Steve W. Reeves
steve@wschurch.net
stevereevesoutlines.blogspot.com
INTRODUCTION:
A. In his book, Tragedy In The Church, The Missing Gift, A.W. Tozer wrote: “The
church has lost her testimony. She has no longer anything to say to the world. Her
once robust shout of assurance has faded away to an apologetic whisper. She who
one time went out to declare now goes out to inquire. Her dogmatic declaration has
become a respectful suggestion, a word of religious advice, given with the
understanding that it is after all only an opinion and not meant to sound bigoted.”
1. Tozer’s assessment of modern day churches is a far cry from the courage and
conviction displayed by first generation Christians pictured in the book of Acts.
2. The opening chapters of Acts is not filled with pale, subtle hues but with stark, vivid
colors that leave no doubt about the faith of these early believers. They lived in
anticipation of the Lord’s return. They were passionate about being together and
they were filled with amazement, astonishment, wonder and praise.
B. It did not take long, however, for such a bold faith in the resurrection of Jesus to
encounter the fury of opposition from the established religious leaders followed by
the civil authorities.
1. During the first thirty years of the church’s existence, this persecution was led by
Jewish leaders.
a. According to Acts 4:1 these included such groups as the priests, temple guards
and Sadducees.
b. It was persecution from Jewish leaders that led to the stoning of Stephen in Acts
7 and the scattering of Christians into Samaria in Acts 8. One of the most active
persecutors was a man named Saul in Acts 9 who became the apostle Paul. In
Acts 12 James the brother of John was put to death by the sword, and Peter
was arrested and scheduled for execution before he was miraculously released
from prison.
2. Under the Roman emperor Nero around 67 A.D., civil persecution of Christianity
became rampant.
a. Christians were sewn up inside animal skins and fed to ferocious packs of wild
dogs.
b. One account says that Christians were dipped in hot wax, set on fire and used
as human torches.
c. Under the emperor Domitian, Christians were placed on racks where their
bodies were stretched and ripped apart.
c. Through the centuries Christians have been persecuted in countless ways. This
continues to this day in many places around the world.
d. In many places where persecution may not be physical, it is seen in
discrimination economically, vocationally, emotionally and culturally.
3. It would be an epic mistake for you and I to think we are immune to such
persecution.
D. In the first episode of persecution recorded in Acts 4 and 5, the early Christians
demonstrated the courage and conviction that must always characterize followers of
Christ.
I. THE REALITY OF PERSECUTION
A. Acts 4:1-3 describe the setting in which persecution began.
1. In Acts 3:1-12 a man who had been crippled his entire life was miraculously
healed by Peter. As he leapt with joy and ran into the temple he obviously
attracted everyone’s attention.
2. As the people looked on Peter explained that the miracle was not a result of his
power but was done in the name of Jesus the Nazarene. Beginning in verse 12,
he preached the second Gospel sermon (the first had been at Pentecost) and
concluded by saying, “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be
wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the
Lord” (vs. 19).
3. According to Acts 4:4, the number of men (gender specific noun) was 5000. In
other words, this number did not include the number of women. The entire
number could have been 10,000 or more when you consider the 3,000 baptized
on Pentecost (2:41). Can you imagine such a large number of believers in the
Jewish temple?
4. The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection. Peter’s sermon was completely
opposed to their teachings on their own home turf!
B. Acts 4:3 is crucial. It is the first verse in the book of Acts that speaks of
persecution. “And they laid hands on them and put them in prison until the next
day, for it was already evening.” (Remember, this occurred after 3 pm.).
C. Do not think that the disciples were caught off guard. Jesus spoke frequently about
persecution.
1. In the Sermon on the Mount He said, “Blessed are those who have
been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and
falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the
prophets who were before you.”
2. In John 15:18-19 the Lord said, “If the world hates you, you know that it has
hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would
love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of
the world, because of this the world hates you.”
3. Paul wrote to Timothy that “all who live Godly will be persecuted” (2 Timothy
3:12).
4. We have a spiritual enemy who was opposed to everything Jesus did. He hates
everything that is good and righteous. He is the “prince of the power of the air
and the spirit at work in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1-2).
D. Persecution is just a real today as it was in the first century. It is estimated that as
many as 100 million people who profess Christianity suffer some type of physical
persecution and limitation on the practice of their faith in this world.
II. THE RESILIENCE OF THE BELIEVERS
A. The real test of a person’s character is not when everything is going smoothly
without any difficulty or hardship. Instead, it is when they are under pressure facing
obstacles and hardships.
1. Peter and John were put on trial before the Jewish High Priest and the Jewish
leaders. These were the same men to had delivered Jesus over to Pilate to be
crucified just a few months earlier. They meant business. How would Peter and
John respond?
2. If we could turn the clock back to the time when Jesus was on trial, where was
Peter and what was he doing? He was in the courtyard when someone
recognized him as a Galilean and said, “You are one of the disciples.” He denied
it not once but three times even cursing and swearing he did not know Jesus.
3. Now, however, Peter has a completely different story. He unashamedly tells the
men this miracle was done in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Then in verse12
he says, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under
heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.”
4. What made the difference? Verse 99 says, “And Peter, filled with the Holy
Spirit.” Also note verse 13, “When they observed the confidence of Peter and
John and understood they were uneducated and untrained men, they
recognized them as having been with Jesus.” Their resilience was due to the
power of God working in their lives.
B. Referring back to Tozer’s statement, I believe the spiritual anemia experienced by
many Christians and congregations results from our attempt to substitute the
power of God with human wisdom, human strength, human ingenuity and human
innovations.
1. We believe that tinkering with plans, programs, property and personnel will
somehow result in a magical key to spiritual strength and righteous resilience.
2. Jim Woodruff used to say that many congregations are like a 747 aircraft on
the runway ready to take off. There is a full staff on board. All the passengers
are properly seated, the fuel tanks are fully loaded and the tower has given
clearance. Then, the pilot says, “On the count of three we’re all going to lean
forward and say “Zoom, zoom.” How foolish. You must harness the power of the
engines. The church must harness the power of God to survive and grow in a
hostile setting.
III. THE RESOLVE TO FOLLOW GOD
A. After being questioned by the authorities and commanded to no longer teach
about Jesus, Peter and John were set free. Notice Peter’s response in verses 19-
20, “But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight
of God to listen to you rather than to God, make your own judgment; 20 for we
cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
B. Did this stop them?
1. In 5:12 the apostles continued to do signs and wonders while the people were
together at Solomon’s portico in the temple. They had turned the temple into a
church building.
2. People from the entire vicinity of Jerusalem were coming to bring those who
were sick as the apostles preached. The size of the crowds was staggering and
the officials became jealous. They had the apostles put in prison but that night
an angel unlocked the gate and set them free. The following morning the
apostles were at it again. When the officials heard they were no longer in the
prison while the doors and guard were securely in place, they were perplexed.
Once again they rounded them up and said, “Did we not tell you to no longer
preach or teach in this man’s name?” In verses 29-30 Peter responded, “We
must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus,
whom you put to death by hanging Him on a cross.”
C. This is not the time for the church to be timid. God has not given us a spirit of
timidity but of power (2 Timothy 1:7).
CONCLUSION:
A. The history of God’s people since creation has been filled with persecution. Notice
these words from Hebrews 11:32-40, “And what more shall I say? For time will fail me
if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the
prophets, 33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness,
obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped
the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put
foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and
others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better
resurrection; 36 and others experienced mocking and flogging, and further, chains and
imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they
were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being
destitute, afflicted, tormented 38 (people of whom the world was not worthy),
wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes in the ground.
39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was
promised, 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us
they would not be made perfect.”
B. The religious freedom with which we are accustomed is very rare on the stage of
history and in our modern world. If history is any indicator it will not last. Subsequent
generations may be faced with choices you and I have not had to make. My prayer is
that Christians, present and future, might follow the example of our first century
spiritual ancestors and remain courageous and convicted.
