Call to Commitment

 

Acts 7

      1.      Then the high priest said, "Are these things so?" 

2.      And he said, "Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, 

3.      and said to him, 'GET OUT OF YOUR COUNTRY AND FROM YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME TO A LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.' 

4.      Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. 

5.      And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. 

6.      But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years. 

7.      'AND THE NATION TO WHOM THEY WILL BE IN BONDAGE I WILL JUDGE,' said God, 'AND AFTER THAT THEY SHALL COME OUT AND SERVE ME IN THIS PLACE.' 

8.      Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.  

Good preachers often make the point that the Greek word, which is translated witness, is martus, from which we get our word for martyr. I have noticed in traveling to other countries that some of their versions of the New Testament, choose the word martyr in their translation, instead of witness. It is sound principle in gospel teaching that the Christian is to be a witness unto death, therefore a martyr. This chapter 7 in Acts, tells the story of the first Christian martyr, Stephen, who is a wonderful example of this principle.

 I often try to show, as I will again, that the title for Stephan’s message is found in his own words in verse 51, “You Always Resist the Holy Spirit.”  I will try to show how he does this throughout his presentation to the Sanhedrin and the Synagogue of the Libertines. I do not want to convey the idea that the all of the Old Testament people, of whom he spoke, were generally disobedient or unfaithful. That is not the case, but they were flawed human beings, whom God corrected and gave faith, so to accomplish His purposes through them. The high priest opens the door for Stephan to defend himself (v. 1) and he begins by addressing those present as brothers and fathers, his fellow Jews, and their God as the God of glory. He goes all the way back to their patriarch, Abraham, giving a reminder of their entire national history (v. 2). Genesis 11:10-26 gives us Abraham’s genealogy and you will notice that his father, Terah, moved the entire family from Ur of the Chaldeans and crossed the Euphrates into Haran (Ge. 11:29).

 Joshua took his generation back to the beginnings of their race to an idolatrous people up to the time of Abraham’s father, Terah, named Abraham and his brother, Nahor, and showed that they served other gods. Israel’s roots were idolatrous and they included father and sons (Josh. 24:2). God, gloriously revealed Himself to Abraham, in His mysterious way and called him out of paganism. Jamison-Faucett-Brown comments, “The conversion of Abraham is one of the most remarkable in Bible history.” 

 

Daily food distribution

      1.      Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.   

      2.      Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 

      3.      Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 

      4.      but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." 

5.      And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 

6.      whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 

7.      Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.  

We have studied the phenomenal success and growth of the church, the first and only church at this time, as it forms in Jerusalem. The number grew to at least 5,000, which some would count to be over 8,000, depending how we interpret Acts 4:4. Was five thousand the total number of Christians or were 5,000 added to the original 120 disciples and the 3,000 converted and baptized on the day of Pentecost? I will leave it for every reader to decide for himself, although the language use of the text seems to me to favor that five thousand was the total number.

 The last verse of chapter 2 declares that “the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved,” to the point that “believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (5:14). It is no wonder that the Jerusalem council was greatly disturbed (4:2) and attempted to oppose it, “so that it spreads no further among the people” (4:17). They made no attempt to believe the Galilean leaders, although miracles from heaven accompanied the preaching of the gospel. They, unanimously and violently, opposed the movement until in this chapter that we are studying, we will see that many of the priests relented and came into faith. 

 Along with the great success, for the first time, we see problems emerging from the inside, adding to the opposition from the outside. Up until now, we read of unity, of the disciples being of one heart and one mind. This not only happened in Jerusalem; it is a common occurrence in the church throughout the ages to the present day. It gives us a principle that determines that it is harder to live with success than with humble beginnings. John Wesley comments: “Ah Lord, how short a time did pure, genuine, undefiled Christianity remain in the world!”

 

Chapter 5:1-11

Judgment falls on Ananias and Sapphira

1.   But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 

2.      And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. 

3.      But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 

4.      While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." 

5.      Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 

6.      And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. 

7.      Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 

8.      And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much." 

9.      Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." 

10.  Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 

11.  So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. 

 This account continues from the end of the last chapter, where Luke again hears the first-hand declaration of those, who experienced the first church in Jerusalem. Those, who had lands and properties, they reported, met the needs of all the Christians, especially the Galileans, who had migrated from the north, and the Jews and proselytes, who lived previously outside Israel. These lacked the basic needs of life and Christianity demanded generosity and brotherly love, to the extent of self-denial, towards them. Those, who sold houses and lands, brought the proceeds to the apostles, who distributed to the needy. This was a step beyond the Old Testament law, which instructed the citizens to alleviate the poor, leaving parts of their harvest for them to glean. Other laws commanded that people restore the rights and losses of relatives and, especially, the Year of Jubilee returned properties to all that had lost them, during the previous fifty years. In the Christian spirit, the saints in Jerusalem, who had houses and lands shared with those, who did not.

 It is very obvious, as we study the Gospels, that the earthly manifestations of the Kingdom of God were not perfect. Jesus taught parables that spoke of tares among wheat, leaven in loaves, good and bad fish caught in a net, and virgins, wise and foolish. Not all motivations were pure and in chapter 5, Ananias and Sapphira give us an example of carnal pride and a quest for recognition among peers. It was not that the selling of their land was evil, but their motivation was not, principally, to help the needy (v. 1).

Chapter 4:1-4

 Progress through opposition

         1.      Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 

      2.      being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 

      3.      And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 

      4.   However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 

On the human level, the preaching of the gospel was a threat to the Jewish leadership. They had a military force, perhaps better defined as a police force, inside the temple, led by a captain.  Among the Sanhedrin were the Pharisees and Sadducees, but the Sadducees were especially agitated, because they did not believe in the doctrine of the resurrection, which the disciples emphasized. They appear now to bring an end to the preaching and the phrase, “came upon them,” describes the violence of the interruption (v. 1). They do not arrest the two gently, when they imprison them.

 The teaching of Peter and John was a challenge to the status quo, in which the leadership found their authority and positions. The apostles’ authority is found “in Jesus,” not in themselves, and they are His mouthpiece, now that Jesus has left this world and gone into heaven. The leaders are greatly disturbed at this earth-shaking development (v. 2).

 Chapter 3:1-12

  

The Healing of a Lame Man

1. Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
2. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;
3. who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.

4.  And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." 

5. So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 

6. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." 

7. And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 

8. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 

9. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 

10. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 

11. Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. 

12. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 

 God had commanded His people, through Moses, before their entrance into the Promised Land, that He would choose a place, where they would worship. Once this place was shown to them, they could only worship there: “Take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see; but in the place which the LORD chooses, in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and, there you shall do all that I command you.” (It would be good to read the entire portion in Deuteronomy 12:5-14 to see the strict rule concerning worship at that place.)