And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31

Acts 4:23–31 – The Story of the Church: Living Into This Drama in the 21st Century
Fourth Sunday of Easter – April 25, 2021 (am)

Luke gives us the closing details of an amazing series of encounters Peter and John had in the temple. Responding to a lame man who sat daily at one of the temple gates asking for money, they healed him instead. Obviously, the man was absolutely ecstatic. And all the commotion gathered quite a crowd (3:1-10). So, Peter preached to them explaining how this miracle was done in the name (authority and power) of Jesus, whom they had delivered over to Pilate to be killed but whom God raised from the dead (3:11-16). He went on to say that all this was foreknown and foreordained by God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, by the God of Israel—and that they needed to repent, therefore, and turn back, that [their] sins against God may be blotted out (3:17-26).

But they were interrupted by the priests and the captain of the temple police and the Sadducees who were greatly annoyed because of the ruckus they were stirring up and the resurrection they were preaching. And they arrested them. But even so, many of those who had heard their preaching that day believed. And now the number of men alone in this new covenant community came to about five thousand (1-4).

Well, Peter and John bore witness again the next day to the power and authority of Jesus’ name before the high priestly family confirming that He was God’s promised Messiah. In fact, there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (5-12). The leaders wanted to silence them. But there was this problem of the undeniable healing of a man born lame! So they [just] charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But then Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. So, [the leaders] threatened them further then let them go (13-22).

So, what do they do next? After being detained and threatened by the authorities for preaching Jesus? That’s what we read in today’s text, one of the most captivating narratives in all of the book of Acts! Let’s read it. This is a simple account, really. They just return from their detention, [pray] together, remembering God’s sovereign authority and grace and seeking His empowering in their work, then then enjoy the supernatural affirmation of His presence and power with them. That’s the whole story! But six elements here are worthy of our attention, then two more that are worthy of our reflection. Let’s explore them under two headings.

When God’s People Pray… – 23-30

1) This was Peter and John’s initial response to resistance, push-back, persecution: corporate [prayer]! 23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God…. This is the response that reveals hearts of true faith! As we’ll see, they were amazed at the opposition of their religious leaders to the Messiah (25-26). They were seemingly disturbed by it (27). But they were also struck by the irrepressible plan of the Sovereign Lord! (28) Yet their mode of expressing all this was corporate [prayer]!

This was their immediate response. Is that true for you, me, us? Is our response to the surprising setbacks, the stunning escapes, the impending persecutions of this life, to gather together immediately in corporate [prayer]?

I am so pleased watching this body respond to one another’s needs at such times. That is a blessing! But I don’t believe I’m equally encouraged in this area. I don’t believe I see us responding to such times with a hunger, a pressing need, a passion for corporate [prayer]. I don’t want that to sound like a rebuke. I do believe ours is a [praying] congregation. But I do want it to sound like an observation, a perception tested over time in a plurality of circumstances. I don’t see this body seizing upon or lapping up opportunities for corporate [prayer].

Anyone who attended our old Wednesday PM Prayer Meeting can see that. The same is true for our new Sunday PM Prayer Service. We have sweet and meaningful times of corporate [prayer]. But they are enjoyed by a very small percentage of this body. I know there are numerous other times of corporate [prayer] in our ABFs, FLOCKS, and small groups. But Sunday PM is our one opportunity for focused, extended, unrivaled time in corporate [prayer]. And I/the Elders yearn for more of this body to hunger and thirst for that time.

2) I think the primary reason this group here was so drawn to corporate [prayer] was because they had no shadow of doubt about Who they were talking to! They were addressing the 24 … Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them. They were talking to the God of all creation, the one Being in all the universe Who could actually make a difference in their present circumstances, the gracious and merciful Father Who had just sent His Son to pay the penalty for their sin and then His Spirit to empower them to walk in a manner worthy of that great salvation! They were talking to the Sovereign God Himself!

3) And what they noted from Scripture about this Sovereign God was that it’s fruitless to oppose Him! It just doesn’t work! It won’t pay off! It’s utterly/foolishly wasted effort! From the text of that familiar Messianic Psalm 2, this is the gist of the quote here in vv.25-26 (Marshall 1980 111). The Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth laughs (Psa.2:4) at the foolishness of it all! And then He goes on to do all that He pleases! (Psa.2:6) Who would ever be foolish enough to conspire against Him?

4) But the Word of God will prove true, meaning, there are many who are foolish enough! Peter and John have just met some of them and they were the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees (1), [Israel’s] rulers and elders and scribes! (5) The poet wrote in Psa.2 that the Gentiles, the peoples, and the kings of the earth and the rulers will conspire to oppose God. And that’s just what this growing young church experienced on this day. They witnessed the conspiracy up close and personal. And it was kind of surprising who was involved in it!

Psa.2 says: 1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? And it sounds like the synonymous parallelism of Hebrew poetry, like the nations and the peoples are referring to one and the same group.

But what we see here in Act.4 is different than that. Luke records: 25 … Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? Then he returns to this word, the peoples (27), and assigns it to Israel. Jesus’ own [people] have joined in the conspiracy against [Him] as [Messiah], God’s Anointed (26). Joh.1:11 He came to his own, and his own… did not receive him. This shows us that the opposition of the Jews was already anticipated way back in Psa.2! (Marshall 2007 553)

5) Even with this conspiracy, the [sovereignty] of God prevailed. In their evil intent they were only able 28 to do whatever (His) hand and (His) plan had predestined to take place. How would you ever beat that? Why would you even want to try? And why would we ever bypass an opportunity to call out to a God like this together with all those whom He has saved?

6) Finally, even though this group must’ve felt uneasy about these religious leaders whom God had allowed to kill Jesus, their request was not for the leaders to back off or back down! They just asked God to [take note of] their threats, to look upon [them] (29). Then they asked for Him to grant to [them] the power to continue to speak [His] word with all boldness (29), while [He continues to perform whatever healings] and signs and wonders [He chooses] through the name of [His] holy servant Jesus (30). So, Lord, [please don’t ignore what they’re doing, or stop what You’re doing, but please keep empowering us to do what we’re doing], [being your witnesses] to the end of the earth (1:8). This is God’s [people], the young church, saying: Not [our] will, but yours, be done (Luk.22:42).

This is what God’s people prayed together when opposition arose!

… God Hears and Answers – 31 the last two, our reflection

Two things happened next, one immediately and the other, it would seem, in the days ahead. The first was a familiar sign, even though you could never get used to it! 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken. God had done this before, giving unmistakable evidence of His presence and power. He [shook] Mt. Sinai when He [came down] to give the Law to Moses (Exo.19:18). He shook the foundations of the thresholds of the temple when He called Isaiah (Isa.6:4). He promised (Hag.2:6-7) to shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land and… the nations in order to fill [His temple] with glory! And at the moment Jesus died on the cross, the earth shook, and the rocks were split (Mat.27:51). Now here, God responds to the [prayers] of His [people] by [shaking] the place in which they were gathered together (31). I believe this is God’s way of saying: I’m here. You’re talking to the right Person!

That’s what happened immediately. And the thing that seems to have happened in the following days was the actual direct answer to their only request: 31 … and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. This isn’t describing a repeat of Pentecost, but a fresh empowering by the Holy Spirit for the task at hand, just like they’d asked! God was not only with them in their [prayer] room, but He went out with them into their mission field! And he kept answering [prayer] there! Jesus had told them this was coming. Joh.14:13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. And this is what that looks like, [praying] in the name of Jesus, in accord with God’s purpose and plan. He hears and answers, in a way that just impels us to keep coming to Him, and keep asking!

Conclusion

This passage fires the imagination of God’s [people] to see what might happen when they [pray]! What might happen as we [pray] for boldness in our witness today, in these days, our days? What might happen? Are we willing just to try and see how God might answer? Or is this one of those instances where we may not really want to ask because we’re concerned that He might actually answer? And, truth be told, we don’t really want to be all that [bold] a witness—the responsibility, the stigma.

God, help us to ask. Help us just to be willing to ask for boldness in our pursuit of, our obedience to, His great commission. Help us to ask for boldness as we meet persecution, opposition, trials of various kinds. Help us to ask! And help us to long for times of corporate [prayer] together, recognizing the unique opportunity our Father affords us to fellowship with Him and with one another in [prayer].

Two quick questions as we close, then I want you to offer you a season of silence to respond to God’s Word in [prayer].

1. Would you have wanted to be present at this [prayer] meeting described here in Act.4, to experience the time of [prayer] with them, and then God’s response?

2. Do you think the Sovereign Lord, who made heaven and earth and the sea and everything in them (24), will be any less present with us when we gather together for our Prayer Service this evening, any less powerful, any less willing to hear and answer our [prayers]?

With these questions in mind, let’s now close with a season of silent [prayer], responding to this God.

 _____________

Resources

Beale, G. K. and D. A. Carson, eds. 2007. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Acts, by I. Howard Marshall, 513-606. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.

Bruce, F. F., ed. 1988. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. The book of Acts, revised, by F. F. Bruce. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Carson, D. A., ed. 1991. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. The gospel according to John, by D. A. Carson. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Carson, D. A., R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, eds. 1994. New Bible Commentary 21st Century Edition. Acts, by Conrad Gempf, 1066-1114. Leicester, Eng.: InterVarsity.

Dockery, David S, ed. 1992. New American Commentary. Vol. 26, Acts, by John B. Polhill. Nashville: Broadman & Holman.

Grudem, Wayne, ed. 2008. ESV Study Bible. Study notes on Acts, 2073-2156, by John B. Polhill. Wheaton: Crossway.

Longman III, Tremper and David E. Garland, eds. 2007. Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 10, Acts, by Richard N. Longenecker, 665-1102. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Morris, Leon, ed. 1980. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Vol. 5 Acts, by I. Howard Marshall. Downers Grove: InterVarsity.

 

Next Week: Thou Shalt Not Lie, Acts 4:32–5:11