Acts 4:23-37

Wonderful. Good morning, good morning, good morning. Welcome to Coffee and Devotions. This is where every day you and I, we get together, we get into God's word and we grow in our love for the Lord together. And this year, 2022, we'll go all the way from the book of Acts to the book of Philemon. This morning, we are finishing up Acts chapter four. It's really a fun passage for us today. Why don't we have some coffee?
We'll pray and we'll get into God's word. Let's go ahead and pray. Father, we thank you so much for this day. We thank you for your word. We thank you for the blessing it is to sit at your feet. Father, we pray that as we read your word this morning, you would give us assurance and boldness. In Jesus's name. Amen. Here we go. Acts chapter four, beginning at verse 23. Remember the context for this.
Peter and John were in the temple. They healed the man who had been lame for a long time. What did it end up with in verse 22? The man was over 40 years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. So he's been lame for a long time. He's been... Sorry, my computer's flashing here. I want to drop these down so it's not flashing on my face. He's been lame. We don't know if he's been lame for all those 40 years or not, but he's been lame for a long time.
And here it's saying that they were arrested, they were threatened, they spoke pretty boldly to the high priest and to the temple guards and stuff like that. And so now they go back. And so as they are going back to their people, to the other apostles, this is what the text has for us today. So Acts chapter 4, beginning at verse 23. And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
So when they heard that, they raised their voices to God with one accord and said, Lord, you are God. who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them whom who by the mouth of your servant David you said why did the nations rage and the people blot the vain thing the kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers were gathered together against the lord and against his christ they truly For truly, against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever your hand and your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats and grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word. By stretching out your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke with one word of God with boldness.
Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul. Neither did any say that any of his things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked. for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet, and they distributed to each as anyone had need. And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles, which is translated, son of encouragement, A Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet."
Well, that's a wonderful passage, but we need to ask ourselves, A, what is this about? B, what's the best verse to summarize this? And C, what are we called to do in response to these words? So A, what is this about? Well, the apostles go back home. They're talking with the other apostles, with Peter and John, they go back home. They're talking with the other apostles and they are brought to a spirit of prayer.
They have one heart and one mind and here they pray out and notice they say to the Lord, who is the Lord of both heaven and sea, they say to him that David's words are fulfilled. And they speak of Psalm 2. And as they speak of Psalm 2, notice here what they say. Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot of vain things? Their kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah or against his Christ. Here it is amazing. that the apostles are saying, that David's words were fulfilled in Psalm 2, not just against the raging Gentile nations, but they even include the high priests, the scribes, the Pharisees, those people who condemned Jesus to death were in league with people like Pontius Pilate and Herod.
And this does not give them angst or anything like this, but they help us understand how this is fulfilled, Psalm 2 is fulfilled in verse 28. See, it's not like God was surprised that Jesus was put to death. No, God chose that his only begotten son would be put to death. It was not Herod's decision alone, or Pontius Pilate's decision alone, or even the high priest's decision alone, but Jesus Christ knew he was going to that cross. This is the reality of providence and sovereignty. that people have their own volition, they have their own will, they're able to accomplish their evil purposes, but God uses them for good.
This is what Joseph tells his older brothers, isn't it, when they come to Egypt? And he reveals himself to them and he says, do not fear. Why? Because though you meant it for evil, God meant it for good. They wanted to do their evil will, and yet the Lord was going to bring that calamity for his own glory. And here he does that same thing with Christ. This is what Peter told them in Acts chapter 2 and 3, that they had determined to put him to death, but God had determined that this was going to be for the salvation of all nations. This is the beauty of what's going on here. And so they ask in verse 29, this is what I have double underlined in my Bible, I said, They know that the apostles know that the plan of God is playing out. And so what is their response to that?
They don't ask God, God make it easier on us, God please take us out of persecution, but in the midst of persecution, in the midst of threats, in the midst of calamity, in the midst of affliction, that they might have even more boldness. This boldness isn't coming from within them, but it's coming to them. It's the spirit who is giving them boldness. It's the spirit who's giving them power. It's the spirit who will give them words to speak when the time comes. And so they ask God for more boldness. And God answers in verse 31, right? They're all assembled together, and the place is shaken, right? The place is The place is shaken, and the Holy Spirit comes upon them, and they do speak with boldness. They go out as a witness of the resurrection of the dead.
That's what verse 33 says, and with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. As they went out with boldness with the news of Jesus Christ, there was grace amongst them all. And how was that grace seen? Well, it wasn't just that people had it in their heads, had the intellectual knowledge, or even felt good about it in their hearts, but they actually had living faith. They cared for the orphan and the widow, those who were in distress. They had one heart and one soul, is what the text tells us.
And how has that played out? They sold their stuff. They had yard sales. They went to eBay. They sold their stuff, and they shared with those who had need. And the Bible specifically points out one person here. It points out Joseph, and this is a man that the apostles had given the nickname Barnabas, the son of encouragement, and he was a Levite. He was a man who most likely didn't have much, but what he did have, he sold. And he sold that others might be able to be cared for. This was the beauty of the gospel in action, that it was by word, heart, and action.
So what's the best verse to summarize this? Well, in my Bible, I have a few verses underlined, you know, I have verse 28 and 29 underlined, as well as verse 30 and 33. What do you underline in your Bible? What do you think best summarizes this passion passage?
Lastly, seek calling. What are we called to do in response to these words? Do you have boldness when you speak of Jesus Christ? and do you have bold actions to follow up your words? Are you one who goes and tells others about Jesus?
Maybe you've struggled with that. Maybe you were like Peter and you've failed, not just one time, not just two times, but maybe you have failed three times, maybe 357,000 times. Maybe we need to be those who actually pray that God would give us boldness, that we would speak the truth, that we would open our mouths without fear in the midst of affliction. So many times Christians, especially in the West, are just, okay, you know, I'm going to lose friends.
It's going to be uncomfortable. But will we be bold for Christ? Jesus says, if you deny me before men, I will also deny you before my Father who is in heaven. Will we deny Christ? Or will we boldly proclaim? Will we be those filled with grace and truth? And will we love people with grace and with truth?
Let's pray. Father, we do need your Spirit. God, I pray that you would give me your Spirit. Give me and give all of us who are reading this passage boldness to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the hope we have in Him. Lord, please watch over us this day. Please give us peace and give us boldness in Jesus' name. Amen. Well, may the Lord bless you today. May you go with joy and peace as you rest in Jesus Christ. May you speak boldly of our great Prince of Peace. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye.