Pastor's Sermon Notes: The Reaction of the Jerusalem Church to the First Arrest (Acts 4:23-37)

The Reaction of the Jerusalem Church to the First Arrest

Acts 4:23-37

²³ And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. ²⁴ And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: ²⁵ Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? ²⁶ The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. ²⁷ For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, ²⁸ For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. ²⁹ And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, ³⁰ By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. ³¹ And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. ³² And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. ³³ And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. ³⁴ Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, ³⁵ And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. ³⁶ And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, ³⁷ Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Introduction:

Reminder:  Title(s) of Acts? 

            The Acts of the Ascended Christ through the Holy Spirit by His Apostles

           

            Review 4:1-22

           

Overview/Introduction of Chapter 4:

Patterns:

1.  miracles → witness

2.  preaching to the Jews → Gospel rejected by the Jews → preaching to the Gentiles

3.  Jewish opposition to the Gospel and persecution of the Christians → the spread of the Christians and the Gospel

Significant events - Between the first two “Pentecosts” (Jewish in Acts 2, and Samaritan in Acts 8), and following the birth of the Church in Acts 2

Significant persons - Peter is at the forefront here, later Paul’s ministry will be the focus

Geographical movement - still in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8), soon to move to Judea and Samaria prior to the journeys to “the ends of the earth”

Outline:

I.  The Prayer to the Sovereign God (4:23-30)

II.  The Power of a Shaken House (4:31)

III.  The Practice of a Sharing Congregation (4:32-37)

I.  The Prayer to the Sovereign God (4:23-30)

²³ And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. ²⁴ And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: ²⁵ Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? ²⁶ The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. ²⁷ For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, ²⁸ For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. ²⁹ And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, ³⁰ By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

What would the anxiety level have been like for the saints after Peter and John were arrested, while they waited overnight for the outcome?  What sort of questions would have been assaulting their minds? How much uncertainty, fears and doubting were they dealing with? Remember this was the first arrest after that of Christ Himself!

This is the first inspired record of the words of a corporate prayer of the infant Church

but cp. pre-Pentecost - 1:14; 1:24-25; and post-Pentecost prior to this - 2:42; 3:1.

Acts 1:14, 24-25 - 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren….24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.

Acts 2:42 - And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 3:1 - Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

The prayers in Acts and elsewhere in Scripture are worthy of study for our own profit as models.

This is an inspired record in a historical narrative serving as an example of corporate prayer.

Notice the elements of this prayer:

1.  Who God is (4:24d-i) - Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is

2.  What God said (4:25) - Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

3.  What recently happened (4:26-28) - ²⁶ The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. ²⁷ For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, ²⁸ For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

 This is the largest part of this prayer.

The absolute sovereignty of God - Cp. 4:28 to Acts 2:22-24 -

22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

4.  Request #1 - Observe what just happened (4:29a-c) - And now, Lord, behold their threatenings

5:  Request #2 - Embolden us to proclaim your truth by continuing to demonstrate your power (4:29d-30) - and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, ³⁰ By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus

II.  The Power of a Shaken House (4:31)

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

They received an immediate answer!  A very clear indication that their prayer had been heard!

Has this ever happened to you?  Has God ever done something that stood out as a clear and undeniable answer to prayer immediately after you prayed?

shaken - “For shaking phenomena signifying the presence of God, see Isa 6:4; Exod 19:18; 4 Ezra 6:15, 29. Elijah’s experience was not to find God in the usual expressions of theophany—wind, fire, and earthquake (1 Kgs 19:11–12).”

J. B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), pg. 150, note 70.

Contrast:

1 Kgs. 19:11-12 - 11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Compare:

Ex. 19:18 - And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

Ps. 77:18 - The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.

Ps. 114 - 1 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;

2 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion. 3 The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs. 5 What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? 6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob; 8 Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

Is. 6:4 - And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

Contrast the lack of any shaking mentioned during the “Jewish Pentecost” in Acts 2:2 - And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Compare the shaking of the prison in Acts 16:25-26 - 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

In this case an earthquake is mentioned, but that is not the case in Acts 4.  In either case, whether an earthquake is mentioned or not, the shaking is the Lord’s.

Might this not be considered as bearing an eschatological significance?  Compare Heb. 12:25-29 - 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

God knows how to shake us up, and to show us what is really important!

“This was not a “second Pentecost.” They had already received the Spirit. The Spirit had helped Peter and John in a mighty way before the Sanhedrin. It was a fresh filling, a renewed awareness of the Spirit’s power and presence in their life and witness. This was not an ephemeral ecstatic manifestation but a fresh endowment of power for witness that would continue (cf. 4:33).”

Polhill, op. cit., pg. 150.

III.  The Practice of a Sharing Congregation (4:32-37)

³² And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. ³³ And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. ³⁴ Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, ³⁵ And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. ³⁶ And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, ³⁷ Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Cp. 2:42-47 - 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Did you ever think of this as part of the answer to the prayer request in 4:30?

·         Is greed and selfishness healed by the love and the unity of the brethren displayed here?

·         Is this not a sign of the Holy Spirit’s operations and power over sinful human nature in regeneration and sanctification displaying His gifts (Gal. 5)?

·         Is not this a truly wonderful thing to observe?

On these questions see the following:

"...the same wonder-working power of the Spirit which made a lame man walk in the preceding section has enabled a man named Barnabas to sell his field and to give the proceeds to the apostles, who made distribution of such gifts to those in need (cf. Deut. 15:4-5)....The power which broke the bonds of death on Easter, shattered the divisions of speech at Pentecost, and empowered one who was lame now releases the tight grip of private property."

William H. Willimon, Acts, in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed. Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010), pg. 53. 

"The activity of God's grace was seen not merely in the preaching, but also in the way in which the members of the church were freed from material need."

I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint), pg. 115. 

"The sharing of material blessings among believers is portrayed as a particular sign of the grace of God at work in the community."

David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009), pg. 203.

"The willingness to regard one's own possessions as being at the disposal of the community if needy members needed help is the result of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit."

Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012), pg. 270.

"The "great power"....that is connected with the teaching of the apostles and the "great grace"...that is present among the believers describe the fundamental reality and the cause of the life of the community, in which believers are united in faith and purpose and in a willingness to share their possessions."

Schnabel, op. cit.,  pp. 270-271.

"The "power"...is the power of the Holy Spirit, who grants the apostles the boldness to continue to teach about Jesus (vv. 8, 13, 29-31), the power through which healings and signs and wonders happen (v. 30), and also, certainly in the context of vv. 32, 34-35, the power that transforms the lives of the believers from being egocentric to being willing to share with others."

Schnabel, op. cit.,  pg. 271.

These practices set up the events recorded by Luke in the next chapter! 

This supernatural answer to prayer, this Holy Spirit empowered exhibition of unity and love, stands as a sign and as a wonder in the history of the human race! 

Willimon confronts us with an interesting aspect of witnessing bearing:  "When you think about it, the quality of the church's life together is evidence for the truthfulness of the resurrection....a group of people whose life together is so radically different, so completely changed from the way the world builds a community, that there can be no explanation other than that something decisive has happened in history. The tough task of interpreting the reality of a truth like the resurrection is not so much the scientific or historical, "How could such a thing like that happen?" but the ecclesiastical and communal, "Why don't you people look more resurrected?" Op. cit., pp. 51-52.

Such would not be consistently practiced even in the churches planted by the Apostles in the first century.  If someone says that they want to go back to the first century church, or to that pattern, they need to be asked, “Which one?”  The 7 churches of Asia addressed by Christ in Revelation 2-3 were all in the first century, and the Corinthian Church planted by the Apostle Paul had to hear from him, “Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.” (1 Cor. 11:17-22).

Conclusion:

I.  The Prayer to the Sovereign God (4:23-30)

II.  The Power of a Shaken House (4:31)

III.  The Practice of a Sharing Congregation (4:32-37)

[Sermon preached 25 AUG 2013 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

Resources:

G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.

Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007)

                                                  

F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).

I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).

David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).

John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992).

Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012).

William H. Willimon, Acts, in Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching, series ed. James Luther Mays, New Testament ed. Paul J. Achtemeier (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010).

40th Anniversary Celebration and Fall Family Festival

Public Service Announcement:

40th Anniversary Celebration

Wayside Gospel Chapel is planning a celebration of the 40th anniversary of its existence on Sunday, October 13th, 2013.  The Chapel began as such October 16, 1973. 

Fall Family Festival

In conjunction with this celebration Wayside Gospel Chapel is also hosting its Fifth Annual "Fall Family Festival" on Sunday, October 13, 2013 from 4:00-7:00 PM at the church. Wayside Gospel Chapel is located in Greene Township on the corner of Roemerville Road and PA Route 390 about 4 miles south of Promised Land State Park in Pike County. The activities at the Fall Family Festival will include turkey bowling, leaf jumping, pumpkin carving, hay bale throwing and more. There will be food and a bonfire. All ages are welcome, and there is no charge. Activities will take place inside and outside, so please wear warm clothes that you don't mind getting a little dirty! For more information contact Pastor Jack Jeffery at waysidegospelchapel at yahoo dot com.

Pastor's Sermon Notes: The First Apostolic Witness to the Jewish Authorities in Jerusalem (Acts 4:1-22)

The First Apostolic Witness

to the Jewish Authorities in Jerusalem:

The First Arrest and Subsequent Acquittal of the

Proclaimers of the Resurrected Jesus Christ of Nazareth

Acts 4:1-22

 

¹ And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, ² Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. ⁴ Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. ⁵ And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, ⁶ And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, ⁹ If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; ¹⁰ Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. ¹¹ This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. ¹² Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. ¹³ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. ¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, ¹⁶ Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. ¹⁸ And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. ²⁰ For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. ²¹ So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. ²² For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

Introduction:

Reminder:  Title(s) of Acts? 

The Acts of the Ascended Christ through the Holy Spirit by His Apostles

Review Chs. 1-3

Compare the trial of Christ in the past, the arrests in the future in the next chapter, 

along with the murder of Stephen and the arrests and trials of Paul in the future

Overview/Introduction of Chapter 4:

Patterns:

1.  miracles → witness

2.  preaching to the Jews → Gospel rejected by the Jews → preaching to the Gentiles

3.  Jewish opposition to the Gospel and persecution of the Christians → the spread of the Christians and the Gospel

Significant events - Between the first two “Pentecosts” (Jewish in Acts 2, and Samaritan in Acts 8), and following the birth of the Church in Acts 2

Significant persons - Peter is at the forefront here, later Paul’s ministry will be the focus

Geographical movement - still in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8), soon to move to Judea and Samaria prior to the journeys to “the ends of the earth”

Outline:

I.  The Arrest and Incarceration of Peter and John (4:1-4)

II.  The Question of the Jewish Authorities to the Apostles (4:5-7)

III.  The Answer of the Apostles to the Jewish Authorities (4:8-12)

IV.  The Reaction of the Jewish Authorities to the Apostles (4:13-17)

V.  The Acquital of the Apostles by the Jewish Authorities (4:18-22)

I.  The Arrest and Incarceration of Peter and John (4:1-4)

¹ And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

² Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

³ And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

⁴ Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

1.  The Apostolic Sermon Interrupted by the Jewish Authorities (4:1, 3)

2.  The Reason for the Arrest and Incarceration (4:2)

3.  The Success of the Gospel in Spite of Opposition (4:4)

1.  The Apostolic Sermon Interrupted by the Jewish Authorities (4:1, 3)

The Sadducees opposition to the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead

The Captain of the Temple was the “second in command” under the High Priest

2.  The Reason for the Arrest and Incarceration (4:2)

Actually 2 reasons perhaps represented by the groups involved in the arrest

3.  The Success of the Gospel in Spite of Opposition (4:4)

Is the 5,000 to be added to the original 120 + 3,000 + daily additions, or is this to be understood as the total to date?  Is this just a total of “men”, not including women and children, or a generic aggregate?  What was the population of Jerusalem at the time, and how significant was this number as a slice of that population?

II.  The Question of the Jewish Authorities to the Apostles (4:5-7)

⁵ And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

⁶ And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

1.  The Identification of the Inquisitors (4:5-6)

2.  The Question of the Inquisitors (4:7)

1.  The Identification of the Inquisitors (4:5-6)

Cp. the trial of Christ in the Gospels

2.  The Question of the Inquisitors (4:7)

This is the issue for them!

III.  The Answer of the Apostles to the Jewish Authorities (4:8-12)

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

⁹ If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

¹⁰ Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

¹¹ This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

¹² Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

1.  The Irrefutable Evidence (4:8-9)

2.  The Damning Identification (4:10-12)

1.  The Irrefutable Evidence (4:8-9)

Cp. Lk. 12:11-12 - 11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

Lk. 21:14-15 - 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

4:9 - made whole =saved = delivered - same word in Gk. as salvation and saved in 4:12; different word in each case in 4:10 (whole), and 4:14 (healed).

2.  The Damning Identification (4:10-12)

4:10 - Nazareth - in Galilee!

Cp. Ps. 118:21-24 - 21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

23 This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Lk. 20:17 - And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

1 Pet. 2:6-8 - 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

The absolute exclusivism of Christianity!  Solo Christo!  And it doesn’t matter who says differently, whether it is a Billy Graham, a Rob Bell, or a Joel Osteen, the Word of the Lord Himself stands against their false assurances of inclusivism!

Jn. 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Cp. also Mt. 11:27-30 - 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jn. 5:19-29 - 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

1 Tim. 2:5 - For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

IV.  The Reaction of the Jewish Authorities to the Apostles (4:13-17)

¹³ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

¹⁴ And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

¹⁵ But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

¹⁶ Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

¹⁷ But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

1.  The Reaction of the Inquisitors (4:13)

2.  The Inability of the Inquisitors (4:14)

3.  The Decision of the Inquisitors (4:15-17)

1.  The Reaction of the Inquisitors (4:13)

unlearned and ignorant vs. boldness + they had been with Jesus

The blindsiding of the blind - the nature of the witnesses

  

2.  The Inability of the Inquisitors (4:14)

The silencing of the Sanhedrin - Peter and John were not alone here - the evidence, exhibit A, was standing there also!

3.  The Decision of the Inquisitors (4:15-17)

council = Sanhedrin (HCSB)

The nature of the witness and the sign = front page news with banner headlines

Logic + prophetic power did not result in a persuaded or convicted Sanhedrin.

Faith is not produced by an accumulation of overwhelming evidence and proofs.

V.  The Acquital of the Apostles by the Jewish Authorities (4:18-22)

¹⁸ And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

²⁰ For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

²¹ So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

²² For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

1.  The Prohibition by the Inquisitors (4:18)

2.  The Refusal by the Apostles (4:19-20)

3.  The Release of the Apostles (4:21a-c)

4.  The Reason for the Acquital  (4:21d-22)

1.  The Prohibition by the Inquisitors (4:18)

The Attempt at Censorship of Christ

2.  The Refusal by the Apostles (4:19-20)

3.  The Release of the Apostles (4:21a-c)

4.  The Reason for the Acquital  (4:21d-22)

Conclusion:

¹¹ This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

¹² Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

[Sermon preached 18 AUG 2013 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

Resources:

G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), pp. 513-606.

Darrell L. Bock, Acts, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, eds. Robert W. Yarbrough and Robert H. Stein (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007)

                                                  

F. F. Bruce, The Acts of the Apostles: The Greek Text with Introduction and Commentary, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1951, 1952).

I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction And Commentary, Vol. 5 in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. Leon Morris (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980; 2008 reprint).

David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentaries, gen. ed. D. A. Carson (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009).

John B. Polhill, Acts, Vol. 26 in The New American Commentary, gen. ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, 1992).

Eckhard J. Schnabel, Acts, Vol. 5 in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, gen. ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012).

Hymns based on Acts 4:12

Source:  Cyber Hymnal at http://cyberhymnal.org/scr/acts.htm  [accessed 17 AUG 2013], except for the first.

There’s Not A Name Beneath The Skies

Thomas Kelly, in A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship, by William Gadsby (London: Gospel Standard Publications, 1987; also, n.p.: Gospel Standard Trust Publications, 2000), pp. 699-700, Hymn #949.  Meter: L.M.  See also Hymns 205, 208, 573, 585, 678, 789, and 935.

1        There’s not a name beneath the skies,

          Nor is there one in heaven above,

          But that of Jesus, can suffice

          The sinner’s burden to remove.

2        Sweet name, when once its virtue’s known,

          How weak all other helps appear!

          The sinner trusts to it alone,

          And finds the grand specific there.

3        ’Twas long before I knew this truth,

          And learned to trust the Saviour’s name;

          In vanity I spent my youth;

          The thought now fills my heart with shame.

4        But since I’ve known the life and power

          With which his name is richly stored,

          The world can keep my heart no more,

          Nor can its joys content afford.

5        The things I once esteemed the most

          I now account as worthless dross;

          Thy name, dear Saviour, is my boast,

          For which the world appears but loss.

Conquering Kings Their Titles Take

Words: Un­known au­thor, in the Par­is Bre­vi­a­ry (1736), for the Feast of the Cir­cum­ci­sion at Se­cond Ves­pers (Vic­tis si­bi cog­nom­i­na); trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John Chand­ler in his Hymns of the Prim­i­tive Church (1837).

Music: In­no­cents, The Par­ish Choir (1850); har­mo­ny by Wil­liam H. Monk, 1861.

Conquering kings their titles take, From the lands they captive make; Jesus, Thine was given Thee For a world Thou madest free. Not another name is given Power possessing under heaven, Strong to call dead souls to rise And exalt them to the skies. That which Christ so hardly wrought, That which He so dearly bought, That salvation, mortals say, Will ye madly cast away?

Rather gladly for that Name Bear the cross, endure the shame; Joyfully for Him to die Is not death but victory. Jesus, if Thou condescend To be called the sinner’s Friend, Ours the joy and glory be Thus to make our boast of Thee. Glory to the Father be, Glory, virgin born, to Thee, Glory to the Holy Ghost, Ever from the heavenly host.

’Tis for conquering kings to gain

Words: Anon­y­mous, in the Par­is Bre­vi­a­ry (1736), Vic­tis si­bi cog­nom­i­na; trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John Chand­ler, Hymns of the Prim­i­tive Church (1837).

Music: Vienna, Justin H. Knecht, 1797.

Al­ter­nate tune:  In­no­cents, The Par­ish Choir (1850); har­mo­ny by Will­iam H. Monk (1861).

’Tis for conquering kings to gain
Glory o’er their myriads slain;
Jesus, Thy more glorious strife
Hath restored a world to life.

So no other Name is giv’n
Unto mortals under Heav’n
Which can make the dead to rise,
And exalt them to the skies.

That which Christ so hardly wrought,
That which He so dearly bought,
That salvation, mortals, say,
Will you madly cast away?

Rather gladly for that Name
Bear the cross, endure the shame;
Joyfully for Him to die
Is not death, but victory.

Dost Thou, Jesus, condescend
To be called the sinner’s Friend?
Ours, then, it shall always be
Thus to make our boast of Thee.

Only One Name

Words: Ro­bert Low­ry, The Glad Re­frain (New York: Big­low & Main, Pub­lish­ers, 1886), No. 1.

Music: W. How­ard Doane.

There is only one Name that the saints adore—
Jesus, our Elder Brother;
They give Him all the praise, now and ever more;
His Name is over every other.

Refrain

Then lift the happy strain,
And sing the glad refrain—
The Name, the Name of Jesus;
Then lift the happy strain,
And sing the glad refrain—
The Name, the Name of Jesus.

There is only one Name that the soul need know—
Jesus, the Lord’s Anointed;
He suffered to redeem us from sin and woe,
And bear us to the rest appointed.

Refrain

There is only one Name that the angels sing—
Jesus, the Lord of Glory;
They gather at His feet while they hail Him King,
And listen to redemption’s story.

Refrain

To The Name Of Our Salvation

Words: Un­known au­thor, poss­ib­ly 15th Cen­tu­ry (Glor­i­o­si Sal­va­tor­is); trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John M. Neale in Med­iae­val Hymns (1851).

Music: Tri­umph, Hen­ry J. Gaunt­lett (1805-1876).

Al­ter­nate tune:  Oriel, Cas­par Ett, Can­ta Sac­ra (1840).

To the Name of our salvation, Laud and honor let us pay, Which for many a generation Hid in God’s foreknowledge lay; But with holy exultation We may sing aloud today. Jesus is the Name we treasure; Name beyond what words can tell; Name of gladness, Name of pleasure, Ear and heart delighting well; Name of sweetness, passing measure, Saving us from sin and hell. ’Tis the Name for adoration, Name for songs of victory, Name for holy meditation In this vale of misery, Name for joyful veneration By the citizens on high.

’Tis the Name that whoso preacheth Speaks like music to the ear; Who in prayer this Name beseecheth Sweetest comfort findeth near; Who its perfect wisdom reacheth, Heavenly joy possesseth here. Jesus is the Name prevailing Over every name by right; At this Name, in terror quailing, Powers of hell are put to flight; God, in mercy never failing, Saves by this Name of might. Therefore we in love adoring, This most blessèd Name revere; Holy Jesus, Thee imploring So to write it in us here, That hereafter, heavenward soaring, We may sing with angels there.

To The Name That Is Salvation

Words: Poss­i­bly by a 15th Cen­tu­ry Ger­man author (Glor­i­o­si Sal­va­tor­is); trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Per­cy Dear­mer (1867-1936).

Music: Oriel, Cas­par Ett, Can­ta Sac­ra (1840).

To the Name that is salvation, Praise and homage let us pay; Life of every generation, Law that all the stars obey; Love and light by Whose creation All that is stands fast today. Fairest Name beyond all speaking, Fullest end of all desire, Close, yet far beyond all seeking, Goodness, beauty, truth, entire; Wisdom, never vengeance wreaking, Radiance never vexed with ire. ’Tis the Name of mercy, speeding, Just and unjust with His ray; Power that rules by patient leading, Not by force, the easier way; So that man, in freedom heeding, May the law of love obey.

Name of awe and Name of pleasure, Glow divine of grace untold; Sum of values, whose full treasure Striving art can ne’er unfold; Sea of virtue passing measure, Life that doth all life uphold. Hail, O Father, all creating, Now, as when the world began; Master Mind, amazed we hail Thee, As the light-year depths we scan; Spirit of transcendent union, True and just Thy ways to man!

Pastor's Sermon Notes: The Second Petrine Sermon (Acts 3:12-26)

The Second Petrine Sermon

Acts 3:12-26

¹² And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. ¹⁴ But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; ¹⁵ And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. ¹⁶ And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. ¹⁷ And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. ¹⁹ Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; ²⁰ And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: ²¹ Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. ²² For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. ²³ And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. ²⁴ Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. ²⁵ Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. ²⁶ Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Introduction:

Reminder:  Title(s) of Acts? 

           

The Acts of the Ascended Christ through the Holy Spirit by His Apostles

Overview/Introduction of Chapter 3:

The healing in 3:1-11 sets the stage for this sermon

Dr. William C. Varner, Professor of Bible and Greek at The Master’s College, refers to the sermons in Acts as expressing what he refers to as Proclamational Theology (cited with permission from Dr. Varner).

Patterns:

1.  miracles → witness

2.  preaching to the Jews → Gospel rejected by the Jews → preaching to the Gentiles

3.  Jewish opposition to the Gospel and persecution of the Christians → the spread of the Christians and the Gospel

Significant events - Between the first two “Pentecosts” (Jewish in Acts 2, and Samaritan in Acts 8), and following the birth of the Church in Acts 2

Significant persons - Peter is at the forefront here, later Paul’s ministry will be the focus

Geographical movement - still in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8), soon to move to Judea and Samaria prior to the journeys to “the ends of the earth”

Outline:

I.  What Just Happened Here? (3:12-16)

II.  The Proper Response While Between Two Prophesied Works (3:17-21)

III.  The Blessed Work of the Promised Prophet (3:22-26)

I.  What Just Happened Here? (3:12-16)

¹² And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. ¹⁴ But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; ¹⁵ And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. ¹⁶ And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

“Somethings happening here, what it is ain’t exactly clear

There’s a man jumping round over there

Peter’s telling us we better beware

I think its time we stop, hey, what’s that sound

Everybody look what’s going down”

[Adapted from "For What It's Worth", by Stephen Stills, performed by Buffalo Springfield, recorded 5 DEC 1966,  released as a single JAN 1967, and later added to the re-release of their first album, Buffalo Springfield.]

The significant personages in this sermon:

the Apostles

the unnamed beggar crippled from birth who had just been miraculously healed

the Men of Israel

the God of our fathers

Pilate

murderer

Jesus Christ

1.  Two “Why” Questions (3:12)

2.  Three Divine Titles (3:13-15b)

3.  One Simple Explanation (3:16)

4.  The Role of the Apostles (3:15c)

1.  Two “Why” Questions (3:12)

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

1)  The Why of the Miracle

2)  The Why of the Apostles

            1)  The Why of the Miracle

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people,

Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this?

            2)  The Why of the Apostles - Not our power or holiness

or why look ye so earnestly on us,

as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

2.  Three Divine Titles (3:13-15b)

¹³ The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. ¹⁴ But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; ¹⁵ And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead;

1)  His Son Jesus (3:13)

2)  The Holy One and the Just

3)  The Prince of Life (3:14b-15b)

1)  His Son [1] Jesus (3:13)

(1)  Glorified - The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus

(2)  Delivered - whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

(3)  Denied - whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

2)  The Holy One and the Just (3:14a) - Denied - But ye denied the Holy One and the Just

                        Contrast the sinfulness and the injustice of what was done by the Jews to Jesus,                            the Holy and Just Son of God

3)  The Prince of Life (3:14b-15b)

and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; ¹⁵ And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead;

Notice the movement chiastically and climactically from death to life to resurrection in these clauses where Christ is contrasted with a here nameless murderer.

(1)  Killed (3:15a) - And killed the Prince of life

(2)  Replaced A Murderer (3:14b) - and desired a murderer to be granted unto you

(3)  Raised From The Dead (3:15b) - whom God hath raised from the dead

3.  One Simple Explanation - His Name (3:16)

And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. [2]

            Faith in His Name

4.  The Role of the Apostles - We Are Witnesses (3:15c)

whereof we are witnesses

II.  The Proper Response While Between Two Prophesied Works (3:17-21)

¹⁷ And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. ¹⁹ Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; ²⁰ And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: ²¹ Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

1.  The Span of Salvation History (3:17-21)

2.  The Obligation of Salvation History (3:19)

1.  The Span of Salvation History (3:17-21)

1)  Christ Preached - which before was preached unto you

2)  Christ Suffered - those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled

3)  Christ Received - Whom the heaven must receive

4)  Christ Sent - until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began

2.  The Obligation of Salvation History (3:19)

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord

1)  The Response - Repent ye therefore, and be converted

2)  The Motivation - that your sins may be blotted out

3)  The Means - when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord [3]

III.  The Blessed Work of the Promised Prophet (3:22-26)

²² For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. ²³ And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. ²⁴ Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. ²⁵ Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. ²⁶ Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

1.  The Mosaic Prophecy Concerning the Prophet of prophets (3:22)

2.  The Mosaic Warning Concerning Hearing the Prophet of prophets (3:23)

3.  The Unanimous Testimony of the Prophets Concerning the Present Fulfillment by the Prophet of prophets (3:24)

4.  The Blessed Initial Inheritance of the Prophets’ Promises and the Abrahamic Blessing Fulfilled in the Prophet of prophets (3:25-26)

1.  The Mosaic Prophecy Concerning the Prophet of prophets (3:22)

For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

Dt. 18:15-18 - 15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.

17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.

18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

2.  The Mosaic Warning Concerning Hearing the Prophet of prophets (3:23)

And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

Dt. 18:19-20 - 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

Lev. 23:29 - For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

3.  The Unanimous Testimony of the Prophets Concerning the Present Fulfillment by the Prophet of prophets (3:24)

Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.

4.  The Blessed Initial Inheritance of the Prophets’ Promises and the Abrahamic Blessing Fulfilled in the Prophet of prophets (3:25-26)

²⁵ Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. ²⁶ Unto you first God, having raised up his Son [4] Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Gen. 22:18 - And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Gen. 26:4 - And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

Conclusion:

I.  What Just Happened Here? (3:12-16)

1.  Two “Why” Questions (3:12)

1)  The Why of the Miracle

2)  The Why of the Apostles

2.  Three Divine Titles (3:13-15b)

1)  His Son Jesus (3:13)

(1)  Glorified

(2)  Delivered

(3)  Denied

2)  The Holy One and the Just (3:14a) - Denied

3)  The Prince of Life (3:14b-15b)

(1)  Killed (3:15a)

(2)  Replaced A Murderer (3:14b)

            (3)  Raised From The Dead (3:15b)

3.  One Simple Explanation (3:16)

4.  The Role of the Apostles (3:15c)

II.  The Proper Response While Between Two Prophesied Works (3:17-21)

1.  The Span of Salvation History (3:17-21)

1)  Christ Preached

2)  Christ Suffered

3)  Christ Received

4)  Christ Sent

2.  The Obligation of Salvation History (3:19)

1)  The Response

2)  The Motivation

            3)  The Means

III.  The Blessed Work of the Promised Prophet (3:22-26)

1.  The Mosaic Prophecy Concerning the Prophet of prophets (3:22)

2.  The Mosaic Warning Concerning Hearing the Prophet of prophets (3:23)

3.  The Unanimous Testimony of the Prophets Concerning the Present Fulfillment by the Prophet of prophets (3:24)

4.  The Blessed Initial Inheritance of the Prophets’ Promises and the Abrahamic Blessing Fulfilled in the Prophet of prophets (3:25-26)

[Sermon preached 11 AUG 2013 by Pastor John T. “Jack” Jeffery at Wayside Gospel Chapel, Greentown, PA.]

[1] On “The Παῖς Christology” see William L. Lane, "The Speeches of the Book of Acts", in Jerusalem and Athens: Critical Discussions on the Philosophy and Apologetics of Cornelius Van Til, ed. E. R. Geehan (Phillipsburg, NJ:  Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1971), pp. 267-270.

[2] On “The Question of an Aramaic Sub-structure” see William L. Lane, op. cit., pp. 265-267.

[3] On “The Tenor of Israel’s Hope” see William L. Lane, op. cit., pp. 270-272.

[4] On “The Παῖς Christology” see William L. Lane, op. cit., pp. 267-270.