Our Faith & Fear : Only Jesus!

Are you afraid, empty or searching for meaning and purpose? The answer is Jesus. Jesus has a profound effect on everyone who encounters Him. Whether He is embraced or rejected, there is nobody like Him. The book of Acts shows us how deeply Jesus impacted and empowered His followers, and how He astounded His enemies. Both His followers and enemies fear Him, the former with fascination and adoration and the latter with envy and rebellion. Studying this dynamic in Acts 4 can teach us to overcome the fears of life and death and to find profound peace and purpose that comes only through Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Scripture

Acts 4:1-22 ESV  And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,  [2]  greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.  [3]  And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.  [4]  But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.  [5]  On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem,  [6]  with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.  [7]  And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”  [8]  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders,  [9]  if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,  [10]  let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.  [11]  This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.  [12]  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  [13]  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.  [14]  But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.  [15]  But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another,  [16]  saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.  [17]  But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”  [18]  So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  [19]  But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,  [20]  for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”  [21]  And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.  [22]  For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

Bible Study Questions

Only Jesus raises the dead

The Authority of Jesus Christ is unique and absolute. Even the most powerful people fear death and use the fear of death to try to control people. The Sadducees even went as far as to deny that there was life after death in order to try to escape deaths power over them. What are the implications to the authority of human beings, if there is life after death and we cannot escape death?

Acts 4:1-22 ESV  And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,  [2]  greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.  [3]  And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.  [4]  But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.  

John 10:17-18 ESV  For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.  [18]  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

Only Jesus has All The Authority

The rulers of the people had power and authority, but it was never enough for them. They craved authority and feared losing it. The obvious display of power beyond their grasp made them envious, the same envy that drove them to have Jesus murdered. How do we respond to the authority of Jesus, are we humbled under it or envious of it?

Acts 4:5-7 ESV On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem,  [6]  with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.  [7]  And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”  

Mark 15:9-10 ESV  And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”  [10]  For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up.

Matthew 28:18 ESV  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Matthew 7:28-29 ESV  And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,  [29]  for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Only Jesus does the impossible

People are astounded by miracles. Miracles are acts that defy what we understand as possible and impossible. Miracles demand an authority over that which we are powerless over. What do Jesus miracles teach us about Him and His authority?

Acts 4:8-10 ESV Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders,  [9]  if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,  [10]  let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.  

Matthew 11:4-6 ESV  And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:  [5]  the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.  [6]  And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Only Jesus Saves

Peter quotes from Psalm 118 to prove from Scripture that God foresaw and overcame the leaders rejection of Jesus Christ, and had overcome their so-called power with power of immeasurably more magnitude. How did Jesus overcome their rejection and murder, and how has He used it to His Glory?

Acts 4:11-12 ESV This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.  [12]  And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”  

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV  For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

1 John 2:23 ESV  No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

Only Jesus does remarkable things with unremarkable people

Jesus doesn’t encourage us to believe in ourselves, or to think more highly of ourselves than others. This is a wordly teaching which does have a powerful effect, but the effect is severely limited and harmful. True power comes through humility and acknowledging our weakness in the light of Jesus’ absolute power and authority.

Acts 4:13-14 ESV Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.  [14]  But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.  

John 14:12-14 ESV  “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.  [13]  Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  [14]  If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Luke 5:7-8 ESV  They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.  [8]  But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Only Jesus cannot be denied

Many have rejected and denied Jesus and many will continue to do so, but Acts 4 shows that that denial can only be temporary. You cannot deny the truth forever, it always comes out. What will every living being do in the fullness of time?

Acts 4:15-17 ESV  But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another,  [16]  saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.  [17]  But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”  

Philippians 2:8-11 ESV  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  [9]  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,  [10]  so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  [11]  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Only Jesus gives us fearless resolve

The greater fear drives out the lesser fear. Our rampant anxiety is evidence that we have lost our fear of God. What does a healthy and complete fear of God do to all our other fears?

Acts 4:18-22 ESV  So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  [19]  But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,  [20]  for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”  [21]  And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.  [22]  For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

Matthew 26:33-35 ESV  Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”  [34]  Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”  [35]  Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

Psalms 118:6-8 ESV  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?  [7]  The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.  [8]  It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.