out their sin “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 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.” cf. Acts 3:13-14
Key x-References-The early Christian sermons focused on the Resurrection of Christ
Acts 2:30-32 ( NASB) *The Resurrection was prophesied in the Old Testament
“And so, because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY. This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.” Note: Luke references Psalm 16:8-11; 132:11; 89:3-4 – David (~900 B.C.)
Acts 4:33 (NASB) *The Resurrection gave the apostles boldness in face of great danger “And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.”
Acts 24:14-15 (NAS) *Even many Christians do not know the lost are also resurrected! “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.”
Romans 1:1-4 (NASB) *We know Christ is the Son of God because of the Resurrection “Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord…”
1 Peter 1:3-5 (excerpts NASB) *The blessed Christian hope of the Resurrection “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and unde- filed and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.”
Acts 9:31 (NASB)

1. Peter and John arrested for preaching the resurrection of Christ 4:1-12
   a. The reason for their arrest – a ‘disturbing message’ re: resurrection 4:1-3 b. The results of their ‘disturbing message’ – many believed 4:4
   c. The significance of the resurrection with respect to salvation 4:5-12
2. Submission vs. non-violent resistance to the civil authorities 4:13-23
3. Confidence in the face of persecution because of God’s sovereignty 4:24-30 4. Signs of God’s presence include boldness & true koinonia fellowship 4:31-37
   E. Purging from within, more persecution from without 5:1-41 F. Choosing co-laborers – The first deacons 6:1-7
   G. Stephen, the first martyr 6:8-8:3
   II. Christian witness in Palestine and Syria 8:4-12:25 A. The Christians Scattered 8:4-40
   B. The Conversion of Paul 9:1-31
   C. The Conversion of Gentiles 9:32-11:30
   D. The Christians Persecuted by Herod 12:1-25
   III. Christian witness to the uttermost part of the earth 13:1-28:31
   A. The First Missionary Journey 13:1-14:28
   B. The Council at Jerusalem 15:1-35
   C. The Second Missionary Journey 15:36-18:22 D. The Third Missionary Journey 18:23-21:26 E. The Journey to Rome 21:27-28:27
   Conclusion 28:28-31
   Key Verse(s) – Persecution began due to preaching the resurrection of Christ
   Acts 4:12 (NASB) *Jesus IS the way – the ONLY way (or source) of salvation
   “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” *Note: “name” = power
   Acts 4:1-2 (NASB) *The key significance of the resurrection for the Gospel message
   “As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”
   “…the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit .” Acts 13:52 (NASB)