Acts Chapter 4 Verse 1

• The captain of the temple refers to the police force of the temple.

Acts Chapter 4 Verse 2

• “Greatly disturbed” meaning they were intensely “worked up” certainly because they were teaching in the temple and certainly because they were talking about the resurrection (Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection – and what’s more, they were preaching resurrection in Jesus OUT OF THE DEAD – I like that)…but consider the power and influence they had there with the people and with the rulers and with the place because of the lame man STANDING with them! This man had been healed!  He had been set free!  And that kind of power incites analysis!  Rouses interest!!
• I have experienced, seen and know many well meaning Christians that have a boat load of knowledge, know the scriptures, know much and yet they’re still a bit…well..lame! Here’s the thing…knowledge is impressive, true…is the lame man standing!?  If you join all that you know and all your “rightness” with a heart that has gone from lame in the land to leaping in the Lord then folks…they’ll recognize that…what does it look like?  Kindness…joy…a warm heart, a genuine smile, an attitude of gratitude…the church would be much better off today if it was just a bunch of lame men standing!!
• 2 Corinthians 4:16 says, “We don’t lose heart – we remain FULL of heart in this life – even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” Crusty cranky critical catty contentious Christians…time to get that new Christian smell again!!!  All you have to do is remember the truth!  Without grace, without the cross of Christ, without Jesus all you are is LAME!
• They weren’t “GREATLY disturbed” by this peasant talking to some folks in the their temple…sharing his crazy ideas like Doc from Hill Valley (Back to the Future), it was the fact that power was on display…how about you, christian?

Acts Chapter 4 Verses 3 – 4

• Notice this, opposition does not stop truth…self-centered compromise is what the world rejects…and produces powerlessness in your heart, walk and life! (Check out Philippians 1:25 in your own time…progress in faith floods your heart with JOY!  And Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that joy in the Lord is pure uncut strength!)  Folks may oppose you to your face but man, trust the Lord…allow God to work…I said it at Calvary Fort Collins last week, I’ve said it over and over here, God’s results only come when you’re doing it God’s ways…the issue is when I am trying to glorify myself…that’s when things derail…but no matter the outward circumstance, if my reason and rhyme is to glorify God…then check this out…five thousand came to believe!
• And how? I love this!  It’s so simple and just dropped here for us to find…Doctor Luke through the leading and power of the Holy Spirit makes a shattering statement here…, “Many of those who heard the word believed!”  I love that!  There is power in the counsel of the Word of God…the whole counsel!  Genesis to Revelation!

Acts Chapter 4 Verses 5 – 7

• This was the same group that condemned Jesus and murdered Him just two (2) months before and they had seemingly gotten away with it! This must have been intimidating for Peter and John.  No doubt they were afraid but watch their faith throw out fear like it was last night mashed potatoes at Golden Corral!  I’m just kidding, we all know they don’t get thrown out…HA!  They get put back on the buffet!!

Acts Chapter 4 Verse 8

• Qualifier!!!! “Filled with the Holy Spirit!”  THAT is what I want!  Fear, sure it’s there.  Pride,   Anger, ok that’s in there too…sadness, constantly…talking about me or Peter?  HA!  Peter right now…I mean these are his brothers, the men he’s looked up to his whole life…but it all fades to second…all of those powerful emotions become completely irrelevant and even usably redeemed when you are filled with the Holy Spirit who is love, power and a sound mind!
• And now watch the absolute genius perfection! First…he respects them…gives them due respect, man…not buttering them up but rather acknowledging them properly, objectively and by doing this he appeals in an impressive way to the people and even disarms/convicts the hearts of the leaders…, “We have seized and locked them up all night and check out this respect that he gives us…”
• Immediately, Peter elevates himself in the hearts and eyes of all of them, how? By respect, kindness and truth.  Then…the set up…genius!!! 

Acts Chapter 4 Verse 9

• I love it! It is a complete setup!!  You want to know the name by which we have freed and served this poor helpless brother….he pauses…looks around…looks at the crowd, “No problem!”  “LET IT BE KNOWN…”

Acts Chapter 4 Verse 10

• Supernatural wisdom!!! Cleverness, strategy and boldness in the face of sorrow, fear, betrayal, intimidation because of the filling of the Holy Spirit!  That is what I want!!
• This is such a HUGE and POWERFUL statement by Peter! The Holy Spirit working through Peter puts together a perfect mixture of conviction, power and absolute cleverness!  Everyone can hear him…, he raises his voice, “Let it be known to ALL the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…,” and in that qualification, in that identification we have God, the Savior, the Man…the doctrine and truth of substitutionary atonement completed and finalized in Jesus…, “Whom you crucified!” 
• And yet, “Whom God raised from the dead,” check this out…, “By Him…” Here comes undeniability!!! Infallibility!! So slick, so clever…, “By Him THIS MAN STANDS (CANNOT CANNOT CANNOT CANNOT deny that!), this man stands before you WHOLE!”  Angels in heaven look on this moment like OHHHHHHHHHH!  BOOMS are felt as grenades go off in the hearts of the people and especially the religious elite!  Because Peter, the lowly fisherman…the one who denied his master…this common and less than honorable dude…just declared a man whole…CLEAN…in the midst of the temple!
• In a way here, Peter is pitting them against God! “Whom you crucified…whom God raised.”  Man, what’s it like to do something that God has to undo?  Anyone and everyone can answer that question!!!   Right?!  Now, what are you continuing to do that God has to undo!?  Putting Jesus…the Prince of Life in the grave in your own heart and life and in that killing your own joy, power, peace…you doin that, Christian?  Why!!??  It’s dumb…
• I just LOVE this scene! This word “whole” means “fixed, he is sound, he is restored…” that is the work of Jesus in your heart, your mind, your soul and your strength – your life…and that has happened to Peter because of the grace of God and now to this lame man because of the grace of God.  How about you?  Are you whole today? 
• I’m a whole lot of anxiety. I’m a whole lot of impatience.  I’m a whole lot of fear.  I’m a whole lot of anger.  I’m a whole lot of bother!  I’m a whole lot of hungry (I’m always hungry)!  But in the midst of all of that, I am whole because I have given GIVE my entire heart to the will of the Lord Jesus!  What about you?  You know, there is no other way…nothing on this earth, above this earth or under this earth that can make you whole in the presence and sight of God…

Acts Chapter 4 Verses 11 – 12

• Men must be saved. The Father says, “Must.”  That is His heart…  Because all men live forever.  Once we leave this earth we live on…We don’t only believe that, we know that because Jesus came out of death to tell us!  (Story of getting home from vacation)  Verse 10 tells us that we are not whole…but because of sin, because of the imperfection of men and women, you and me, we are not able, FULLY WELCOME but not able to live harmoniously with a perfect and holy God and the impeccable host of heaven…so there is one and only one option for unregenerate mankind…outer darkness…where all that is good and all that is of God is not there…and thus there is only evil, suffering and loss…
• But God has made a way…the name who stepped out and stepped into the under of heaven to make a way, to unlock heaven to men, to deal with sin righteously…and this Jesus is the only way…for men to be saved from eternal death as their eternal life…