First Baptist Church
AM Service
NO OTHER NAME
Acts 4:1-22
Acts 3 & 4:
-Description of healing- 3:1-10
-Explanation of healing- 3:11-26
-Responses- 4:1-37
-Every month, on average:
345 Christians are killed for faith-related reasons
105 Churches and Christian buildings are burned or attacked
219 Christians are detained without trial, arrested, sentenced and imprisoned
Source: opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/
Acts 4:1-7 ESV
I. THE COUNCIL’S TRIAL- vv. 1-7
-“The Sadducees could arrest the apostles but not the gospel.” John Stott
A. Apostles Arrested- vv. 1-4
B. Apostles Questioned- vv. 5-7
Acts 4:8-12 ESV
II. THE APOSTLES’ DEFENSE- vv. 8-12
A. Jesus healed- vv. 8-11
1. Jesus’ name- vv. 8-10
2. Jesus killed & raised- v. 10
3. Jesus rejected & the cornerstone- v. 11
B. Jesus saves- v. 12
1. An exclusive path to salvation
2. An inclusive invitation to be saved
Acts 4:13-22 ESV
III. THE COURT’S DECISION- vv. 13-22
A. The boldness of the apostles- vv. 13-14
“Our many flaws are not barriers to God’s work or love; instead they glorify God all the more.” (Justin Holcomb, Gospel Transformation Bible)
B. The problem for the council- vv. 15-17
C. The charge to the apostles- v. 18
D. The response of the apostles- vv. 19-20
E. The threat against the apostles- vv. 21-22
Primary Sources
Biblegateway.com
ESV Study Bible
Gospel Transformation Bible (2013). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Lewis, C.S (1952). Mere Christianity.
Lewis, C.S. (1949). The Weight of Glory.
Merida, T. (2017). Christ-centered Exposition- Exalting Jesus in Acts. B&H Group Publishing. Nashville, TN
opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/
Sauls, S. (2016). The Good News About Your Worst Case Scenario (http://scottsauls.com/blog/2016/06/05/worst-case/)
Stott, J. (1990). The Message of Acts. InterVaristy Press. England
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Wiersbe, W. (1989). The Bible Exposition Commentary- New Testament Vol. 1, David C. Cook, Colorado Springs, CO.
Wright, N.T. (2008). Acts for Everyone- Part 1. Westminster John Knox Press. Louisville, KY.