Still Vertical - Living in Faith - Part 2

We recall the events of Pentecost, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the conversion of the 3,000, and the beginnings of the church in Acts 2. As we pick up the story in Acts 3, Peter and John are heading to the Temple.

Acts 3:1-5 - One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

There might be a few questions that come to mind. Why isn’t James accompanying them? The three of them were always together during the time that Jesus was with the 12. Why are they are headed to the Temple? Wasn’t the Temple a place where Jews went to worship? Are Peter and John still Jews?

We can’t answer the first question, but the second question is simple. Peter and John are Jews! They just happen to be Jews who believe Jesus is the Messiah. We are certain that they are not coming to the Temple to make sacrifices, but they have been commissioned by Jesus. They want to tell everyone about Jesus, and the Temple is a HUGE gathering place of the people.

Let’s take a moment to talk a little about the Temple. I used the word HUGE above, and it was. Actually, the Temple in this account refers to the major face lift that Herod gave to the second Temple. Solomon built the first Temple, atop the Temple Mount in approximately 1,000 BC. The land associated with the Temple Mount was purchased by David, and this is the site where Abraham brought his son Isaac for sacrifice. The Israelites strayed from God after the time of Solomon, and they eventually fell under the hand of their enemies (I encourage you to read Jeremiah). And, in 580 BC, the Babylonians destroyed the Temple. The Israelites were in Exile, and the Persians allowed them to return to the site in 538 BC. A smaller version of the temple was built in 515 BC, and then Herod took on the task of restoring the Temple, and completed it near 19 BC.

Now, just how HUGE is HUGE? Are we talking about a structure the size of Terrace, or something larger, like First Baptist Church? We can give a definitive “No” to both. The walls were 30 meters tall, and the entire structure was the size of 29 football stadiums! The Temple was HUGE! Read about it. There were over 1,000 engineers and 10,000 laborers involved in its construction, and there was NOTHING holding it together aside from great engineering.

Anyway, let’s get back to our story. Peter and John are going to the Temple to tell people about the good news of Jesus. As they are entering one of the Temple gates (there were 8), they encounter a beggar, and apparently he was one that had been coming to this spot for years. We learn later that he was approximately 40 years old, and he had been lame since birth.

Acts 3:4-10 - Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

We have to love Luke! Notice his attention to detail. Peter grabbed him by the “right” hand. I can only imagine the line of questioning that Luke put people through when he was writing about this.

We have all heard this story a multitude of times, and I have no doubt that there were many occurrences of miracles of this sort, but Luke chooses to record this one, and I think it speaks volumes. After the healing, the formerly lame man follows Peter and John into the Temple, where all are astonished, and Peter and John preach Jesus.

Many were moved by the teaching, but not everyone was pleased.

Acts 4:1-4 - The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

Just who were these Sadducees? Well, during this time period, there were two primary Jewish parties; the Sadducees and the Pharisees. The Sadducees were very conservative, and only believed the written law of Moses as authoritative. They did not believe in resurrection, or punishment or reward after death. As a result, you can only imagine their objections to the teachings about Jesus. You might also imagine that there was some jealousy and concern. They stood to lose considerable power if this movement continued to grow. Still, there was no denying the miracle that occurred, as everyone knew the lame man.

Acts 4:5-22 - The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ (referring to Psalm 18:22) Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Upon reading this, we are reminded of

Matthew 10:19-20 - But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Notice the contrast. Peter and John are steadfast in their beliefs, and are not concerned with the beliefs of the people before them. The Sadducees seem to lean in the other direction.

When Peter and John are released, the believers rejoice, and raise their voices to God (Acts 4:23-31). These are dangerous times, and both flogging and stoning are common. Everyone is aware of the potential consequences, and I’m sure there was a sense that this issue was not over. Indeed, we pick the story up again in Acts 5.

Acts 5:12-16 - The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

And then, the confrontation escalates, and God shows up.

Acts 5:17-42 - Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to. Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them.

The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Don’t breeze past the mention of Gamaliel. Saul was a student of his school, and no doubt, Saul is present at this hearing. As we move further into Acts, Saul will become the greatest enemy of the early church, until he also encounters Jesus.

 I just love how God shows up! Call out to God when everything is closing in on you, and you are overcome with doubts and fears. He’ll show up, and give you the peace that passes all understanding.

Prayer – Lord, we thank you for your son Jesus, and we pray that you will give us the wisdom and courage of the apostles, so that we can boldly share our faith.