Now we’re going to take a brief look at some of the events that took place following Pentecost and the repercussions of those events. In Acts 3 Peter and John were going into the temple to pray. It was the ninth hour (3:00 in the afternoon, the Jews had three customary prayer times, 9:00 in the morning, 12:00 noon and 3:00 in the afternoon). There was a lame man there asking those who entered for money (verses 2-3), as people usually carried money into the temple at prayer times for offerings and to give to the poor. If you follow the passage, Peter tells the man he has no money, but will give what he does have and heals the man and he walks, to the amazement of those present (verses 4-11).
This sets the stage for Peter’s second sermon (verses 12-26). We won’t look at this second sermon point by point; but, instead, will look at its result. In the next chapter we see the first persecution. In Acts 4:1 the priests, the captain of the temple (the one charges with keeping the peace in the temple) and the Sadducees confronted them. I should remind you that the Sadducees were the most incensed over Peter’s preaching (verse 2), as he emphasized the resurrection and they did not believe in the resurrection (Acts 23:8).
So, Peter and John were basically arrested and put in jail (verse 3). Then the next verse tells us 5,000 more men believed that day. Then we see just how panicked the religious establishment was over this. The Sanhedrin, the elders and scribes, Annas (he had been the high priest for 11 years before this and held the title for life), Caiaphas, the current high priest and Annas’ son-in-law, John (thought to be Johanan Ben Laccai, a prominent priest at that time), Alexander (probably Alexander Lysimachus, one of the richest Jews of this time and a generous benefactor of the temple) and many from the family of the high priest (five of Annas’ sons would eventually become the high priest) were all brought together the next day to deal with this issue (verses 5-6). And when Peter and John were brought before them (verse 7), they asked, “By what power or authority have you done this?”
It’s at this point I have to enter some conjecture on my part. The fact that a notable miracle had occurred was not in question. The man who had been healed was standing there with them (verse 14). However, the means by which the miracle was performed may have been questionable. In order to put a stop to this madness, perhaps the gathered assembly hoped to prove Peter and John were trafficking with demons and familiar spirits. If proven, they could be sentenced to death, according to the law (Leviticus 20:27).
Now we see the conversion of Peter in its full expression. Standing before the most powerful men in Israel (as Jesus had predicted in Matthew 10:18-20), Peter answers them with boldness and a complete absence of the fear he had once shown (see Matthew 26:69-75). His response in verses 8-12 is inspired, concise and to the point. The name is Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you crucified and the One God raised from the dead. And to put it in historical context Peter identifies Jesus as the stone David predicted they would reject (Psalms 118:22) and the precious cornerstone Who would come (Isaiah 28:16). And the conclusion to his answer is in verse 12, “And salvation cannot be found through anyone else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by whom we can be saved.”
Now, when you read verses 13-18, the Jewish leaders could find nothing with which they could charge them. So, they tried to exert their authority by simply commanding Peter and John not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus again. But you have to love their answer, “You’ll have to decide whether it’s right in the sight of God to obey you or God. We will not lie about the things we have both seen and heard.” (Verses 19-20, see Luke 21:12-15) So the council threatened them again, trying to intimidate them and then let them go, as they feared the people. Keep in mind; the number of those who had believed had now almost tripled.
In verses 23-30 you get a clear picture of the atmosphere among those believers. They were unified, bold and excited at what God was doing. They knew the opposition was there and the persecution was sure to come. So, they asked for more boldness to speak and for that truth to be confirmed with signs and wonders (verses 29-30). And God answered, “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they continued to speak the Word of God with courage.” (Verse 31)
Verses 32-37 are similar to what is found in 2:42-47. The “multitude of them that had believed” were unified, were selling their possessions and supporting each other as any had need. In theory, this might look like the right thing to do, but we will see in the next lesson that problems are coming. The early church is about to experience trouble, both internally and externally, that will lead to its dispersal.