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When the early church prayed, not for escape from persecution but for greater boldness to proclaim Christ, something extraordinary happened—miracles multiplied, prison doors opened, and opposition only amplified their message. How did the religious authorities respond to this unstoppable movement, and what did the apostles do when faced with threats, jealousy, and physical beating? The answers reveal a powerful picture of God’s sovereignty that still challenges believers today.
📝 Study Notes, Scripture List, Transcript, and more: https://medicallake.church/sermons/work-to-do
#mlcc #church #churchonline
📝 Study Notes, Scripture List, Transcript, and more: https://medicallake.church/sermons/work-to-do
#mlcc #church #churchonline
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LearningTranscript
00:00We were praying earlier and we were talking about prayer,
00:03but have you ever thought about how awesome prayer is?
00:08I mean, think about it.
00:10You have the creator of the universe,
00:12the person, the being that spoke all things into existence.
00:16He didn't take matter and recreate it.
00:19He spoke matter into existence and created all things.
00:23This being desires to communicate to us.
00:27He wants to commune with us in prayer.
00:31He's not a God that created and went on a journey somewhere
00:33and just leaves us to our own demise.
00:36He's a God that wants us to commune with him.
00:39What a privilege it is to pray to God.
00:44You know, when you see people pray,
00:45oh, they're just talking there.
00:46No, they're not talking there.
00:47They're talking to a real person,
00:49a person who made all things,
00:51who is a sovereign Lord of the universe,
00:53who directs all things.
00:55Oh, what a wonderful thing prayer is.
00:58We have a prayer chain here,
01:00and if you have prayer requests,
01:01you can always add it to the prayer chain
01:02and we can get that information.
01:04But have you noticed that sometimes we pray
01:06for something particular, specific,
01:09and God always answers prayers.
01:11We know that.
01:11He always answers prayers,
01:13but sometimes he doesn't answer it exactly
01:16as we thought he ought to.
01:17You ever been there before?
01:19Some of you may keep a prayer journal
01:20and you write down the prayers
01:22and then you see the answers to the prayer
01:23and you see that God answered it,
01:24but it wasn't exactly like that you had prayed.
01:28I mean, he knows all things,
01:29so he knows how to answer it best,
01:30but sometimes he does answer exactly like we pray.
01:34And in the text today,
01:36God answers the disciples' prayer
01:38exactly like they had prayed in chapter four.
01:42In chapter four, this is what they said.
01:45We talked about it a few weeks back.
01:47Remember, Peter and John had been arrested,
01:50tried in front of the Sanhedrin,
01:53threatened not to speak in the name of Jesus.
01:55They go back to their friends
01:56and they hold a prayer worship service,
01:59and part of that was this prayer right here.
02:01This is what they said.
02:03And now, Lord, look upon their threats,
02:05that's the Sanhedrin,
02:06and grant to your servants
02:08to continue to speak your word with all boldness.
02:12We're not asking for deliverance.
02:13We're asking to continue to speak your word.
02:16While you stretch out your hand to heal,
02:20and signs and wonders are performed
02:21through the name of your holy servant, Jesus.
02:25And God, in chapter five,
02:26answers it exactly like they prayed.
02:29Exactly.
02:30Gave them boldness,
02:32performed signs and wonders through the apostles,
02:34but answered accordingly how they prayed.
02:36What a wonderful thing
02:38when God answers exactly like we thought he should.
02:42You know, do you think about it, though?
02:43Well, their prayer didn't deliver them
02:46from the circumstances that they found themselves in.
02:49It actually furthered the persecution
02:51that they're going to experience.
02:53So they were praying not to be delivered,
02:55but hey, in the midst of this,
02:57we want to be faithful to you.
02:59Isn't that a good prayer?
03:01In the midst of everything we see around us,
03:03I just want to be faithful to you, God.
03:05That's what they're praying.
03:06So here we see in the rest of chapter five,
03:08we looked at Ananias and Sapphira two weeks ago,
03:11the rest of chapter five,
03:12that the proclamation of the gospel
03:14cannot be stopped by men.
03:16Men cannot stop the proclamation of the gospel,
03:18for God is advancing the message
03:20even though men are opposing him.
03:22His message will get out.
03:24Man cannot stop the gospel message.
03:26They try in this chapter,
03:28again, they try to stop people speaking
03:30in the name of Jesus,
03:32but you cannot.
03:34Opposition is there.
03:35Opposition is here today, even still.
03:38But people, men cannot stop the advancement
03:41of the kingdom of God
03:42and God's message of salvation.
03:46God answered their prayer
03:47exactly like they had prayed.
03:50They didn't pray for deliverance.
03:52They prayed for boldness to be faithful
03:54in the midst of opposition.
03:57I don't know,
03:57some of you may be experiencing opposition
03:59at work right now.
04:02Prayer is,
04:02God, just give me boldness to be faithful to you
04:05in the midst of the opposition.
04:06Maybe it's within your own family.
04:09God, give me boldness to be faithful to you
04:11in the midst of all.
04:12I mean, it's a great prayer.
04:16God answered their prayer exactly.
04:18Verses 12 through 16 focuses like a summary.
04:23The story continues on in verse 17,
04:25but there's like a summary
04:26of what was taking place in Jerusalem here,
04:2812 through 16.
04:30So now we see,
04:33now many signs and wonders
04:34were regularly done among the people
04:36by the hands of the apostles.
04:38So it's still the apostles
04:39that are doing the signs and wonders
04:40at this point.
04:41And they were all together
04:43in Solomon's portico.
04:44So all the believers were gathered
04:45in the same place that they were before,
04:47proclaiming and speaking
04:48in the name of Jesus.
04:49Yet 13 says,
04:51none of the rest dared join them,
04:54but the people held in high esteem.
04:56So the group is gathered,
04:57the people that are not believers
04:59are looking out at a distance.
05:01They're favoring them.
05:02They're saying something is good
05:03about this Christian group,
05:04but they're standoffish at this point.
05:07They're standoffish in verse 13.
05:10And more than ever,
05:11believers were added to the Lord,
05:13multitudes of both men and women.
05:15And this is the first time
05:16the women are included in the counting.
05:18I'm sure there were women
05:19that got saved in the day of Pentecost as well,
05:20but just men were counted.
05:22Now it's both.
05:22So that they even carried out the sick
05:28into the streets
05:29and laid them on cots and mats
05:31that as Peter came by,
05:33at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
05:36We'll talk about that in a second.
05:37It sounds kind of strange.
05:40The people also gathered
05:41from the towns around Jerusalem.
05:44So now the message is going beyond Jerusalem,
05:46bringing the sick and those afflicted
05:48with unclean spirits,
05:49and they were all healed.
05:53Everyone that was brought to them
05:54was healed in this case.
05:56So now we see this summary
05:58of what's going on.
05:59They were in Solomon's portico right here.
06:02You'll see the picture here.
06:03It'll pop up on the screen.
06:04Just there it is right there.
06:06To the right is the temple.
06:08That's where all the sacrifices
06:09and the priestly duties.
06:10And the left was a large area
06:11that literally thousands of people could be in.
06:14And that's where they were gathering together
06:16every day in the temple.
06:17And they were then speaking about Jesus,
06:19talking about Jesus being the Messiah.
06:21So they're gathering together
06:22in this area right here.
06:24So the summary focusing on
06:26the healing ministry of the apostles
06:27and the growing favor of the people,
06:29but it also sets the stage
06:31for the second arrest that's going to happen.
06:34Because as the people give them favor,
06:36the religious leaders are falling out of favor,
06:39and so they respond.
06:40That sets us up for that.
06:43So they're performing signs and wonders,
06:45confirming the word that's performing,
06:46and the signs and wonders
06:48were God's way of bearing witness
06:49to the testimony that they were saying,
06:52the words that they were proclaiming.
06:54You have a new revelation
06:56that God is giving to people,
06:58and then there's no way to check it.
06:59So signs and wonders were there to show
07:01that this is coming from God.
07:02This is God's work.
07:04Only God can do these things.
07:06These are what God is having to say.
07:08In fact, the writer of Hebrews talks about this,
07:11these bearing witness
07:12to the preaching of the apostles.
07:13For since the message delivered by angels
07:16proved to be reliable,
07:18and every transgression or disobedience
07:20received a just retribution,
07:22how shall we escape
07:23if we neglect such a great salvation?
07:25Let me just pause right there.
07:27That is a great, great question.
07:29How can you escape
07:30if you neglect this great salvation?
07:34If you ignore this great salvation?
07:36How can you,
07:36whether you're at home
07:37or whether you're right here,
07:38if you've never believed
07:39in the Lord Jesus Christ,
07:40how can you escape the judgment
07:41that's going to come?
07:42This great salvation
07:43if you don't believe in Him?
07:47How can we escape
07:48if we neglect such a great salvation?
07:50The idea is you cannot.
07:53It was declared at first by the Lord,
07:56and it was attested to us
07:57by those who heard,
07:58in other words,
07:58the apostles,
07:59while God also bore witness
08:01by signs and wonders
08:02and various miracles
08:03and by gifts of the Holy Spirit
08:05distributed according to His will.
08:07So He's continuing the ministry.
08:08God is doing this work
08:09through the apostles.
08:12Notice that the people
08:13favored the Christians
08:15but kept a distance.
08:17They kept a distance.
08:19People were intrigued
08:20by the Christians
08:21and their message
08:21but were afraid of joining them.
08:24Think Ananiah and Sapphira.
08:27Because if you remember,
08:28in Acts chapter 5,
08:29this is what it said.
08:31And great fear came upon
08:32the whole church,
08:33believers,
08:34and upon all who heard
08:36of these things.
08:37So the unbelievers as well.
08:38Whoa,
08:39I've got to be very careful.
08:41I'm going to count the cost
08:42if I'm going to join this group.
08:43They held them in favor.
08:44They're going,
08:45there's something about
08:45these Christians
08:46that are intriguing.
08:48But I'm afraid
08:49to join them right now.
08:52They were intrigued.
08:53Now this shadow thing,
08:55this shadow.
08:56In the ancient world,
08:57it's a very superstitious thing.
08:58In the ancient world,
08:59a shadow was supposed
09:00to represent the person,
09:02the inner person.
09:03So they thought,
09:04well,
09:04if we just put them
09:06on cots and mats
09:07and Peter's shadow go by.
09:08Now Luke never says
09:09that anyone got healed
09:11from the shadow.
09:12He doesn't say that.
09:13It's not in the text anywhere.
09:14It just says
09:15they thought they would be
09:16and so they laid them on mats.
09:18Luke doesn't say
09:19anyone got healed
09:20but the superstitious thing,
09:21they recognize that God
09:22was at work among these people.
09:24Something was happening
09:25through this person
09:26named Peter.
09:27Notice it says
09:29they were all healed.
09:32All.
09:33Everyone was brought,
09:34was healed.
09:34Everyone was healed.
09:35No one was sent away
09:36because they did not have faith
09:38to be healed.
09:39Oh, you didn't have enough faith
09:40you didn't get healed.
09:40No, everyone was healed.
09:42They were all healed
09:42by the apostles that day.
09:45The Jews were going,
09:46well, give us some more signs.
09:48Well, you have Jesus,
09:49you have the resurrection
09:50as a sign,
09:51you have his works as a sign,
09:52his testimony as a sign,
09:54but we need more signs.
09:55The Jews love signs.
09:57They require God
09:58to do something
09:58to show them.
10:00Show me,
10:01like the Missouri,
10:02show me state,
10:02show me and I'll believe.
10:04Does that ever work, really?
10:06He showed them.
10:07Did they believe?
10:08Just showing them
10:09doesn't necessarily believe
10:10but they require a sign.
10:11That's what Paul said
10:12in Corinthians about Jews.
10:14For Jews demand signs
10:16and Greeks seek wisdom.
10:17They're looking for something.
10:18Even when Jesus was here,
10:19they were saying,
10:20show us a sign, Jesus.
10:22John 6.
10:23So they said to him,
10:24then what sign do you do
10:25that we may see
10:26and believe you?
10:28What work do you perform?
10:29So they're asking for signs.
10:31And in John 7,
10:32yet many of the people
10:33believed in him.
10:34They said,
10:34when Christ appears,
10:35will he do more signs
10:36than this man has done?
10:37They're asking for more signs.
10:39God is giving them that.
10:40Here are signs right here,
10:42wonders, miracles
10:43through the hands
10:43of the apostles.
10:46Something though
10:46to remember
10:47about miracles and signs
10:48is that miracles alone
10:50without God's word
10:51can save no one.
10:53Miracles alone
10:54without God's word
10:54can save no one.
10:56The miracles
10:56have people's attention.
10:58God's word
10:58is what saves people.
11:01So now their healing ministry
11:03led to their arrest
11:04by the religious authorities.
11:06The people are favoring
11:08the apostles
11:09and the religious authorities
11:10are realizing
11:11they're losing the favor
11:12of the esteem
11:13of the people.
11:14Look at verse 17.
11:15It's a little larger section here.
11:17Verses 17.
11:18Excuse me.
11:19Verse, yeah, 17.
11:20But the high priest
11:22rose up
11:23and all who were with him,
11:25that is the party
11:26of the Sadducees.
11:26Most of the people
11:27on the Sanhedrin
11:28were Sadducees.
11:28There are Pharisees
11:29on the Sanhedrin.
11:30Most were Sadducees.
11:31And filled with jealousy,
11:34they arrested the apostles
11:36and put them
11:36in public prison.
11:38We're going to humiliate you guys.
11:41But during the night,
11:43an angel of the Lord
11:43opened the prison doors
11:45and brought them out
11:46and said,
11:46go and stand in the temple
11:48and speak to the people
11:49all the words
11:51of this life.
11:52So they're set free.
11:53So they wait
11:54for the temple doors
11:55to open
11:55and it says,
11:56and when they heard this,
11:57they entered the temple
11:58at daybreak
11:59and began to teach.
12:00Okay.
12:01So they're arrested,
12:02thrown in prison,
12:03angel comes,
12:04releases them,
12:05they go back
12:06to the temple
12:06the next day.
12:07Here's where we're at.
12:08Now when the high priest came
12:10and those who were with him,
12:11they called together
12:12the council,
12:13all the senate
12:14of the people,
12:14probably the scribes
12:15at this point,
12:16of Israel,
12:17and sent to the prison
12:18to have them,
12:19the apostles brought.
12:20Now again,
12:21this is not just Peter and John,
12:22this is all the apostles
12:23are there.
12:25But when the officers came,
12:26they did not find them
12:28in prison.
12:29So they returned
12:29and reported,
12:30hey,
12:30we found the prison
12:31securely locked
12:32and the guards
12:33standing at the doors,
12:34but when we opened them,
12:35we found no one inside.
12:37Now when the captain
12:38of the temple
12:39and the chief priest
12:40heard these words,
12:40they were greatly perplexed.
12:42You can imagine
12:43the look on their face.
12:44What?
12:45How's that possible?
12:46They were greatly perplexed,
12:48it says here,
12:49wondering what this would come to.
12:52What's going to come of this?
12:54And someone came
12:55and told them,
12:55hey, look,
12:56the men whom you put in prison
12:57are standing in the temple
12:58and teaching the people.
12:59Now, of course,
13:00they're very excited about this
13:01because that's what they wanted,
13:02right?
13:03Follow along with me.
13:04Yeah,
13:05you can imagine the reaction
13:06that wait,
13:06we just told them
13:07don't do that
13:08and they're now back
13:09in the temple again.
13:10We found the prison
13:11securely locked
13:12and the guards
13:13and the guards
13:13and the doors
13:13and we opened them
13:14and the temple
13:15heard these words,
13:16they were greatly perplexed
13:17and someone came
13:18and told them,
13:19look,
13:19the men whom you put in prison
13:20are standing in the temple
13:21and teaching the people.
13:23Then the captain
13:23with the officers
13:24went and brought them
13:25but not by force
13:27so they didn't put hands
13:28on them necessarily,
13:28they just said,
13:29hey,
13:29we need to talk to you
13:31for they were afraid
13:32of being stoned
13:32by the people.
13:33They were afraid
13:33the people would
13:34hit them with rocks
13:35and kill them
13:36and when they had brought them,
13:38they set them
13:38before the council
13:39so they stood
13:40before the Sanhedrin
13:41and the high priest
13:42questioned them
13:43saying,
13:44we strictly charge you
13:45not to teach
13:46in this name
13:47yet here you have
13:48filled Jerusalem
13:49with your teaching
13:51and I say,
13:51hallelujah,
13:52good job guys.
13:53They filled Jerusalem
13:54with the teaching
13:55and you intend
13:56to bring this man's
13:58blood upon us
13:59but Peter and the apostles
14:00answered,
14:01we must obey God
14:02rather than men.
14:03The God of our fathers
14:05raised Jesus
14:06whom you killed,
14:07there's like a mini sermon
14:08that Peter gives,
14:09whom you killed
14:10by hanging him
14:10on a tree,
14:11God exalted him
14:13at his right hand
14:14as leader and savior
14:15to give repentance
14:16to Israel
14:17and forgiveness
14:18of sins
14:18and we are witnesses
14:20to these things.
14:21We saw him,
14:22we walked with him,
14:22we saw the resurrection
14:23and so is the Holy Spirit
14:25whom God has given
14:26to those who obey him.
14:29Implication,
14:30they're not obeying him
14:31because they don't have
14:31the spirit.
14:32That's the implication.
14:33So these religious leaders
14:36are not happy
14:37of what's going on.
14:39They're losing favor
14:40with the people
14:40so they get jealous.
14:42They get jealous.
14:44In fact,
14:44they're enraged
14:45with jealousy.
14:47A zeal to eradicate
14:48this messianic movement,
14:50this cult
14:50that's arising in Israel.
14:52Now granted,
14:53it was the Sanhedrin's
14:54responsibility
14:54to check all teaching
14:56in Israel.
14:56That is true.
14:57But they're failing
14:58to see that this teaching
14:59is from God.
15:00They don't understand that.
15:02And their jealousy
15:03was a religiously motivated,
15:05intense anger.
15:08They're taking something
15:09from us.
15:11The steam of the people
15:13are no longer falling on us,
15:14the religious leaders
15:15of the nation.
15:16Now the steam of the people
15:17is going to those Christians,
15:19those followers
15:20of the Nazarene,
15:21of the way.
15:23They don't like it.
15:26Dr. Gary Collins
15:27in HomeAid says,
15:28there is a distinction
15:29between jealousy and envy.
15:30To envy is to want
15:32something which belongs
15:33to another person.
15:35You should not covet
15:35your neighbor's house,
15:36his wife or his servant,
15:38his ox or donkey
15:39or anything that belongs
15:40to your neighbor.
15:41In contrast,
15:42jealousy is the fear
15:43that something
15:44which we possess
15:45will be taken away
15:46by another person.
15:48Although jealousy
15:48can apply to our jobs,
15:50our possessions
15:50or our reputations,
15:52in this case,
15:52it's reputations,
15:53the word more often
15:54refers to anxiety
15:56which comes
15:56when we are afraid
15:57that the affections
15:58of a loved one
15:59might be lost
16:00to a rival.
16:01They are jealous.
16:03The people are esteeming
16:04these Christians
16:05and they're losing
16:05their influence
16:06or losing their power.
16:08They were afraid
16:09of losing their political
16:10and religious power,
16:11of losing the esteem
16:12of the people
16:13so they get,
16:13they're filled
16:14with rage toward them.
16:17They were motivated
16:18by a zeal
16:19to maintain the purity
16:20of the faith
16:21and they're saying,
16:21this is not of God.
16:23And you're kind of saying,
16:24just open up your eyes.
16:26This is what the prophets
16:27talked about.
16:28They wrote all these things
16:29about the Messiah
16:30that was going to come
16:31and he has come
16:32and you have rejected
16:33your Messiah.
16:35They have lost
16:36the esteem of the people
16:37and so they arrest them,
16:39attempting to humiliate them.
16:41Think about that.
16:42When you're arrested,
16:43what do people look at you?
16:44If a cop comes in
16:45and arrests me right now,
16:45what are you going to think?
16:46You're going to think,
16:47whoa, what did he do wrong?
16:49They're trying to humiliate
16:50and degrade the apostles
16:51is what they're trying to do.
16:53Discredit their message.
16:55In John 15,
16:56this is what Jesus said.
16:58Remember the word
16:59that I said to you?
17:00A servant is not greater
17:01than his master.
17:02If they persecuted me,
17:03they will also persecute you.
17:05If they kept my word,
17:06they will also keep yours.
17:08But they're trying
17:09to discredit them
17:10by arresting them,
17:10making them look bad
17:11in the eyes of the people.
17:14But God vindicated them
17:15by delivering them
17:16from prison
17:16through an angel.
17:18And the escape,
17:19well, actually,
17:19you really can't call it
17:20an escape.
17:21They didn't escape.
17:22God released them.
17:23It's not an escape.
17:24God let them go.
17:24God released them.
17:27Demonstrates that
17:28the Jewish religious leaders
17:30were helpless
17:30in this situation.
17:32They were not in control.
17:35They thought they were
17:36in control
17:36of the whole situation.
17:38They're not in control.
17:41So after they
17:42are set free
17:44by the angel,
17:45they go home
17:46and cower
17:47and lock the doors.
17:49Okay, thank you.
17:50Someone's paying attention.
17:51All right.
17:51They go back
17:52to the temple.
17:53The place that they
17:54were just arrested at,
17:55they go back
17:55to the temple.
17:57You would think,
17:58oh, they're going to run.
17:59They're not going to run.
18:00Why?
18:00Because their Lord
18:01has told them,
18:02I need for you
18:03to proclaim my name
18:04among the nations.
18:05I need for you
18:06to do this.
18:06I want,
18:07I desire you
18:08to talk about me,
18:09to proclaim my name,
18:10to preach in my name
18:11among the nations.
18:12So they go back
18:13to the temple.
18:14They go back
18:15to the temple.
18:15Even when God
18:18is providing for us,
18:19in other words,
18:20he,
18:20the release of the apostles
18:21from prison,
18:22it doesn't mean
18:23that all obstacles
18:24and difficulties
18:24will go away.
18:26In fact,
18:27in the deliverance,
18:28we may encounter
18:28more obstacles
18:29and difficulties.
18:32All the words
18:33of this life
18:34they're proclaiming.
18:35What a beautiful message
18:35of the gospel.
18:36All the words
18:37of this life.
18:38It has been said
18:40that evangelism
18:41is not on the agenda
18:43of the church.
18:44It is the agenda
18:46of the church.
18:47Our Lord told us
18:48to go into all the world
18:49and preach the gospel
18:50to every creature.
18:51Go and make disciples
18:52of all nations.
18:53It's not on the agenda.
18:54It is the agenda
18:55of what the church
18:55is to do about.
18:56To speak in the name
18:57of Jesus
18:58to the world.
19:00This is what's so funny.
19:02The Sadducees
19:03were the majority
19:04on the Sanhedrin
19:05and the high priest
19:05was the Sadducee.
19:07Sadducees don't believe
19:08in angels.
19:10Who released
19:11the apostles?
19:12An angel!
19:13I love it!
19:14What an irony!
19:15Here it is.
19:16They don't even believe it.
19:17How do you know that?
19:18Well, Acts chapter 23.
19:20For the Sadducees said
19:21there is no resurrection
19:22nor angel
19:23nor spirit
19:24but the Pharisees
19:25acknowledge them all.
19:25It's like God
19:26is laughing in heaven.
19:27Ha ha!
19:27You don't even believe
19:28in angels.
19:28I'm going to use an angel
19:29to release them.
19:30I think it's great.
19:31What an irony.
19:32Shows who's in control
19:33of the situation.
19:35It's not the Sanhedrin.
19:36It's God.
19:37God's in control of this.
19:39And could you imagine?
19:40So they call
19:41for the apostles
19:42to be brought
19:43so they can examine them
19:45and they send someone
19:46to the prison
19:47and then someone
19:49comes back
19:49from the prison
19:50and goes,
19:50hey, we found
19:51the doors locked
19:52and the guards
19:52still standing there
19:53but they're gone
19:54and they get perplexed.
19:55The text says,
19:55what's that?
19:57And in the midst
19:57of them frowning
19:58someone walks in
20:00and goes,
20:00hey, wait,
20:01I found them.
20:01They're in the temple
20:02preaching again.
20:03Could you imagine?
20:04That's hilarious to me.
20:06It's the place
20:07that it is too funny.
20:09Someone arrives
20:09with these news.
20:10They're in the temple
20:11preaching again.
20:14And this is,
20:15as I read this,
20:16I said,
20:17no one asked
20:18the apostles
20:18how they escaped.
20:21You would think
20:22that they would ask,
20:22how'd you get out?
20:23I mean,
20:24I would want to know
20:24if I was a leader,
20:25how did you get out
20:26of my prison?
20:27Because I don't want
20:27that to happen
20:28to anyone else.
20:29No one asked
20:30the apostles
20:30how they got away.
20:31I think that's interesting.
20:34Here's the point.
20:35The Sanhedrin
20:36was not in control
20:37of the situation.
20:39God was.
20:40God was.
20:41They thought
20:42they were in control.
20:43God's in control of this.
20:46The apostles
20:47were willing to go
20:48with the captain
20:49of the guard.
20:49They didn't resist arrest.
20:51They didn't say,
20:52you can't take me.
20:53You have no right
20:54to take me.
20:54In fact,
20:55they didn't even
20:55lay hands on him.
20:56They walked willingly
20:57with the captain
20:58of the guard
20:58back to the Sanhedrin.
21:02That's tough.
21:03William Temple
21:05said that Christians
21:05are called
21:06to the hardest
21:07of all tasks
21:08to fight
21:09without hatred,
21:11to resist
21:12without bitterness,
21:13and in the end,
21:14if God granted so,
21:16to triumph
21:16without vindictiveness.
21:18That's tough.
21:20But they're not fighting.
21:21They're not resisting arrest.
21:23They're just going
21:23with them.
21:25So all the apostles
21:26are now standing
21:27before the Sanhedrin.
21:28So here's a picture
21:29of the Sanhedrin.
21:31It's in a semi-circle.
21:32The accused
21:33stands in the center.
21:34The 71 members
21:35of the Sanhedrin
21:36are the circle
21:36of the man.
21:37High priest at the top.
21:38He's the questioner.
21:39The student seating
21:40is probably,
21:41this is where the senate
21:41is at right now.
21:42The scribes
21:43of the nation
21:43are probably
21:44in the student seating.
21:45And then all of the apostles
21:46are in this.
21:48Can you imagine
21:48they're like being,
21:49it's like this.
21:50It's like everyone's
21:51around them pushing in
21:52on them.
21:52They could feel
21:53the intense hatred
21:53towards them
21:54as they're standing
21:55in the midst
21:55of these people.
21:57And two charges
21:58were leveled against them.
21:59Number one was,
22:00you ignored
22:02what we told you
22:03to do.
22:03We gave you
22:04a court order.
22:05Don't preach
22:06in his name.
22:07But you're ignoring that.
22:08And secondly,
22:09you intend
22:10to make this man's
22:11blood be on our heads.
22:14That was the two,
22:15that they were
22:16ignoring the court order.
22:17And second is,
22:18you're saying that
22:19his blood is to be on,
22:20we're at fault
22:21for killing,
22:21for murdering him.
22:22Of course,
22:25the Jewish people
22:25already said
22:26that his blood
22:26be upon us
22:27at the crucifixion.
22:28Remember that?
22:29Matthew 27.
22:30So when Pilate
22:31saw that he was
22:32gaining nothing,
22:33but rather that
22:34a riot was beginning,
22:35he took water
22:36and washed his hands
22:37before the crowd
22:37saying,
22:38I am innocent
22:39of this man's blood.
22:40See to it yourselves.
22:42And all the people
22:43answered,
22:43his blood be on us
22:45and on our children.
22:46They had already
22:46asked that.
22:47They already said
22:47his blood be on us
22:48and on our children.
22:49Of course you're
22:50guilty of that.
22:50We're guilty as well
22:52as Gentiles.
22:54And in the whole thing,
22:56the Sanhedrin
22:56will not even say
22:57the name of Jesus
22:58in this name.
23:00This person
23:01never will say
23:02the name of Jesus.
23:05And they filled
23:06Jerusalem with their teaching.
23:07I love it.
23:08They were faithful
23:09to the gospel message.
23:10They were faithful
23:11to do what their Lord
23:11told them to do.
23:13See, the Sanhedrin
23:14wanted the apostles
23:15to be loyal to them
23:17instead of being loyal
23:18to the Lord Jesus.
23:20They got the ranking
23:21out of order
23:22to be honest with you.
23:23They're thinking
23:24that they're outranking God.
23:26That we should be loyal
23:27to men
23:28whereas God is asking us
23:29to be loyal to him.
23:32They forgot the ranking.
23:34Dr. H. Sloan Coffin said,
23:37let me go back
23:38to Galatians 1.
23:40For am I now seeking
23:42the approval of man
23:43or of God?
23:44Or am I trying
23:45to please man?
23:46And the apostles go,
23:46we're not trying
23:47to please him.
23:47This is of course
23:48Paul talking.
23:48If I were still
23:50trying to please men,
23:50I would not be
23:51a servant of Christ.
23:52So I'm not trying
23:53to please you.
23:53I'm trying to please
23:54my Lord.
23:55I'm loyal to him.
23:56I'm not loyal to you.
23:58If you tell me something
23:58that's contrary
23:59to what my Lord
24:00has told me to do,
24:00then I can't do that.
24:01I have to do
24:02what my Lord
24:02has asked me to do.
24:04And again,
24:05then Sloan Coffin said,
24:06Christians like Jesus
24:08have God
24:09as their authority
24:10and no authority
24:11as their God.
24:13God is our authority.
24:14They forgot the ranking.
24:16They forgot who's,
24:17I was in the military.
24:18I only made it to E4
24:19which is not very high.
24:20It's be like a corporal specialist
24:23is what it was called
24:24in the army.
24:25It means if a sergeant
24:26who was over me,
24:27E5, E6, whatever,
24:28could give me an order,
24:29great,
24:30I wouldn't need to obey
24:31as long as it's
24:31a lawful order.
24:32But if a general came
24:34or if the commander
24:35in chief himself came
24:36and gave me an order,
24:38that supersedes
24:38all other orders.
24:40I have to follow
24:41the most highest authority.
24:43And they're saying,
24:44I can't follow you.
24:45You're telling me
24:46something contrary
24:47to what the highest authority,
24:48my sovereign Lord
24:49has told me what to do.
24:50You're asking me
24:51to do something
24:52contrary to that.
24:52I can't do that.
24:54There's a ranking
24:55going on here.
24:55God is supreme.
24:56He is the sovereign Lord
24:57of all.
24:58The Lord of hosts
24:59is his name.
25:00The Lord of the armies
25:01of heaven.
25:02He is the commander
25:03in chief of all things.
25:05I have to do
25:05what he asked me to do.
25:08In fact,
25:09they said,
25:09they must obey God.
25:12It was an ethical
25:13necessity.
25:14We must.
25:15It's not a question.
25:17Should I or shouldn't I?
25:19It's a must.
25:19We must.
25:20It's an ethical consideration.
25:22It's a necessity.
25:23It's important.
25:24We must.
25:26Obedience
25:27is the dedication
25:28of believers
25:28to do what God
25:29has asked them to do.
25:31And as believers now,
25:33we can choose obedience.
25:35Before we came to faith,
25:36we weren't obedient.
25:36We didn't desire obedience.
25:37But now being born again
25:39with the spirit of God
25:39living in us
25:40and the new nature,
25:41we can desire
25:41to be obedient to God.
25:43In fact,
25:47as believers,
25:48you cannot change
25:49our minds
25:50about Jesus
25:51and we're not going
25:53to change the subject
25:54about Jesus
25:55because it's all
25:57about Jesus.
25:59Winston Churchill
26:00said this,
26:00he wants to find
26:01a fanatic
26:02as someone
26:02who can't change
26:03his mind
26:04and won't change
26:05the subject.
26:06That's us.
26:07That's us.
26:08You can't change
26:09our mind about Jesus
26:10and we're not going
26:10to change the subject
26:11and that's what
26:11the apostles said.
26:12Listen,
26:13we have to do
26:14what God has asked us
26:15to do.
26:15We have to be faithful
26:16to him.
26:17He is the Lord
26:18and commander of all
26:19and he's asked us
26:19to do this.
26:20We have to do this.
26:24And Peter's statement
26:25of we must obey God
26:26rather than man
26:26has been used
26:27throughout the centuries
26:28of all those
26:28oppressive regimes
26:29that have told Christians
26:31to do things
26:31contrary to the word
26:32of God
26:32or the law of God
26:33and the Christian
26:34says we cannot.
26:35We must obey God
26:36rather than man.
26:37Understandable.
26:38And then Peter
26:39gives this little
26:40short sermon
26:40you killed
26:42you sinners
26:43God raised
26:44so they're sinners
26:45God acted
26:46now repent
26:47and believe
26:48the gospel message
26:49for forgiveness
26:49of sins.
26:50It's a really short
26:50message.
26:51It's very concise
26:52basically a short
26:53version of the gospel
26:54resurrection
26:55repentance
26:56and forgiveness
26:56through repentance
26:57is repent
26:58believe the gospel.
27:00Frank Stag
27:01said something
27:02interesting
27:03in New Testament
27:04theology.
27:05Men cannot achieve
27:06but only receive
27:07repentance
27:08yet they must receive
27:10it.
27:11By faith a man
27:11receives Christ
27:12into his innermost
27:13person and Christ
27:14as a transforming
27:15present reverses
27:16the course of that
27:17life from self-trust
27:19to trust in God
27:20from self-assertion
27:22to self-denial.
27:23This conversion
27:24is a reversal
27:25of the fall
27:26in which man
27:26sought to find
27:27the whole meaning
27:28of his existence
27:29within himself.
27:31Repent
27:32believe the gospel
27:33turn
27:35they said
27:37we can only
27:37obey God
27:38you're not
27:40you don't even
27:42have the spirit
27:42you're not
27:43obeying him
27:44we must obey
27:45God
27:45so now
27:47now they're
27:49not just
27:50perplexed
27:51or enraged
27:53now they want
27:54to kill
27:55the apostles
27:55look at verse
27:5833
27:58when they
28:00heard this
28:01they were
28:01enraged
28:02and wanted
28:03to kill
28:03them
28:04now it's
28:05moved from
28:05hey we're
28:05just really
28:06ticked off
28:06to now
28:07we want
28:07to take
28:07your lives
28:08we want
28:09to unlive
28:09you
28:09some of you
28:11will catch
28:12that later
28:12we want
28:16you dead
28:17but a Pharisee
28:19in the council
28:20named Gamaliel
28:21a teacher
28:21of the law
28:22held in honor
28:23by all the
28:23people
28:24very powerful
28:24guy
28:25ran a
28:26rabbinical
28:26school
28:26very well
28:28known guy
28:28stood up
28:29and gave
28:30orders
28:30to put
28:30the men
28:31outside
28:31for a little
28:32while
28:32so they
28:32set the
28:32apostles
28:33out
28:33so they
28:33can have
28:34a conversation
28:34among
28:35themselves
28:35and he
28:36said to
28:36the group
28:37to the
28:37to the
28:37Sanhedrin
28:38men of
28:39Israel
28:39take care
28:40what you
28:40are about
28:40to do
28:41with these
28:41men
28:41for before
28:43these days
28:43Thutius
28:44rose up
28:45claiming to
28:46be somebody
28:46and a number
28:47of men
28:48about 400
28:48joined him
28:49he was killed
28:50and all who
28:51followed him
28:52were dispersed
28:52and came to
28:53nothing
28:53after him
28:55Judas a
28:55Galilean
28:56rose up
28:56in the days
28:57of the census
28:57and drew away
28:58some of the
28:59people after
28:59him
29:00he too
29:00perished
29:01and all
29:02who followed
29:02him
29:02were scattered
29:03so in the
29:04present case
29:05in this case
29:06of these
29:06apostles
29:07I tell you
29:08keep away
29:09from these
29:10men
29:10and let
29:11them alone
29:11for if this
29:12plan
29:13or this
29:13undertaking
29:14is of man
29:15it will
29:15fail
29:16but if
29:17it is
29:18of God
29:19you will
29:19not be
29:20able to
29:21overthrow
29:21them
29:22you might
29:23even be
29:23found
29:23opposing
29:24God
29:25so they
29:26took his
29:27advice
29:27and when
29:28they had
29:28called
29:29in the
29:29apostles
29:29they
29:30beat
29:30them
29:31no longer
29:31threatening
29:31them
29:32they
29:32beat
29:32them
29:33and charged
29:34them
29:34not to
29:35speak in
29:35the name
29:35of Jesus
29:36and let
29:37them go
29:37they went
29:38home
29:39with all
29:40their bruises
29:40and they
29:41cried
29:41together
29:42no wait
29:43that's not
29:43what it
29:43says
29:44it says
29:44they left
29:45the presence
29:46of the
29:46council
29:47rejoicing
29:48amazing
29:50they were
29:50rejoicing
29:51rejoicing
29:52to be counted
29:53worthy
29:53to suffer
29:54dishonor
29:55for the
29:56name
29:56boy
29:57what a
29:58concept
29:58rejoicing
29:59in
29:59suffering
29:59and every
30:02day in
30:02the temple
30:03and from
30:03house to
30:03house
30:03they did
30:04not cease
30:05teaching
30:05and preaching
30:06that the
30:07Christ is
30:08Jesus
30:08in other
30:08words
30:08they're doing
30:09what the
30:10Lord asked
30:10them to
30:10do
30:11they wanted
30:13to kill
30:14them
30:14the Sanhedrin
30:15true believed
30:15that they were
30:16doing the
30:16will of
30:16God
30:17remember
30:17Moses said
30:18to stone
30:19the
30:19blasphemer
30:19the one
30:20who rose
30:20up and
30:21spoke
30:21against
30:21God
30:22stone
30:22the
30:22blasphemer
30:23kill
30:23him
30:23with
30:23stones
30:24hit him
30:24with rocks
30:24till
30:24he dies
30:25so
30:25they're
30:26thinking
30:26they're
30:26doing
30:26the
30:26will
30:27of
30:27God
30:27they're
30:27thinking
30:28they're
30:28actually
30:28holding
30:29the
30:29Jewish
30:29faith
30:30pure
30:30not
30:31realizing
30:31that
30:32God
30:32has
30:32brought
30:33the
30:33new
30:33covenant
30:33that
30:34Jeremiah
30:34the prophet
30:35talked
30:35about
30:35Moses
30:38commanded
30:38put the
30:38blasphemer
30:39to death
30:39in
30:40John
30:4016
30:41Jesus
30:41said
30:41this
30:42I
30:43have
30:43said
30:43all
30:44these
30:44things
30:44to
30:45you
30:45to
30:45keep
30:45you
30:46from
30:46falling
30:46away
30:47they
30:47will
30:48put
30:48you
30:48out
30:48of
30:48the
30:49synagogues
30:49indeed
30:50the
30:50hour
30:51is
30:51coming
30:51when
30:52whoever
30:53kills
30:53you
30:54will
30:54think
30:54he
30:54is
30:54offering
30:55service
30:55to
30:56God
30:56they
30:58think
30:58we're
30:59doing
30:59God's
30:59will
30:59here
31:00we're
31:00doing
31:00exactly
31:01what
31:01God
31:01wants
31:01us
31:02to
31:02do
31:02here
31:02we're
31:03holding
31:04the
31:04faith
31:04pure
31:05the
31:07English
31:08martyr
31:08Hugh
31:08Latimer
31:09said
31:09whenever
31:10you
31:10see
31:10persecution
31:11there
31:12is
31:12more
31:12than
31:12a
31:13probability
31:13that
31:13truth
31:14is
31:14on
31:15the
31:15persecuted
31:15side
31:16that's
31:17what
31:17we
31:17see
31:17here
31:18so
31:19Gamaliel
31:20speaks
31:20up
31:21and says
31:21hey
31:21listen
31:21guys
31:22careful
31:22what
31:22you
31:22do
31:23here
31:23careful
31:23what
31:24you
31:24do
31:24we
31:24have
31:24precedent
31:25in
31:25the
31:25past
31:25careful
31:26what
31:26you
31:26do
31:27held
31:27in
31:28great
31:28words
31:28in
31:28fact
31:28he
31:28was
31:28Paul's
31:29teacher
31:29this
31:30man
31:30was
31:31this
31:31man
31:31was
31:32Paul's
31:32teacher
31:32the
31:32apostle
31:33Paul
31:33this
31:33was
31:34his
31:34teacher
31:34Acts
31:35chapter
31:3522
31:36and
31:37when
31:37they
31:37heard
31:37that
31:37he
31:37was
31:38addressing
31:38them
31:38in
31:39the
31:39Hebrew
31:39language
31:39they
31:40became
31:40even
31:40more
31:40quiet
31:41and
31:42he
31:42said
31:42I
31:42am
31:42a
31:42Jew
31:43born
31:43in
31:43Tarsus
31:44in
31:44Cilicia
31:45but
31:45brought
31:46up
31:46in
31:46this
31:46city
31:47Jerusalem
31:47educated
31:48at
31:48the
31:48feet
31:48of
31:48Gamaliel
31:49according
31:50to
31:50the
31:50strict
31:50manner
31:51of
31:51the
31:51law
31:51of
31:51our
31:51fathers
31:52being
31:52zealous
31:52for
31:52God
31:53as
31:53of
31:53all
31:53of
31:53you
31:53to
31:53this
31:53day
31:54so
31:54this
31:54was
31:54Paul's
31:55teacher
31:55so
31:55he
31:56was
31:56a
31:56very
31:56brilliant
31:56man
31:57leader
31:58of
31:58a
31:58rabbinical
31:58school
31:59they
32:02thought
32:02they
32:03were
32:03doing
32:03the
32:03will
32:03of
32:03God
32:03so
32:04when
32:04Gamaliel
32:04says
32:04listen
32:05be
32:05careful
32:05you
32:05maybe
32:06actually
32:06find
32:06yourself
32:06opposing
32:07God
32:07that
32:07never
32:08entered
32:08into
32:08their
32:09mind
32:09that
32:09they
32:09could
32:09be
32:09opposing
32:10God
32:10they
32:10thought
32:10they
32:11were
32:11doing
32:11his
32:11will
32:11so
32:14the
32:14Sanhedrin
32:15beat
32:15the
32:16apostles
32:16with
32:16rods
32:17not
32:17like
32:17a
32:18Roman
32:18scourging
32:19it's
32:19a
32:19different
32:19they
32:20beat
32:20him
32:20with
32:20rods
32:21now
32:21likely
32:22it's
32:22not
32:22going
32:22to
32:23kill
32:23you
32:23but
32:23I'm
32:23sure
32:24it's
32:24going
32:24to
32:24hurt
32:24really
32:25bad
32:25especially
32:2739
32:27times
32:28beaten
32:28with
32:29a rod
32:30some
32:30sort
32:30of
32:30cane
32:31stick
32:31or
32:31a
32:31stick
32:32I'm
32:32sure
32:33that
32:33hurts
32:33really
32:33bad
32:34likely
32:34not
32:34to
32:34kill
32:35him
32:35but
32:35it's
32:35going
32:35to
32:35hurt
32:36in fact
32:37you
32:38couldn't
32:38do
32:38more
32:38than
32:3940
32:39that
32:40was
32:40under
32:40the
32:40law
32:40in
32:41Deuteronomy
32:4125
32:4240
32:42stripes
32:43was
32:44the
32:44limit
32:4440
32:45stripes
32:46may
32:46be
32:46given
32:46him
32:46but
32:47not
32:47more
32:47lest
32:48if
32:48one
32:48should
32:49go
32:49on
32:49to
32:49beat
32:49him
32:49with
32:50more
32:50stripes
32:50than
32:50these
32:50your
32:51brother
32:51be
32:51degraded
32:51in
32:51your
32:52sight
32:52so
32:52they
32:52stopped
32:52at
32:5339
32:53always
32:53in
32:54case
32:54they
32:54miscounted
32:55so
32:55they
32:55always
32:55stopped
32:55at
32:5639
32:56Paul
32:56talks
32:57about
32:57being
32:57beaten
32:5739
32:58times
32:58beaten
33:02abused
33:05but
33:09the
33:10apostles
33:11could
33:11not
33:11be
33:12silenced
33:12what
33:13would
33:14it
33:14take
33:14to
33:14silence
33:14us
33:15what
33:18would
33:18it
33:18take
33:18to
33:18silence
33:18us
33:19I
33:19mean
33:19they're
33:19beaten
33:20with
33:21rods
33:21again
33:21not
33:22going
33:22to
33:22kill
33:22them
33:22but
33:22it's
33:22going
33:23to
33:23hurt
33:23really
33:23bad
33:23and
33:24they
33:24wouldn't
33:24stop
33:25what
33:26would
33:26it
33:26take
33:26to
33:26silence
33:27us
33:27just
33:28one
33:29comment
33:29one
33:30dirty
33:30look
33:31what
33:32would
33:32it
33:32take
33:32to
33:32silence
33:33they
33:34were
33:34unwilling
33:34to
33:35be
33:35silenced
33:35they
33:36would
33:36not
33:37be
33:37silenced
33:37and
33:38can
33:38you
33:39imagine
33:39the
33:39text
33:39says
33:40that
33:40they
33:40rejoiced
33:41for
33:42being
33:42beaten
33:42for
33:42Jesus
33:43sake
33:43for
33:44the
33:44name
33:44of
33:44Jesus
33:44it's
33:45not
33:45that
33:45they
33:45endured
33:46it
33:46oh
33:46well
33:46here
33:47it
33:47happened
33:47no
33:47thank
33:48you
33:49thank
33:50you
33:50can
33:50I
33:50have
33:50another
33:51thank
33:52you
33:52can
33:52I
33:52have
33:53another
33:53they
33:53rejoiced
33:54at
33:54getting
33:54beaten
33:55for
33:55Jesus
33:55sake
33:56that
33:57is
33:57an
33:57amazing
33:58thought
33:58Jesus
34:00said
34:00this
34:00in
34:00Luke
34:016
34:01blessed
34:03are
34:03you
34:03when
34:03people
34:04hate
34:04you
34:04and
34:05when
34:05they
34:05exclude
34:06you
34:06and
34:07revile
34:07you
34:08and
34:08spurn
34:09your
34:09name
34:09as
34:09evil
34:10on
34:10the
34:10account
34:11of
34:11the
34:11son
34:11of
34:11man
34:12now
34:12right
34:12there
34:12we have
34:12to
34:12stop
34:13and say
34:13well
34:13none
34:13of
34:13us
34:14like
34:14any
34:14of
34:14that
34:14stuff
34:15we
34:16don't
34:16like
34:16to
34:16be
34:17excluded
34:17we
34:17want
34:17to
34:17be
34:17part
34:18of
34:18the
34:18group
34:18we
34:18don't
34:18like
34:19to
34:19be
34:19excluded
34:19not
34:20at
34:20all
34:20reviled
34:21spoken
34:21bad
34:22about
34:22none
34:22of
34:22us
34:22like
34:23that
34:23we
34:23don't
34:23like
34:23that
34:24people
34:25hate
34:25you
34:26I
34:26don't
34:26want
34:26to
34:26be
34:26liked
34:27but
34:30if
34:31I'm
34:31all
34:31of
34:31that
34:31because
34:32of
34:32Jesus
34:32he
34:34said
34:34rejoice
34:34in
34:35that
34:35day
34:35and
34:36leap
34:37for
34:37joy
34:37for
34:38behold
34:38your
34:38reward
34:38is
34:39great
34:39in
34:39heaven
34:39so
34:40so
34:40for
34:41so
34:41their
34:41fathers
34:42did
34:42to
34:42the
34:42prophets
34:43is
34:44be
34:45happy
34:46yes
34:46can I
34:47have
34:47another
34:47yes
34:48thank
34:48you
34:48may
34:48I
34:49have
34:49another
34:49Peter
34:51said
34:51this
34:52to
34:53the
34:53Christians
34:53beloved
34:54do
34:54not
34:55be
34:55surprised
34:55at
34:56the
34:56fiery
34:56trial
34:56when
34:57it
34:57comes
34:57upon
34:57you
34:57to
34:58test
34:58you
34:58as
34:59though
34:59something
34:59strange
35:00were
35:00happening
35:00to
35:00you
35:01but
35:01rejoice
35:02in
35:03so far
35:03as
35:03you
35:03share
35:04in
35:04Christ's
35:05sufferings
35:06that
35:06you
35:07may
35:07also
35:07rejoice
35:08and
35:08be
35:08glad
35:08when
35:09his
35:09glory
35:09is
35:09revealed
35:10if
35:11you
35:11are
35:11insulted
35:11for
35:12the
35:12name
35:12of
35:12Christ
35:12you're
35:13blessed
35:13if
35:15someone
35:16insults
35:16you
35:16I'm
35:16not
35:17talking
35:17about
35:17insulting
35:18you
35:22all
35:22compassion
35:23and
35:23love
35:23and
35:23humility
35:24and
35:25someone
35:25hates
35:25you
35:25he
35:26says
35:26rejoice
35:27rejoice
35:29if
35:30you're
35:30insulted
35:30for
35:31the
35:31name
35:31of
35:31Christ
35:31you're
35:31blessed
35:32because
35:32the
35:32spirit
35:33of
35:33glory
35:33and
35:33of
35:33God
35:34rests
35:34upon
35:34you
35:35but
35:35let
35:35none
35:36of
35:36you
35:36suffer
35:36as
35:36a
35:37murderer
35:37or
35:37a
35:37thief
35:38or
35:38an
35:38evil
35:38door
35:38as
35:39a
35:39meddler
35:39yet
35:40if
35:40anyone
35:40suffers
35:41as
35:41a
35:41Christian
35:41let
35:42him
35:42not
35:42be
35:42ashamed
35:43but
35:43let
35:44him
35:44glorify
35:44God
35:45in
35:45that
35:45name
35:46we
35:48need
35:48to
35:48be
35:48bold
35:48people
35:49for
35:49Jesus
35:50there's
35:51going
35:51to
35:51be
35:51insults
35:52coming
35:52our
35:52way
35:52they're
35:53going
35:53to
35:53exclude
35:54us
35:55from
35:55the
35:55group
35:56from
35:56the
35:56greater
35:57society
35:58because
35:59we
35:59believe
35:59in
36:00the
36:00name
36:00of
36:00Jesus
36:01rejoice
36:03you're
36:04blessed
36:05they're
36:07not
36:07going
36:07to
36:07stop
36:07preaching
36:07in
36:08the
36:08name
36:08of
36:08Jesus
36:08they
36:08won't
36:09do
36:09it
36:09and
36:10the
36:10persecution
36:11strengthened
36:12their
36:12dedication
36:13it
36:13did
36:14not
36:14discourage
36:15them
36:15it
36:16strengthened
36:16their
36:16dedication
36:17it
36:17did
36:17not
36:18discourage
36:18them
36:18why
36:19because
36:19the
36:19Lord
36:20was
36:20standing
36:20by
36:21his
36:21people
36:21God
36:23was
36:23in
36:24control
36:24you
36:27know
36:27we
36:27always
36:27I
36:28have
36:28always
36:29mostly
36:29emphasized
36:30that
36:30verse
36:3029
36:31where
36:31it
36:32says
36:32we
36:34must
36:35obey
36:35God
36:36rather
36:36than
36:36men
36:36I
36:36have
36:37always
36:37emphasized
36:37that
36:37it's
36:38important
36:38we
36:38understand
36:39that
36:39anyone
36:40giving
36:40us
36:40any
36:40sort
36:40of
36:40commands
36:41or
36:41orders
36:41outside
36:42the
36:42word
36:42of
36:42God
36:42or
36:42contrary
36:43to
36:44them
36:44no
36:44because
36:45we
36:45have
36:45a
36:45supreme
36:46commander
36:46that's
36:46told
36:46us
36:46something
36:47different
36:47so
36:48I've
36:48always
36:48emphasized
36:49that
36:49and that's
36:49important
36:50we need
36:50to
36:50emphasize
36:50that
36:51especially
36:52now
36:52when things
36:52will come
36:53our way
36:53that will
36:53try to
36:54stop us
36:54speaking
36:54in the
36:55name
36:55of
36:55Jesus
36:55we have
36:56to
36:56continue
36:57doing
36:57that
36:57and so
36:58we have
36:58to do
36:59what
36:59God
36:59has
36:59asked
36:59us
36:59to
37:00do
37:00so
37:00that's
37:01important
37:01but I
37:01think
37:02there are
37:02a couple
37:02other
37:03things
37:03here
37:03in this
37:03text
37:04that's
37:04as
37:05important
37:06or
37:06perhaps
37:06even
37:06more
37:07important
37:07than
37:07that
37:08yes
37:09it's
37:09important
37:10that
37:11text
37:12teaches
37:12us
37:12something
37:14greater
37:14than
37:15doing
37:15the
37:15right
37:16thing
37:16even
37:16when
37:17the
37:17authority
37:18orders
37:18us
37:18to
37:18violate
37:19God's
37:19laws
37:19or
37:19God's
37:20commands
37:20there's
37:21two
37:22things
37:22I
37:22think
37:22that
37:22are
37:22probably
37:23more
37:23important
37:24and that
37:24is
37:24number
37:24one
37:25is
37:25this
37:25they
37:26understood
37:26God
37:27is
37:27in
37:27control
37:27God
37:30is
37:31in
37:31control
37:31the
37:32Sanhedrin
37:33was not
37:33controlling
37:34things
37:34the
37:34people
37:35were not
37:35controlling
37:35things
37:36God
37:37was
37:37in
37:37control
37:37and
37:38when
37:38God
37:38is
37:39in
37:39control
37:39all
37:40he
37:40asks
37:40us
37:40to
37:41do
37:41is
37:41to
37:41be
37:41faithful
37:42and
37:43obedient
37:43to
37:43him
37:44because
37:44he's
37:45in
37:45control
37:45for
37:46arrested
37:47for
37:48persecuted
37:48for
37:48the name
37:49of
37:49Christ
37:49hey
37:50God
37:50is
37:50in
37:51control
37:51it's
37:52not
37:52an
37:52accident
37:53he's
37:54not
37:54wringing
37:54his
37:55hand
37:55saying
37:55oh
37:55look
37:55they're
37:56arresting
37:56Pastor
37:56Mark
37:57for
37:57speaking
37:57my
37:58name
37:58no
37:59God
38:00is
38:00in
38:00control
38:01we
38:02have
38:02to
38:02understand
38:02as
38:02we
38:03go
38:03into
38:03this
38:03world
38:03proclaiming
38:04his
38:04name
38:04that
38:04God
38:05is
38:05in
38:05control
38:06and
38:07they
38:07understood
38:07that
38:07this
38:09world
38:10is
38:11opposed
38:11to
38:11God
38:12certainly
38:12second
38:15I
38:15think
38:16as
38:16important
38:16as
38:16this
38:17suffering
38:18for the
38:19name
38:19of
38:19Christ
38:20is
38:20normal
38:21for
38:21Christians
38:22it's
38:24not
38:25normal
38:25for
38:25us
38:25but
38:26it's
38:26normal
38:27for
38:27Christians
38:27ask
38:28them
38:28ask
38:30them
38:30suffering
38:32for
38:33the
38:33name
38:33of
38:33Christ
38:33is
38:34normal
38:34but
38:36you
38:36and
38:36I
38:36don't
38:36like
38:37to
38:37be
38:37excluded
38:37we
38:37don't
38:37want
38:38to
38:38be
38:38part
38:38cast
38:39out
38:39as
38:39a
38:39group
38:39we
38:39want
38:40to
38:40be
38:40liked
38:40we
38:40don't
38:40want
38:41to
38:41be
38:41hated
38:41all
38:43those
38:43things
38:43we
38:43want
38:44yet
38:44we
38:44understand
38:45that
38:45this
38:45world
38:46is
38:46opposed
38:47to
38:47the
38:47gospel
38:47and
38:48when
38:48we
38:49take
38:49the
38:49gospel
38:49message
38:50out
38:50they're
38:50opposed
38:51to
38:51us
38:51speaking
38:51in
38:51the
38:52name
38:52of
38:52Jesus
38:52they
38:52don't
38:53want
38:53us
38:53to
38:53do
38:53that
38:54even
38:56when
38:57we
38:57are
38:57faithful
38:57or
38:58more
38:58importantly
38:59because
38:59we
39:00are
39:00faithful
39:00we
39:02may
39:02suffer
39:02for
39:02the
39:02name
39:03of
39:03Jesus
39:03God
39:05is
39:05in
39:05control
39:05and
39:06suffering
39:07is
39:07normal
39:08for
39:08the
39:08Christian
39:09experience
39:09let's
39:10pray
39:10father
39:10thank
39:11you
39:11I
39:13thank
39:13you
39:13that
39:13this
39:14text
39:14has
39:14been
39:14given
39:15to
39:15us
39:15to
39:15remind
39:16us
39:16the
39:17apostles
39:17walked
39:18with
39:18your
39:18son
39:18they
39:19saw
39:19him
39:19they
39:20heard
39:20him
39:20they
39:20saw
39:21the
39:21resurrection
39:21they
39:22were
39:22witnesses
39:22of
39:23these
39:23things
39:23they
39:23can't
39:25do
39:25anything
39:25other
39:25than
39:26say
39:26what
39:26they
39:26have
39:26seen
39:27and
39:27heard
39:27and
39:27that's
39:27exactly
39:28what
39:28they're
39:28doing
39:28they
39:30took
39:31your
39:31word
39:32at
39:32face
39:32value
39:33and
39:33did
39:34what
39:34you
39:34asked
39:34them
39:34to
39:35do
39:35oh
39:36father
39:36I
39:37pray
39:37for
39:37us
39:37as
39:38believers
39:38here
39:39in
39:39medical
39:39lake
39:39and
39:39in
39:40America
39:40that
39:41we
39:41would
39:41have
39:41the
39:42boldness
39:42and
39:42the
39:42courage
39:43to
39:43take
39:43your
39:44message
39:44to
39:44take
39:45your
39:45commands
39:45and
39:46to
39:46do
39:46what
39:46you've
39:46asked
39:47us
39:47to
39:47do
39:47to
39:48be
39:48obedient
39:49to
39:49you
39:49no
39:49matter
39:50what
39:50because
39:51you're
39:51in
39:52control
39:52and
39:53help
39:54us
39:54to
39:54understand
39:54that
39:55this
39:55world
39:55is
39:56opposed
39:56to
39:56you
39:56it
39:57is
39:57opposed
39:57to
39:57the
39:57gospel
39:58message
39:58it
39:58hated
39:59your
39:59son
39:59we
40:00know
40:00that
40:01it
40:01hates
40:01us
40:01too
40:02father
40:03help
40:03us
40:03to
40:04understand
40:04that
40:04suffering
40:05is
40:05part
40:05of
40:05this
40:06Christian
40:06experience
40:07it's
40:08a
40:08norm
40:08when
40:09we're
40:10faithful
40:10to
40:10you
40:11it
40:11brings
40:11us
40:12it
40:12can
40:12bring
40:12us
40:13likely
40:14to
40:14bring
40:14us
40:14into
40:15suffering
40:15for
40:16faithfulness
40:17to
40:17you
40:17so
40:18father
40:18I
40:19thank
40:19you
40:19that
40:19you
40:20are
40:20in
40:20control
40:21and
40:22that
40:22you
40:22will
40:22vindicate
40:23your
40:23people
40:24on
40:24that
40:25day
40:25you
40:26will
40:26say
40:26these
40:26are
40:26mine
40:27I
40:27have
40:28bought
40:28them
40:28with
40:28the
40:28blood
40:29of
40:29my
40:29son
40:30they're
40:31mine
40:31thank
40:33you
40:33father
40:33we
40:33pray
40:34in
40:34Jesus
40:34name
40:34amen
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