At Gateway Church in Austin, we continued a series looking at the early church in the book of Acts.
What if faith was never meant to be boring, but an adventure? The book of Acts is the story of ordinary people encountering an extraordinary God, and stepping into a life they never expected.
It started with an invitation. To wait. To be filled. To trust God in a new way. And that invitation became an adventure; full of courage, purpose, and impact.
And here’s the best part, that same invitation is still open to you. No matter where you’ve been
or where you’re starting, there’s a place for you in the story.
ACTS: The Invitation… and The Adventure.
Don’t just watch it…step into it.
Digging Deeper:
Message Video from Gateway South Austin:
Audio Message from Gateway South Austin:
Message Notes from Haley Carter:
From Acts 4
5The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’” 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
16“What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
23On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
There is a common thread we see woven throughout the pages of scripture. It is one of redemption.
From the time in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve chose their way over God’s, but God made clothes from the first sacrifice of an animal to cover their sin and promised a snake crusher who would overcome evil
to the time of Abraham who was blessed by God to be a blessing to all nations.
to the time of Moses where God makes a way for his people out of slavery and oppression opening up a road through the sea
all the way to Jesus overturning power structures and rescuing humanity by laying down His life.
Redemption is initiated and empowered by God, but carried out through His followers. He uses the most unlikely people to partner with Him to accomplish the most amazing things.
We are in a series reading through the Book of Acts, which is an account of the Early Church right after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to heaven. It is the story of ordinary people encountering an extraordinary God, and stepping into a life they never expected.
Today we are going to see how God partners with uneducated ordinary men through the power that comes from the Holy Spirit to school the very people who “should” have been leading the way in partnering with God in His redemptive story.
Missing the Source of Power
This chapter opens with Peter and John arrested and jailed overnight then taken to court..
Acts 4:5-7 – The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
This is the same council that Jesus was brought before that refused to recognize Him as the promised Messiah – the one who would come to save the people. These religious leaders stirred up the people to crucify Jesus. So as Peter and John are brought to give an account to the healing they performed, this is who they are standing before. This moment is weighty because of the power these religious leaders had and because the emotions and pain of Jesus’ gruesome death were still fresh, even though he had been raised from the dead.
They ask John and Peter, “By what power or what name did you do this?” Having rejected Jesus as the promised King the Hebrew Bible foretold, the rulers, elders and teachers of the law can’t believe that Peter and John are doing these miracles by the power of God, so it must be through magic or through the power of evil. It’s noteworthy that Jesus was accused by the Pharisees of doing miracles through the power of evil as well after healing a blind and mute man.
They couldn’t deny the miracle, so with their worldview they had to try and explain it. Like we already stated they had been key in Jesus’s death and even when His body was missing from the tomb concocted a lie to explain that away to the people
Matthew 28:12-13 – When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’
They just couldn’t accept that Jesus was the Messiah-Savior the Jewish people had been waiting for- because He didn’t do what they thought He would do.
He didn’t have the pedigree he should have
He didn’t praise them for the way they carried out the laws.
He didn’t overthrow the secular powers of the times.
He just wasn’t who they were expecting, so He couldn’t be the Messiah and therefore these men couldn’t be doing the works of God either.
A worldview is the lens through which you see and interpret everything—life, truth, purpose, and right and wrong. It shapes how you understand the world and guides how you live and make decisions.What is your worldview built on—God’s story in Scripture or your own idea of how He should act?
How many of us have held God to a certain course of action that he hasn’t come through on and then we’ve been angry or resentful with him? Like these religious leaders, perhaps Jesus has not met our expectations and so we’re “greatly annoyed” when someone tries to “arouse our faith in him.” If Jesus wanted to do something in your life, would you recognize Him, or miss him altogether like these religious leaders?
Speaking Truth Boldly in Power
Let’s look at what Peter says to answer their question:
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’”
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4: 8-12
This is a big moment for Peter. The last time he was near the chief priests, Jesus was being accused and then condemned and He was denying Jesus. Jesus has already had a private moment where He forgives Peter for his denial, but this is a public redemption moment for Peter.
The first thing we notice is that He is filled with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2 God gives the gift of His Spirit to all those who follow Jesus and that Spirit empowers them to proclaim boldly the truth about God. To be filled with the spirit doesn’t mean they are receiving the spirit again, BUT that they have postured their heart through surrender in such a way that He is able to move in partnership with them UNRESTRICTED.
So, here standing before the most powerful religious leaders of the time Peter speaks truth through a power that isn’t his own.
Romans 8:11 says – And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
It is the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, according to Paul who wrote Romans, and that is who Peter relies on to speak clearly and boldly before this council.
He then addresses why they are there – because an act of kindness was done for a lame man. Now we all can intuitively know that isn’t really why they were imprisoned the night before, but on the surface that is what happened! God’s kindness through healing was so disturbing that they were on trial.
A Religious Worldview Misses God
The religious leaders who were meant to teach God’s ways had strayed so far that they no longer recognized Him at work.
They didn’t see Jesus as the exact kind of savior God would send
They didn’t see healing of the lame, blind, deaf, and uplifting of the outcasts, widows, and leasts of society as the way God would and ALWAYS HAS worked.
They missed God. They’d redefined God and the way He works according to their own ideas. They had a religious worldview rather than a biblical one. And they are about to get schooled.
Karl Barth one of the most influential 20th century theologians said the following:
“The tragedy of modern man is not that he has ceased to believe in God, but that he has ceased to be aware of Him.”
– Karl Barth
How aware are you of God in your daily life?
Peter goes on to say, “know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.”
Whoa – There are no mincing of words here. Peter doesn’t beat around the bush. He isn’t looking for the approval of those in power, he is compelled to speak the truth. He says three Bold statements:
1.) Jesus Christ
Christos is the Greek word that represents the Hebrew word for Messiah, Jesus was the long awaited savior of the world and Peter is saying you missed Him!
2.) Who YOU crucified – but God raised to life
The murder of the Savior is on you, but you couldn’t thwart God’s plan
3.) By His power – this man is healed
You want to know what we say is true, look at this man standing here
Twisting of Power
But Peter doesn’t stop there: Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’” – Acts 4:11
This is an Old Testament reference from Psalm 118:22. The Jewish people recognized that this was something spoken by David and therefore attributed to mean HE was the stone the builders rejected.
But in Matthew 21:42-44 Jesus tells a parable to the religious leaders of a vineyard planted by the landowner and then rented out. At harvest the owner sent a servant to collect his fruit and instead of giving to the owner what was due, the tenants killed the servant and eventually the son of the landowner.
After telling this story…
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Matthew 21:42-44
Jesus is accusing the religious leaders of being those left in charge of God’s people/ land but rejecting the authority of the land owner by rejecting Jesus. Peter makes it even more clear when he changes the wording to say, the stone YOU builders rejected!
God left structures in place to help guide the people. These leaders were supposed to be God’s representatives living and ruling the way God did, but the religious leaders had twisted the message of God into:
Rules to follow
Hoops to jump through
A hierarchy for those who were righteous and blessed and those who weren’t.
Peter is boldly standing up to this twisting of the truth by saying – you are the problem and God is moving forward with His plan and you are being left behind.
Now if we were to stop here the message we could walk away with is one of speaking truth to corrupt power – full stop
Turning over power
BUT that is not where it stops. Peter ends His Spirit empowered bold testimony with an open invitation for them to turn to Jesus.
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which WE must be saved.”
The whole point of Peter’s testimony isn’t to make much of himself, but to give credit and proper praise to God who has always been up to amazing acts of redemption throughout history. The religious leaders aren’t exempt from that redemptive story. Peter says “by which WE must be saved”, putting himself and the religious leaders on the same level. We all need the rescue that comes from our loving father! These unschooled and uneducated men got that because they had learned from the Savior Himself, the Religious leaders instead had rejected and separated themselves from the salvation they had been waiting for their whole lives.
In our world we daily encounter people who do things that twist God’s goodness or improperly elevate themselves over others.
Do you live spirit-empowered – bold in truth offering salvation to everyone (even those who oppose or disagree with you)?
What could this look like in your job, neighborhood, family, or school?
Are you participating with God’s story in a way that opens you up to attack from others? Not by acting foolishly but because they are rejecting the One you represent with your kindness and willingness to talk about your faith?
Are you standing up to corruption or injustice or a twisting of power even if it may cost you something
Is your posture bold but also humble, extending the free gift of salvation to people?
God’s Power and provision comes through ordinary people participating in bringing God’s kindness to the world.
God’s Power and provision comes through ordinary people speaking boldly of what they have seen, heard, and experienced of Jesus.
Where is fear holding you back from a bold witness?
The response of these religious leaders was astonishment, because these were unschooled, uneducated, ordinary men! They weren’t trained through the religious system, but the religious leaders acknowledge that, “they had been with Jesus.”
I wonder what it was about them that made the religious leaders say this? Was it their speech, gentleness, boldness, power? We aren’t told, but we know that it was so obvious that they made note of it! It didn’t matter that they didn’t have an education- through the Holy Spirit they had everything they needed to share the good news of Jesus.
Would those around you—even those who oppose our faith — say you’ve been with Jesus?
Because this miracle that John and Peter are accused of was confirmed and many people saw it and believed they can’t really punish them. The Sanhedrin was deeply persuaded by what the people thought, so they weren’t going to move against what the people wanted. All of this ends with a warning and a threat not to speak about Jesus anymore.
Again, empowered by the spirit to be bold – Peter and John answer, “which is right in God’s eyes; to listen to you or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard!” Acts 4:19-20
The religious leaders were acting in ways so contrary to God that Peter and John had to decide whether to listen to them or obey God (who just a few short months ago had called them to go to the ends of the earth with the message of salvation through Jesus). They picked obedience to God come what may.
Is there anything that you have read in scripture or sense God is asking of you that you’ve yet to put into practice (obey)?
So what was the result of Peter and John’s imprisonment, questioning before the most powerful religious authority that participated in Jesus’ death, and threats against them if they speak about Jesus again…
Prayer and Participation
Peter and John go back to the local church and tell them what happened and the church breaks out in Prayer and this is what they pray:
1.) Praise God for who He is
2.) Recognize their role in His redemptive story
3.) Accept resistance as normal
4.) Trust God overcomes evil plans
5.) Ask for boldness and power to keep proclaiming Him
This would be a great prayer structure for you to copy when you face opposition or challenge in life because of your faith! If you aren’t facing any opposition, ask God to empower you to live boldly through His spirit!
As a result of this humble, honest time of praise and petition the place they had gathered to pray shook! Like literally shook. Then they all experienced the Holy Spirit answering their prayers for boldness. What does it look like when you are living this kind of submitted life to God – willing to do what He wants?
Well for the 2nd time in the book of Acts after people pray for boldness and receive the Holy Spirit they go and share all they have with those in need.
Acts 4:33-35 – With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
God had set up the Temple and the priests in the Old Testament to live like this – provide for those in need and be a place people could come and meet with God. BUT the religious leaders have left behind that call, so God raised ordinary people to do the work God has always been up to.
AND YOU ARE INVITED INTO THIS MOVEMENT: God’s at work in the world today through normal people who are submitting to Him, living through the power of the Holy Spirit, and speaking boldly without fear just like Peter and John.
How to Share Your Faith in Jesus
Maybe you are new to faith or new to sharing about your faith. Here’s some easy steps to take.
Just be open and honest about your life. If you experience a miracle, tell people about it! If you’ve been seeing God, answer your prayers tell your coworkers or family members or neighbors – including those who do not follow Jesus.
I’ve also found it helpful to ask people in my life to share their story about their spiritual journey.
I try to listen to discover what their journey and my journey might have in common.
After listening to their story, I ask if I can share mine. Almost every time, the person agrees. I then just try to share my story, sharing with them the similarities between my story and theirs, and then clearly communicating how surrendering my life to Jesus as my savior and my Lord has helped me experience the peace and the joy and the love I was always searching for.
If they seem intrigued or interested, you could ask them if that’s something they would be interested in. If they say yes, then simply lead them in a prayer in which they acknowledge they need what Jesus did on the cross to count for them, they acknowledge they want to be forgiven, and they want Jesus to lead them!
Ask them if they would like to start reading through the gospel of Mark or gospel of John with you coming to your small group with you coming on a Sunday to Gateway with you. If they say yes, you are now helping them become a disciple of Jesus!
If they aren’t sure about saying, yes to following Jesus, after sharing your story, ask them if they might be open to exploring more. If so, ask them if they’d be willing to read the gospel of John – just one chapter a day for the next 21 days. Every time they’re about to read, encourage them to pray: “God, if you were real show me who you are.” encourage them to look for God to answer that prayer while they read the scriptures or throughout the day. Encourage them to try praying which is simply communicating with God and learning to listen to his voice as he might answer their prayers through a lyric in a song or a line in a movie or conversation with a friend.
So let me ask you: will you respond to the call?
1.) At home — Seeking Jesus, loving sacrificially and speaking boldly of Jesus
2.) At work — working excellently, staying interruptible, speaking boldly of Jesus
3.) At school — showing kindness, welcoming others, speaking boldly of Jesus
4.) In your city — serving others, loving neighbors, speaking boldly of Jesus
Who are the people in each of those areas of your life that do not yet follow Jesus that you can begin praying for? As you begin praying for them, look for opportunities to ask them how you. can be praying for them. Look for ways to serve them, and when the time is right, look for an opportunity to have a conversation.
The same spirit that was active in the lives of Peter, John and the early church is in you empowering you to speak boldly! What’s your next step? Will you be the kind of Person that God partners with or will you miss Him?