Page 29 - Acts Student Textbook

Study Section 5: Acts 4 - First Persecution

5.1 Connect.

Have you ever been surprised that after a good deed, you should have been appreciated;
instead you get persecuted for it? It was not different for apostles and for Jesus! This chapter
is an aftermath of the miracle performed on the lame man. Peter and John find themselves
under threats and warnings by the Pharisees for the good work they performed. But the
apostles would use that circumstance as a privilege to share the gospel to these religious
leaders. Let’s begin….

5.2 Objectives.

1. The student should be able to describe the first persecution of Christians for their good
work.

2. The student should be able to probe the underlying reasons for the arrest.

3. The student should be able to explain the attitude and conduct of the apostles in those trying
moments.

4. The student should be able to analyze the content of the prayer of the apostles.

5.3: Acts 4 - First Persecution

The rulers arrest Peter and John what could be some underlying reasons? (4:1, 2)

Several reasons for their concern can be suggested:
Firstly, the religious leaders enjoyed the glory of the people. But that glory and attention was
immediately shifting away from them to Jesus through the apostles. Secondly, the apostles had
accused the leaders of killing Jesus though He was innocent (3:13-17; 2:23).Thirdly, the claim of the
resurrection of Jesus was specifically something the rulers had wanted to avoid (Matt. 27:62-66;
28:11-15) for fear it would gain an even greater following for Jesus than He had to begin with.
Fourthly, these rulers in particular were Sadducees who denied that there even was such thing as a
resurrection from the dead (Acts 23:8; Matt. 22:23).

Summary growth report (4:4)

Luke reports that "those who had heard . . . believed" (4:4). Both of these VERBALS are AORIST TENSE.
Faith begins with hearing (cf. Rom. 10:17). Hearing the gospel results (with the Spirit's aid, cf. John
6:44, 65; 16:8-11) in believing the gospel.

And we told that "The number of men came to be about five thousand”(4:4). Notice that this number
does not include women and children. Often in the NT it is implied that the belief of the father
extended to and included the whole family (cf 11:14; 16:15, 31, 33). The group in the upper room
numbered about 120. At Pentecost 3,000 were added (cf. 2:41); now the number of believers was up
to 5,000! The church in Jerusalem is growing rapidly!

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