This chapter started with information of the whereabouts of Peter and John, they were at the temple at the hour of prayer which was the ninth hour about three o'clock in the afternoon. At the gate of the temple was a lame man who was born lame, and each day he was brought to the temple gates to beg. Upon seeing Peter and John he begged them for alms. The irony of this situation is that the gate of the temple was called the beautiful gate but the condition of this lame man was far from beautiful.
Peter and John said to him that they have nothing to give but in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk and immediately the man who was born lame stood up and walked. What I learnt here is that from the moment they received the Holy spirit they no longer function in a natural state but in a supernatural state.
As a child of God do not underestimate the power of the Holy spirit that you carry inside of you. Everyone who knew him to be the man born lame were amazed to see him jumping and limping and praising God. His healing was not partial it was full and complete healing. That's the way God almighty works.
Acts 3:11- 26 Preaching in Solomon's Portico
When the people around saw this miracle they ran to Peter and John in amazement. This is where we need to be careful as Humans. I like the response Peter gave them, He let them know that the miracle was not their doing but Jesus Christ who was killed by the people even though Pontius Pilate wanted to let Him go. They later spoke about the supremacy of Christ stating the He is the Prince of Life. They went on to preach the gospel to the people admonishing them to accept Jesus as their Lord and saviour.
Our testimonies or any miracle that we see or experience from genuine vessels of God is from God and all glory should be given to God not the vessel God used. Peradventure you are the vessel God used and people apportioned the glory of God to you, it is your duty to correct them and return all the glory to God as we are vessel in the hands of God. No man can do such except God helps him.
Acts 4:1-4 Peter and John arrested
Following this miraculous incident, the sadducees, the captain of the temple and the priest arrested Peter and John because they preached the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were detained for a day, however the seed had been sown because 3000 souls came to know and accept Jesus as their Lord and saviour based on one encounter. There are few lessons here, believer's persecution has been happening for a long time and will continue until Christ returns. You also need to understand that only true believers will be persecuted, not the wolves in sheep clothing. Another lesson here is that of salvation or revival of souls as we might describe it. Our duty is to go out and preach, the Holy spirit is the one that completes the salvation transformation or encounter for every soul.
Acts 4:5-12 Addressing the Sanhedrin
The next day all the religious leaders and people in authority brought Peter and John to their middle questioning them in what power they raised the Lame man. You would have thought they would be happy that someone who begged all his life until that miraculous encounter was now healed and no longer a burden to the society. No their ego was rubbed and they were more concerned about the name they did it. This attack on the disciples was a way to silence them and those that might believe in them.
Peter responded as the Holy spirit gave him utterance because the scripture said he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Even at that he was polite, he was not argumentative, he just told them it's at the name of Jesus, the one you crucified that we did what we did. He told them that the stone that was rejected has become the chief cornerstone. He also informed them that salvation is only through Christ.
The lesson here as you make your case known or present your case to men always allow the Holy spirit to lead you, don't go by the flesh, it must have been difficult being dragged to the center of people and questioned. But they allowed the Holy spirit to lead them.
Acts 4: 13 -22 The name of Jesus forbidden
When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, they knew they were untrained and uneducated, they marveled. Again this shows us that the Holy spirit gives you the kind of confidence that makes you stand before authority without cowering in fear or shame. God can use you to break protocols, and it's significant to know that the Lord qualifies the ones He called, before men you might be unqualified but before God you are qualified. The rulers having seen that they had no grounds to imprison Peter and John the man who was healed was there they had to let them go but not without warning them not to teach or preach in the name of Jesus. Peter and John told them that they cannot stop teaching or preaching in the name of Jesus.
When we look at the world presently, there are nations, institutions, policies, laws, government bodies to say a few that do not want people to preach the gospel. The Bible is even banned in some nation, gathering together as Christians is banned in some nation. The hostility and the fear of letting the world know the truth is increasing by day. Our hope as believer is that everyone on earth will hear of the gospel until Jesus comes in our own way and my own way keep spreading the good news of Jesus so the world can know the truth.
Acts 4:23-31 Prayer of Boldness
The place of prayer cannot be ruled out if you are a believer. Following the incident, Peter and John returned to the rest. They related what happend to them and instead of panicking in fear of unknown they tendered it before God. They told God about those in authority and what they are doing, the law and all that they shouldn't preach in the name of Jesus. They all started praying and the Holy spirit filled all of them with boldness. Can I just encourage you when you do not know or even when you know what the next step is call on God. There is this kind of boldness, wisdom and knowledge that is divine He bestow on us when we call on Him. Peter and John didn't go back to strategize in flesh. They went back to war in the Holy ghost taking care of the physical through the spiritual.
Acts 4:32-27 Sharing in all things
Moving forward they all worked together, they shared their possession. No one lacked, they had one faith and ensure that everyone was covered. This is what the church should emulate and be like. Even as a believer, when you see your fellow in need support them as much as you can, be hospitable, don't be hostile towards others. I pray the Lord will help us in Jesus name amen.
Acts 5:1-11 Lying to the Holy spirit
Following the kind of sharing and communion we read about in chapter 4 some of them sold their possession to support the early church. But there was Ananias and Saphira his wife. Please note there was no compulsion on them to sell their property to support the church. When they did, the husband was the first to bring the proceeds and he lied by giving partial amount, he fell and he died then the wife did the exact same thing and she passed on as well. The Lesson I see here is that do things for God in total submission to him, don't hold things back especially when you are not compelled to. God is a God that understands us and our capacity or capability. One of the greatest son the scripture says is grieving the Holy spirit Ephesians 4:30 sin is one area you can grieve the Holy spirit and He decides what to do to that person. I pray that we will not grieve the Holy Spirit in Jesus name.
Acts 5:12-16 Continuing power in the church
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, lots of miracles and wonders were done through the Apostles, some people brought the sick in the beds from neighbouring places to be healed and God moved mightily. The wonders and miracles has been happening since it's not new to this age.
Acts 5:17-21 Imprisoned Apostled freed
Following all this development the high priest and their council decided to imprison the apostles. In the night the angels open the prison door and ordered the apostles to go there and preach, they did as commanded. The high priest woke up in the morning summoning them to the temple.
The lesson I learned here is that some situations men might see it as exaction of power but God knows how to turn it around for the good of those He has called and chosen to do His will. Another lesson is that not everyone will believe in you, your vision or your mission, you might be persecuted for it but never give up. Always make sure you are in tune with God at all time.
Acts 5:22-32 Apostles on trial again
The officers returned to the High priest to inform them that the Apostles are no longer in the prison and the prison gates were securely locked with the guards outside. However people told them they were at the temple preaching. When they brought the apostles to the high priest and questioned them why they were still preaching. They answered them that they followed the instructions of God and they can't stop preaching the gospel. Some people might look at this as disobeying authority, but the authority of Christ is the supreme authority above the authority of any man.
Acts 5:33- 47 Gamaliel's advice
The high priests and the Council planned to kill the apostles but Gamaliel advised them against such. He reminded them of Theudas when he rose up claiming to be somebody when he was killed his gathering scattered, same thing happened to Judas of Galilee and how he also perished. He told them to leave the apostle because of it's the plans of God what they are doing will stand and if not it won't. Having said that you will think they will just let them go, no they beat them up and send away with warning to stop preaching the gospel. But they didn't stop they met and shared the word of God. I pray for grace to continue to forge ahead even in the face of persecution and opposition for all believers in Jesus name amen.
Acts 6:1-7 Seven chosen to serve
They continued to grow and the work of God continued to expand however the Hellenist (the Greek speaking Jewish Christians) noted that their widows were underserved compared to the Hebrews. The apostles let them know that they can't leave the sharing of the world to cater at the table, to solve this issue they requested that they chose seven men filled with the Holy's pirit to lead them in that capacity. This is a good example of delegation as a leader, it is highly important to emulate this character. They people chose Stephen, Phillip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas all men were filled with the Holy Spirit. They prayed for them all. The lesson here is to allow the Lord to guide you in choosing people to lead especially in the church setting or Bible centered congregation.
Acts 6:8-14 Stephen accused of Blasphemy
Stephen did great, signs and wonders among the people. Then arose from the synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.
They couldn't comprehend the wisdom at which Stephen spoke so he was accused of Blasphemy against Moses and the word of God. They told all lies, stirred people against him but as the council gathered and looked at him, they saw his face as an angel. There are so many lessons here but one significant one is that people can recruit others against you at any point, often people believers liars than those who say the truth. My prayers I when opposition rise the Lord will rise above them and fight for us in Jesus name amen.
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