1. www.rossvillechurch.com 781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 30741 Wednesday 7-27-11 Next Sunday, July 31 is fifth Sunday. After morning worship, we will have dinner at Grand Center Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Fellowship and Worship after dinner.
2. Peter and John healed the lame man, who laid begging at the Gate called Beautiful. That drew a crowd. Peter preached.
3. Acts 4 1-3 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. They had gone to the Temple to pray at three o'cloc k in the afternoon. A lot has happened ; it's now evening .
4. These priests didn't care that they were preaching; That happened all the time . But they were preaching in Jesus' Name . They were preaching His Resurrection . Naturally the priests were upset by such preaching; They had just killed Jesus a few weeks before. They wanted His followers to shut up and go away .
5. Most of the priests were Sadducees . Sadducees didn't believe in the Resurrection . That was probably why they were sad, you see. They didn't believe in angels or spirits . They were loyal to the Roman government. They associated themselves with the wealthy . They liked things as they were ; don't rock the boat.
6. Peter and John were definitely rocking the boat. They were held until the next day to be tried.
7. 4 Howbeit many of them which heard the Word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand . Persecution only strengthens the spread of Christianity . This movement wasn't dying out or going away. Jesus' followers were bolder than before.
8. 5-7 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? These rulers felt so important and powerful. They were going to straighten Peter and John out.
9. 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost , said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified , whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.
10. This is the same disciple who denied Jesus and ran away a few short weeks before.
11. "It is in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified , Whom God raised from the dead, that this miracle was done." Peter answered their question! Boldly ! Peter's answer was not designed to pacify his persecutors. It was designed to convict them of their sin.
12. 11 This is the Stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the Head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other : for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved . These rulers could have gotten saved right then, but they would not believe.
13. Do you believe in Jesus Christ as God's Son? Do you believe the Bible is Truth about Jesus? If you do , you can become a son or daughter of God right now . Ask God in Jesus' Name to save you from sin and from hell. He will forgive your sins, and cleanse your soul. You will be born of the Spirit of God into the family of God.
