S3E277 – Acts 3-4: The Right Words

Transcript Distinguished Producer Lifespring Family Berean Brother Paul of Seattle Associate Producer Timothy LaFontaine Podcast Introduction Today is Gospel Saturday, and our reading will be Acts 3-4. And of course I’ll have an “On This Date In Church History” segment for you, too. Plus we have two prayer requests.  I’m calling today’s episode  “The Right Words“   Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Ben White on Unsplash Comments on Acts 3 and 4 In chapter 4, after Peter and John were arrested for talking about Jesus after the lame beggar was healed, and they were standing before the religious leaders, they were asked, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”, what does scripture say happened? It says, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…” Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit! Do you remember how often Peter would put his foot in his mouth when He was with Jesus? Sure, he got a few things right, but he often said exactly the wrong things, didn’t he? And now that he is filled with the Holy Spirit, God speaks just the right words through him.  Earlier in this chapter, we are told that after he preached, the number of the men added to the church was now about five thousand. The day before it was three thousand. So the Holy Spirit’s filling has made him a powerful and convincing speaker, wouldn’t you say? What happened on the night that Jesus was crucified? Peter wouldn’t even admit to knowing Jesus. He was afraid and perhaps even ashamed to acknowledge Jesus. And now, the words he speaks have brought about five thousand men to believe in Jesus. And we don’t know how many more women there were. So many of us are afraid to stand up and speak the name of Jesus. Here in Acts chapter four, Peter says to the religious leaders, “…if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 12And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” How is that for boldness?  Now get this: “13Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” Why did they recognize them as having been with Jesus? Because of the Holy Spirit’s speaking through them! They spoke in the same way as Jesus did! Well of course they did! God is One. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have the same message because they are One. The point to take away from this is that if you will let the Holy Spirit speak through you, you will have the right words to say…words that are from God and words that will change the hearts of people. And my friend, we need this kind of filling of the Holy Spirit as much today as they needed Him that day, because there are those who tell us, like the religious leaders told them, “Do not speak of Jesus!” You know it’s true, and it is only getting worse. If you are a believer, be ready to yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit. You will be amazed at what He will do through you. Today’s Bible Translation Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 3 HCSB, Ch. 4 NASB Support This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT. Transcript Download .txt file. STEVE WEBB – 0:00He often said exactly the wrong things, didn’t he? INTRO S12E276 – 0:10As the singer said, One more time! Coming to you from Riverside, California. This is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. And podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. And today is Gospel Saturday. We’ll be reading Acts 3 and 4. I’ve got an on this date in church history segment for you, and we’ve got a couple of prayer requests. I’m calling today’s episode, “The Right Words”. The show notes page for today is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e275. And my email address is st***@*************ia.com. Are you ready? Let’s get started. ACTS 3 (HCSB) – 0:50Acts, chapter three. (1) Now Peter and John were going up together to the temple complex at the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon. (2) And a man who was lame from birth was carried there and placed every day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so he could beg from those entering the temple complex. (3) When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple complex, he asked for help. (4) Peter, along with John, looked at him intently and said, “Look at us.” (5) So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them. (6) But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” (7) Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. (8) So he jumped up, stood, and started to walk, and he entered the temple complex with them — walking, leaping, and praising God. (9) All the people saw him walking and praising God, (10) and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple complex. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him. (11) While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people, greatly amazed, ran toward them in what is called Solomon’s Colonnade. (12) When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Or why do you stare at us, as though we had made him walk by our own power or godliness? (13) The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. (14) But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you. (15) You killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead; we are all witnesses of this. (16) By faith in His name, His name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Him has given him this perfect health in front of all of you. (17) “And now, brothers, I know that you did it in ignorance, just as your leaders also did. (18) But what God predicted through the mouth of all the prophets — that His Messiah would suffer — He has fulfilled in this way. (19) Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, (20) and that He may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah. (21) Heaven must welcome Him until the times of the restoration of all things, which God spoke about by the mouth of His holy prophets from the beginning. (22) Moses said: The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He will say to you. (23) And everyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from the people. (24) “In addition, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, have also announced these days. (25) You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, And all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring. (26) God raised up His Servant and sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.” ACTS 4 (NASB) – 4:06Acts, chapter four. (1) As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, (2) being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. (3) And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. (4) But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. (5) On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; (6) and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, all who were of high-priestly descent. (7) When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” (8) Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, (9) if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, (10) let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. (11) He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. (12) And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (13) Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. (14) And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. (15) But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, (16) saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who liv