Acts (Part 36) - Acts 4:20-24

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Acts (Part 36) - Acts 4:20-24 1. Acts 4:20 – For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. A. For we cannot but speak i. When the Lord gives a prophet a word to speak, he must speak it (Amo 3:8). ii. The word of God was a fire within them which could not be quenched (Jer 20:9). iii. They had to obey God rather than men and preach what God had bidden them to (Act 5:28-29; Heb 11:23). B. the things which we have seen and heard. i. The apostles were eyewitnesses of Jesus Christ’s life, teaching, works, death, and resurrection (1Jo 1:1-3; 2Pe 1:16-18). ii. They had a more sure word of prophecy which they were compelled to speak (2Pe 1:19). 2. Acts 4:21 – So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. A. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, i. Their first threats did not deter them, so they threatened them again and let them go. ii. The rulers were in a precarious situation because they risked revealing that they had no actual power to stop the apostles from preaching Jesus. iii. Making threats that are not, or cannot be, enforced is worse than doing nothing, because idle threats only serve to embolden those whom one seeks to control. B. finding nothing how they might punish them, i. The apostles had done nothing wrong. ii. They were suffering for righteousness’ sake (Mat 5:10; 1Pe 2:19-20; 1Pe 3:14). C. because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. i. They feared the people (Luk 20:19; Luk 22:2; Act 5:26). ii. “When the people fear the government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.” (attributed to Thomas Jefferson) iii. As is usually the case, the common people are much more likely to believe and honor God than the high and mighty are (Mar 12:37 c/w 1Co 1:26-31). iv. This is yet another example in scripture of how the phrase “all men” refers to a subset of humanity. 3. Acts 4:22 – For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed. A. The word “for” connects this verse to verse 21 and shows that the healed man’s age was part of the reason that the people glorified God for the miracle. B. The man being over 40 years old tells us the following: i. He had been lame for a long time, and everyone knew it (Act 3:2, 10). ii. He did not grow out of his lameness. iii. No doctor in 40+ years could heal him.  iv. The priests and Sadducees could not gainsay the healing. C. God often chose to do miracles that could not be denied or explained away to show forth His glory, and this was one such case. 4. Acts 4:23 – And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. A. And being let go, they went to their own company, i. This statement tells us much about the affections and priorities of Peter and John. ii. Their own company were the disciples (Luk 6:17) with whom they went to the house of God (Psa 55:14). iii. When they were free to go where their wished, they went to the company of the saints. a. They didn't avoid the church in an attempt to avoid future persecution. b. They didn't go visit their families first. c. Their first thought was to go to be with the brethren. iv. What brethren do out of desire, not of compulsion, tells me a lot about their zeal for the Lord and His truth. a. "Every normal man has a "company," however small, where he feels at home and to which he will return when he is tired of being alone. The important thing about a man is not where he goes when he is compelled to go, but where he goes when he is free to go where he will. The apostles went to jail, and that is not too revealing because they went there against their will; but when they got out of jail and could go where they would they immediately went to the praying company. From this we learn a great deal about them. The choices of life, not the compulsions, reveal character. A man is absent from church Sunday morning. Where is he? If he is in a hospital having his appendix removed his absence tells us nothing about him except that he is ill; but if he is out on the golf course, that tells us a lot. To go to the hospital is compulsory; to go to the golf course, voluntary. The man is free to choose and he chooses to play instead of to pray. His choice reveals what kind of man he is. Choices always do." - A.W. Tozer b. Peter later did the same thing when he was freed from prison (Act 12:12). B. and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. i. Telling a story of what happened to us and who said what is as old as humanity. ii. It is also Biblical. iii. This is not the only time that the apostles reported back about what they did and what happened to them (Act 11:4-17; Act 14:27; Act 15:4, 12; Act 21:19). 5. Acts 4:24 – And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: A. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, i. The brethren were of one mind and were all speaking the same thing (Act 1:14; 1Co 1:10). ii. How beautiful it is when brethren dwell together in unity (Psa 133:1). B. Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: i. They praise God by telling God who He is and what He has done. a. That may sound strange because God already knows these things. b. It is not strange at all, but is pleasing to God. ii. Consider how frequently saints in the Bible praised God by declaring His own attributes to Him. a. Elijah declared to the LORD that “thou art God” (1Ki 18:36). b. David did likewise (1Ch 17:26). (i) He told God of His greatness and uniqueness (2Sa 7:22). (ii) In the Psalms, David praised God for being great, doing wondrous things, and being God alone (Psa 86:10). c. Moses declared God’s eternality to Him (Psa 90:2). d. The psalmist in Psalm 119 told God that He is good (Psa 119:68). e. Jeremiah proclaimed to God that He is great and His name is great in might (Jer 10:6). f. Ezra told God that He is righteous (Ezr 9:15). g. The 24 elders in heaven praised God for being worthy to receive glory, honor, and power because He created all things for His own pleasure (Rev 4:10-11). iii. Don’t forget to praise God in prayer by telling Who He is and what He has done.