The Holy Spirit is not mentioned by Name in Acts 3. However, His Presence is seen in Peter, who ministered the Gospel of the Kingdom in the Power of the Spirit. Peter healed a crippled beggar in the Power of the Spirit. Peter preached the Kingdom of Christ in the Power of the Spirit. Peter called on Israel to repent in the Power of the Spirit.
Acts 4 opens with the priests, Sadducees and the captain of the temple guard seizing Peter and John and throwing them into prison.
"The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men 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 cripple and are 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. He is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men 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."Acts 4:5-14
Peter's message is strong and straight: Israel's rulers killed Jesus, but God raised Him from the dead, and salvation is found only in Christ. Peter is "filled with the Holy Spirit." He is telling Israel exactly what the Spirit is guiding him to say and the message is the death, resurrection and salvation of Jesus Christ. The Kingdom Gospel is not fancy. It's not complicated. It's a message Israel should have understood, but didn't want to understand.
The rulers of Israel saw three things in Peter and John.
Peter and John spoke boldly to the rulers of Israel. This was certainly a change from several weeks earlier when Peter denied Christ. John had accompanied Jesus during His interrogation before Annas and his son-in-law Caiaphas. Peter was so afraid he denied three times he was with Christ. (John 18:15-27). Things were different after the Holy Spirit "filled" Peter. Peter was a new man. He stood tall and strong in the face of the very men who had handed Jesus over to be crucified. Peter did not mince words. He accused Annas, Caiaphas and other men of the high priest's family of murdering the Son of God. Peter told them the former cripple stood before them healed because of Jesus. Peter said that the "stone" the rulers had rejected had become the "capstone." Peter preached that "salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Peter was bold and showed great courage. Peter and John had not attended a special "courage" school to learn courage. The Holy Spirit gave them courage. The Holy Spirit gave them backbone to stand up to the enemies of God. The rulers of Israel saw it.
This was not a surprise to the Apostles. Christ had prophesied it months earlier.
"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."Matthew 10:19-20
The rulers also noted that Peter and John were unschooled, ordinary men. They did not attend the University of Jerusalem. It's doubtful they went very far in the Israeli school system. There was nothing special about the career paths they'd chosen. They weren't doctors, lawyers or educators. They were blue collar people. Peter and John were fishermen; an honest occupation but not one that needed special schooling. Christians often forget that fact. We see Peter, James, John and other disciples as super human. We read about the power of their words and see their ability to work miracles, but forget they were just ordinary people. We forget that what was "super" about them was the super-natural God Who lived in them. Two things made the disciples extraordinary: they had been with Jesus and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. That's no different than our experience. We have been with Jesus and the Holy Spirit lives within us. If we are obedient to God's Word, we too can be filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter and John were great examples of what God can do with anyone who knows Christ, is filled with the Holy Spirit and is willing to be used for God's service. God is working differntly with His children in this Age of Grace, but the principle is the same. God will use "spirit-filled" believers in a powerful and meaningful way.
The rulers of Israel "were astonished" by what they saw and heard and "took note that these men had been with Jesus." "Astonished" is ethaumazon . It means "to gaze in wonder, to marvel, to be amazed." The high priest and others gazed in wonder at what they were seeing. Here were two unschooled, ordinary men who were speaking to them with great power and authority. Peter and John exhibited tremendous courage in the face of a very difficult situation. It wasn't that long ago that Annas and Caiaphas had seen John stand quietly beside Jesus during their interrogation of Him. They knew Peter and John had been with Jesus and they marvelled at it.
Annas and Caiaphas also had to deal with the proof of Peter's message. "And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it." Jews believed healing was Divine. How could the high priest say anything against what Peter and John had done. The healed man, a man all knew had been a cripple from birth, was evidence of the Divine Power behind Peter and John. The combination of the healing and Peter's clear message should have brought Annas and Caiaphas to their knees in repentance for their sin of killing God's Son, but it didn't. Look at what happened next.
"So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 'What are we going to do with these men?' they asked. 'Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.'"Acts 4:15-17
Amazing! Annas, Caiaphas and other rulers of Israel knew that what Peter and John had done was an "outstanding miracle." They couldn't deny it. They would have if they could, but they couldn't. They couldn't deny that Peter and John had worked a miracle, something no one else in Israel could do, but the rulers of Israel wanted it stopped. They didn't want to hear what Peter and John had to say, even though God was in their message. They didn't want the Apostles to bring in the Kingdom of Heaven. Why? Because Annas, Caiaphas the others hated God's Son. Jesus had preached the truth about them and they couldn't stand hearing the truth. They didn't want the kind of Kingdom Jesus and His Apostles would have brought to Israel.
Jesus made it clear to His disciples that the teachings of Israel's leaders were dangerous.
"When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 'Be careful,' Jesus said to them, 'Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees' ... 'be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.' Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees."Matthew 16:5-6, 11-12
Jesus also warned the crowds that gathered around Him about the leaders of Israel. Remember that representatives of Israel's rulers were always in the crowd, looking for an opportunity to catch Jesus breaking the Law. Jesus knew that. He looked them straight in the eye as He pronounced their woes.
"Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 'The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. Everything they do is done for men to see. They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. 'Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! Which is greater; the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? you also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' You blind men! Which is greater; the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers. You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekian, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation."Matthew 23:1-36
[It's interesting to note that the Army of Rome destroyed Jerusalem during the generation to which Jesus preached. Everything Jesus prophesied would happen to Israel and His own disciples happened during the 35 years following His death and resurrection. That's within the time of the same generation. History is another evidence of the truth of God's Word.]
Everything Jesus did bothered the rulers of Israel, especially the healings. Why? Because they couldn't do it and they were jealous of Jesus, who could. Healings grabbed the attention and admiration of the people. Attention and admiration were things Annas and Caiaphas wanted. They loved for people to "ooh and aah" as they went by. They loved to get attention and honor when they gave small amounts of money to the poor and prayed and fasted. They wanted everyone to know how important and "religious" they were. They also didn't like the healings and miracles because it verified that Jesus was the Promised Messiah. The rulers of Israel didn't want Jesus as their Messiah. They didn't like His theology. They didn't like His methods. They didn't like His attitude. Jesus didn't fit into their plans. He wouldn't do things the way they wanted to do them. Jesus would have messed up everything for them if He became King. Jesus knew their hypocrisy and warned people about it.
"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full."Matthew 6:2
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full."Matthew 6:5
"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full."Matthew 6:16
Healing was a primary ministry of Jesus Christ while He was on earth. It was a proof of His Power and Authority from Heaven. It was evidence that He was the long-promised Messiah and King of Israel. However, the rulers of Israel did not want to admit that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus had said things about the rulers that were harsh and painful; true, but painful. Jesus would have stripped the rulers of their position and power they knew it. They had to find a way to destroy Jesus. They attacked Him at every turn.
"Going from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, 'Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?' He said to them, 'If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a man thatn a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.' Then he said to the man, 'Stretch out your hand.' So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus."Matthew 12:11-14
The rulers were always trying to embarrass Jesus in front of the crowds. Jesus always used it as an opportunity to teach the Gospel of the Kingdom and point out the sins of the rulers.
"Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, 'Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.' He answered, 'A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Somomon is here. When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation. "Matthew 12:38-45
"The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, 'When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah."Matthew 16:1-4
Jesus also forgave sins; something He certainly had the authority and power to do. That drove the rulers of Israel crazy. They sent representatives to follow Christ so they could catch Him breaking the Law and then prove a case against Him.
"Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven. At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, 'This fellow is blaspheming!' Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, 'why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....' Then he said to the paralytic, 'Get up, take your mat and go home.' And the man got up and went home. when the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men."Matthew 9:1-8
The leaders of Israel also didn't like the kinds of people to whom Jesus ministered.
"While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and 'sinners' came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners.' On hearing this, Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."Matthew 9:10-13
Jesus later spoke about the Pharisees' comments.
"The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and 'sinners.' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."Matthew 11:19
The Pharisees were critical of everything Jesus and His disciples did. They were always trying to find fault with Christ. Their problem was that Jesus knew the Law so much better than they did. The Pharisees presented themselves to the people of Israel as experts on the Law, but they really knew nothing.
"At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, 'Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.' He answered, 'Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecreated bread--which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice', you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."Matthew 12:1-8
"Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 'Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!' Jesus replied, 'and why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' he is not to 'honor his father' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' Jesus called the crowd to him and said, 'Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' Then the disciples came to him and asked, 'Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?' He replied, 'Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into the pit.'"Matthew 15:1-14
The rulers of Israel cooked up a plot to arrest Jesus and accuse Him falsely . They enticed Judas, one of Christ's own disciples, to betray Jesus for 30 silver coins.
"With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people."Matthew 26:47
Peter tried to defend Christ at first, but Jesus told him to put away his sword.
"Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"Matthew 26:53
What did the other disciples do when Jesus was arrested?
"Then all the disciples deserted him and fled."Matthew 26:56
"Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome."Matthew 26:57-58
"The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward."Matthew 26:59-60
Jesus did nothing except tell the truth to His interrogators. Caiaphas finally had enough and knew how to get Jesus. He asked Jesus if He was the Messiah, the Son of God. Caiaphas knew how Jesus would answer.
"Yes, it is as you say,' Jesus replied. 'But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.'"Matthew 26:64
"Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, 'He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?' 'He is worthy of death,' they answered. Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, 'Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?'"Matthew 26:65-67
Jesus did not blaspheme and Caiaphas knew it. I personally believe Caiphas knew Jesus was God's Messiah, but didn't want the One God had sent. Jesus was not the kind of Messiah Caiaphas wanted to rule Israel. Caiaphas loved to rule. He loved the position, the privilege, the honor, the wealth. He didn't want to give it up to someone like Jesus. Jesus was too good. Jesus cared about people and taught the Law the way God meant for it to be taught. Jesus hated the hypocrisy of Caiaphas. Caiaphas knew that if Jesus lived any longer the people would declare Him their Messiah and King. Caiaphas did what his ancestors had done before him. He killed God's Prophet.
Caiaphas is the same man Peter and John were dealing with in Acts 4. Caiaphas thought he was done with the Messiah when he had Jesus crucified, but things were even worse. Jesus had risen from the dead and poured out His Holy Spirit on His disciples. Caiaphas was having to deal with many courageous men and women. He and the other leaders of Israel thought they might be able to intimidate Peter and John into silence. How wrong they were!
"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, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For 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."Acts4:21-22
Peter and John went back to the disciples and told them everything that had happened to them. They prayed and remembered the Work of the Holy Spirit. It is a reminder to all of us about the Ministry of God's Spirit.
"Soverign Lord,' they said, 'you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the the mouth of your servant, our father David. 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.' Indeed Herod and Pontitus Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.' After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need."Acts 4:27-31
Please continue this study about The Holy Spirit in Acts.
Taking God's Grace to the World!
"Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright ©, 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers."
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Last Updated: 12/20/1999