Sermon Tone Analysis

This first portion of Acts 4 we will call the Trial of Peter and John.

But let me lay out the ground rules.

In this trial the accused will already be presumed guilty.

Not like our justice system where you are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

These Jewish rulers will already have their minds made up.

Just as they did when accusing Christ.

But the Holy Spirit will be the defense attorney in these procedures.

He will (through Peter) give a vigorous defense and let them know that these things that are taught are from God.

And that According to Duet they should treat them as messengers from God.

In Luke 21:12–15 .

So God the Holy Spirit here is the defense attorney but the resurrection of Christ is the evidence in this trial.

(1 cor 15) Which the disciples were eyewitnesses to.

Also the lame man who was healed and present at the trial, his healed body testified to the power of Christ.

And in the future he will be the Judge and executioner to all of those who don't believe in him.

Acts 4:1 Now as they were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander officer of the temple police , and the •Sadducees confronted them,

2 being greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming n?in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

n ch.

17:18; [ch.

3:15]

The Holy Bible : English standard version.

2001 (Ac 4:2).

Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Sadducee's didn't believe in the resurrection a denial of the existence of angels or spirits (23:8); (b) loyalty to the Roman government; (c) a desire to maintain the status quo; (d) an association with the wealthy class; and (e) adherence only to the first five books written by Moses Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy

Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary.

(1983-c1985).

The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (2:362).

Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

They were a group that followed the Law and it tenants as a way of life.

But it seems clear they didn't believe that God gave them.

They were probably just as some are today.

Following moral parts of the Old Testament like “Thou shall not...” or the love your neighbor” “Or the treat others as you want to be treated.”

The Sadducee followed moral and dietary laws as a way of life

So whats happening here?

The priests hear something that challenges their way of thinking and instead of just asking them to leave.

They react violently.

They throw them in jail and because it was to late in the evening for a trial and then they figure they would sort it all out in the morning.

Keep in mind this group, these Sadducee's were a small group but well connected.

They were rich and had friends with high ranking officials.

So to this group the kingdom was something the Jewish nation would strive for.

They had hopes that one day the Jews would have their own nation again but they didn't believe that one person (Messiah) could bring back their united kingdom.

The idea of Messiah to them was the image of a Great king.

4.

And they arrested them and o?put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

o See Luke 21:12

The Holy Bible : English standard version.

2001 (Ac 4:3).

Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

You know whats interesting?

The hardest people to witness to aren't the criminals in jail.

There not the drunks, or the one's sleeping around, The hardest people to reach are the “Religious ones”

The ones who grew up under a well organized man made religion.

Christianity is a faith.

A faith in a person.

Religion is man made.

They have big buildings, are well funded.

And they do not let you think for yourself.

They have a headquarters and the leaders go from church to church making sure that all the other churches are teaching from the same text books.

A lot of “Christians religions” don't even open the bible.

The Sadducee s were well funded so they ruled over the people with money.

They probably helped pay for a lot of the temples.

Some of the religions today make statements like you are a heretic and are going to hell if you don't follow our teachings.

A biblical church will have written down list of their beliefs so that others who are visiting can see if they have things in common with that church.

A Religious church will make you feel like you can't worship God unless you fall in line with the church.

You have to get married “In the church.”

You have to baptize your babies.

If you ask the average person why they baptized their baby they will say “Well that's what our church does.” or “We don't want the baby to go to hell.”

Religion is Satan's way of keeping man lost.

Not allowing people to have independent thought.

If you believe something because that's how you were raised.

If you have challenged those teachings yourself and come to your own conclusions.

Then you are practicing someone else s faith The key is to make it your own.

Use common sense.

The bible says that all that believe in Jesus will be saved.

Can a newborn even understand words?

That's what you get with Religion.

No independent thought.

Think about Selena.

She refused a medical procedure that could've saved her life, why because of religion.

4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and p?the number of the men came to about five thousand.

p [ch. 2:41]

The Holy Bible : English standard version.

2001 (Ac 4:4).

Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem,

The Holy Bible : English standard version.

2001 (Ac 4:5).

Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Sanhedrin, which was the senate and supreme court of Israel.

It consisted of the high priest, who served as its presiding officer, and 70 other men.

Its aristocratic members, the majority, were Sadducees, and its lay leaders were Pharisees.

6 with q?Annas the high priest and r?Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, s?“By what power or t?by what name did you do this?

So remember the Mosaic Law specified that whenever someone performed a miracle and used it as the basis for teaching, he was to be examined, and if the teaching were used to lead men away from the God of their fathers, the nation was responsible to stone him (Deut.

13:1–5).

On the other hand, if his message was doctrinally sound, the miracle-worker was to be accepted as coming with a message from God.”

So Peter and John were at risk.

They stood in the same court as Jesus did when he was put to death.

Shakeela Bibi smiled to herself as she took a pan out of the oven.

Yesterday she and her husband had attended the small Presbyterian church near their home.

The message had been such an encouragement to her, that she had decided to go the Monday afternoon Bible study—and she had made bread for the occasion.

Setting the bread on the counter, Shakeela took a deep breath, savoring the aroma of the hot loaf.

If the bread tasted half as good as it smelled, then the others at the Bible study would certainly enjoy it.

As Shakeela wrapped the loaf in a clean cloth, she heard people shouting and the repeated sound of wood hitting another object.