Exposition of Acts: Faithfulness
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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. VERDICT
A. REVIEW OF TRIAL
>>1. REPRESSED
Acts 4:18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
>>2. RESPONDED
Acts 4:19-20 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, but we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
(also Acts 1:8; I Cor 9:16; Rom 13:1-7; I Pet 2:13-17; Ex 1:15-17; Dan 6:4-10)
B. RESULT OF TRIAL
>>1. RELEASED
Acts 4:21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.
>>2. REFUTED
Acts 4:22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
II. VENERATE
A. REACTION TO TRIAL
>>1. REPORTED
Acts 4:23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
>>2. RELIED
Acts 4:24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voice in agreement to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
B. RELIANCE
>>1. RECALLED
Acts 4:25-26 Who through the mouth of our father David, Your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’”
(also Ps 2; Eph 6:12; 3:16)
>>2. RESPECTED
Acts 4:27-28 for truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to take place.
>>3. REQUITED
Acts 4:29-30 And now, Lord, consider their threats and grant to Your servants to continue to speak Your word with all boldness, while You stretch out Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the Name of Your holy servant Jesus.”
III. VICTORY
A. RESOLUTE
>>1. READIED
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
>>2. RELATED
Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
B. RECOGNITION
>>1. RENOWNED
Acts 4:32 Now the total number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
>>2. REMITTED
Acts 4:34-35 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
(also I Tim 5:3-13; 6:8; II Thes 3:10-12)