Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus. Acts 4 reveals that actual evidence of being with Jesus is seen in our boldness, unity, and willingness to lift others. Scriptures such as Psalms 2, Ephesians 2:6, and Acts 4 demonstrate that believers faced opposition, yet they prayed together and shared joy in the Spirit. Let us leave the systems of Babylon behind, prioritize prayer and fellowship, and allow genuine ministry to lift us so that Christ’s presence is unmistakable in our lives.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
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Scriptures used in this lesson:
Psalms 2:1-4, Ephesians 2:6, Revelation 17:5, Acts 4:1-4, Acts 4:5-6, Revelation 14:1, 1 John 2:18, Acts 4:5-12, Acts 4:13, Acts 4:7-12, Acts 4:14-15, Acts 4:23-31, Acts 4:24, Acts 4:32-37,
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Psalms 2:1-4
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Ephesians 2:6
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Heavenly Perspective and Shared Joy
Paul writes in Ephesians 2:6 that those who are in Christ are seated in heavenly places. Psalm 2 also tells us that the one who sits in the heavens shall laugh. The Lord laughs and holds the nations in derision, speaking to them in His wrath and displeasure. This is the same psalm that the early church prayed in Acts 4, just before their worship and singing.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
There are times when laughter is the correct response, even in the face of struggles. Since the Lord is seated in the heavens and laughs, we share in that joy when we are seated with Him in Christ. Things that once would have made us angry or frustrated are no longer able to steal our joy.
Strength in Troubles
Even in daily troubles—like a broken lawnmower, a dryer that stops working, or a car that won’t run—we can still find laughter. By sitting in heavenly places, we are given strength to rise above problems and face them with peace. This kind of laughter is not shallow, but a reminder of the victory we share in Christ.
The Importance of Fellowship
Tonight, our Acts study brings us into chapter 4. But before we get into the Word, let us pray. Lord, we thank You for this day and for the fellowship of the saints. We are grateful for being with those of like precious faith. We love being with our own company, with the people of God. Lord, we feel the love being returned to us as we share it with others.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Lord, we ask that You make us willing vessels. Let the word go forth and accomplish what You have sent it to do. Anoint our ears to hear it and anoint my tongue to speak it exactly as You would have it. We give You praise and thanks in Jesus’ name. Amen.
True Ministry Lifts
Last week in chapter 3 we met a lame man, crippled at the gate called Beautiful. He was lifted by a ministry that was able to lift. That, I told you, is the mark of true ministry. If I cannot lift you with the word, then something is wrong in my life and ministry. Every true ministry must be able to lift people. And this goes both ways. You are kings and priests unto God, so you must also be lifters of others.
We used the example last week of the biting baby. When a baby bites, you do not bite the child back. Instead, you help and teach. In the same way, the world bites on us every day. At work, at home, in marriage, and even among children, there is constant biting. But faithful ministry and a true home in Christ will lift.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Personal Identification As the Cripple
I told you last week that I was once that cripple. Not crippled in body, but crippled in my mind. My thinking was broken. I was ignorant and in darkness until genuine ministry lifted me. I thought I was sitting at a beautiful gate, but it was really the very thing that bound me. Tonight, as we look into Acts 4, I want you to see yourself as that cripple at the beautiful gate. You have walked with ministry, suffered with ministry, and now you stand with it before opposition.
Babylon — Spiritual System of Opposition
On page 15 of your notes, our first point, Babylon, is taken from verses 1 through 4. Now, Babylon is not named in this chapter, but the spirit behind it is there. The religious system of man was at work then, the same as it is today. The Hebrew word Babel means “confusion” and also refers to “the gate of God.” It originates from a root word meaning “to mingle” or “to mix.” The Greek word Babylon carries the same meaning. In Scripture, Babylon symbolizes man-made systems of religion and political confusion, characterized by self-seeking and unfaithfulness to Christ.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
The false church described in Revelation 17 and 18 stands in contrast to the true church in Revelation 19. Throughout the Bible, we see the true worship of God contrasted with false religious imitation. That is where Acts 4 takes us tonight, as we examine the clash between the Spirit of God and the system of man.
Revelation 17:5
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Mystery Babylon
Revelation 17 shows us the true nature of Babylon. Traditional teachings often describe it as a literal city that the Antichrist will build and use as the center of his kingdom. But the word used in verse 5 is “Mystery, Babylon.” This points to more than a natural city. It is a spiritual reality, not just a physical place.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Babylon is a spirit and a system. In the same way that Egypt in Scripture can represent bondage, Babylon represents a false religious system that is unfaithful to Christ. It is not limited to a single time or location. It has always worked through spiritual deception and idolatry. That is why it is called a mystery.
Modern Expressions of Babylon
We see this same spirit at work in Acts chapter 4 through the Sanhedrin. This council of Pharisees, Sadducees, and other groups stood as man’s religious order, and it directly opposed Christ and His people. The same spirit of Babylon is still alive today. It operates as a harlot system in the earth, imitating the truth but lacking faithfulness to Christ.
Whatever may come later in prophecy concerning cities and kingdoms will unfold in its time. But the central truth to hold on to is this: Babylon is not just a future city. It is a spiritual system of religion that works against Jesus Christ even now.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Acts 4:1-4
And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,
2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
In Acts 4:1-4, we read that the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon Peter and John. They were upset because the apostles taught the people and preached about Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. The leaders arrested them and held them until the next day, since it was already evening. Yet, even in the face of opposition, the word of God continued to spread. Many who heard believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. This growth resulted directly from the healing of the cripple in chapter 3 and Peter’s bold preaching.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
The Sanhedrin System: Sadducees, Pharisees, and Independents
Now we turn to the thought of Babylon in the light of present truth. The Sanhedrin of that day can be compared to today’s judicial court. It was made up of Sadducees, Pharisees, and other independents. The Sadducees were the majority group. They controlled a significant portion of the religious system of that time. Similarly, many large denominations now wield substantial influence.
The Sadducees
The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. They also rejected the existence of angels and anything supernatural. Although they were religious in practice, they lacked faith in God’s power. They attended services, paid tithes, and moved among the upper levels of society. However, they did not truly embrace spiritual life. That is why they are a picture of many people today, religious in form but empty of faith in the supernatural. Their name fits them well—without hope of resurrection or belief in the unseen, they were truly “sad, you see.”
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
The Pharisees
The Pharisees were the opposite side of the pendulum from the Sadducees. Where the Sadducees leaned towards liberalism and believed you could live however you wanted as long as you attended church, the Pharisees were strict and legalistic. They measured righteousness by outward actions—what you did or what you did not do. Their faith was focused on rules, appearances, and religious performance.
Jesus made it clear in Matthew 5 that unless our righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees, we cannot enter the kingdom of God. The Pharisees fasted twice a week, prayed lengthy prayers, tithed carefully, and ensured their religious life was highly visible. They sought to convey a spiritual image through their attire, behavior, and speech. But Jesus pointed out that their righteousness was outward only. True righteousness must be an inward work of the Spirit that transforms the heart and mind, and then shows outwardly through character.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
The spirit of the Pharisees remains evident today. You can have a legalistic Pentecostal or a legalistic Baptist, both of whom are convinced that holiness is about external rules rather than a changed heart. Modern Pharisees often become fundamentalists, holding to rigid interpretations and rejecting spiritual gifts. From them come beliefs like “tongues are of the devil” or “once saved, always saved,” and teaching that there is no spiritual growth beyond salvation. Like in the days of Jesus, their system is about control and appearance, but it lacks life and power.
The Independents
The independents were another group within the Sanhedrin. They were not strict enough to be Pharisees, and they were not liberal enough to be Sadducees. They claimed to be in between, saying they were not tied to a denomination. Often, they would call themselves charismatic. This group, along with the Pharisees and Sadducees, made up the Sanhedrin. Together, they represented the religious system of man, which is the same system tied to Babylon.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
All Groups Reflect Babylon
This Babylon is not far away. It works right in the midst of our own cities. It is a harlot system that pulls the mind into deception and convinces some that they can live however they want and still be secure. This system convinces others that righteousness is all outward rules and appearances. Still others float around from place to place, never rooted in a church home, never settled, never grounded. All of this is the religious system, and it is present everywhere.
In Acts, Peter, John, and the healed cripple stood before that system. In the same way, we must see ourselves as that cripple. We were powerless until the ministry lifted us up through the gospel. Our minds had to be renewed, and our lives had to change. Only then can we stand before the systems of man and bear witness to the truth. The Sanhedrin had to take note that Peter and John had been with Jesus. The same must be true of us. If we do not recognize that we were that cripple, we will drift along in empty religion and never make an impact for Christ.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Acts 4:5-6
5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
In Acts 4 we are told that Peter and John were put in hold. Some Bible versions say jail, others say prison. What stands out is that the healed cripple was with them. In Acts 3, we read that he held tightly to Peter and John, running, leaping, and praising God with them. That spoke to me. There is a real ministry you must cling to. You must run with it, rejoice with it, and stand with it—even if it means walking into hardship. Sometimes that means facing rejection or persecution. It might not be a literal jail, but there will be places of testing where your faith is put to the test.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
This aligns with the concept of the mark mentioned in Scripture. We often hear about the mark of the beast in Revelation, but the Word also speaks of the mark of the Lord. In Ezekiel 9, God placed His mark on those who belonged to Him. Those without it faced judgment.
Revelation 14:1
1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
Revelation 14 states that the 144,000 also bear His mark. So there are two marks: the mark of the serpent and the mark of the Lord. These are not the first external. They begin in the heart. Long before someone would take a physical mark, they have already made their choice inwardly.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Each day we show whose mark we bear. When we get up, gather our families, and go to church, our neighbors see that. How we speak, how we live, how we conduct ourselves—all of it reveals whether we carry the Lord’s mark or the mark of the world. This shows us that Revelation is not just for the future. It is a present truth. Right now, with every decision we make, we accept either the Lord or a substitute.
John wrote that even now there are many antichrists.
1 John 2:18
8 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
The word “anti” not only means against, but also means substitute. Many live with substitutes for Christ—things that take His place in their lives. That can be possessions, habits, or misplaced priorities. So today we face the same choice. Each word, each action, each commitment—marks us. The question is, are we bearing the mark of the Lord or the mark of a substitute?
I was that cripple, but not in my body—in my mind. There were areas of my life, gates that looked beautiful, yet they were the very things keeping me bound. They kept me from entering the temple, from truly walking, leaping, and praising God. I needed to take my eyes off Babylon, off the Sanhedrin, and all its Sadducees, Pharisees, and independents. My eyes needed to be fixed on the Lord and His Word. That is what true ministry is meant to do. It takes your focus off religion and lifts you up. It carries you through the gate called Beautiful, where you can rejoice before God.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Faithful Ministry and Receiving Marks
But when that happens, you must be ready to be put in hold. Carrying the mark of the Lord brings both blessing and opposition. When I first began to speak out about the revelations God gave me, I was immediately marked. Paul said, “Mark those who labor among you,” but he also said, “Mark those who cause division.” He even declared, “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”
Living this word, walking it, speaking it, is what sets a mark on you. And if I am faithful to do what God has called me to in ministry, you too will bear that mark and be put in hold with me. It may not mean a literal cage, but it will mean being identified, set apart, and known for your stand. That is what we truly want—that others say of us, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also.”
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Examples: Joseph, David, Jesus, and Paul
Joseph’s story gives us an example of this. First, he was patted by his father Jacob, who loved him and gave him a coat of many colors. Joseph carried revelation and dreams given from God. But then he was pitted by his brothers. When he shared his revelations with those who did not receive them, they threw him into a pit. In the same way, if you share God’s truth with the wrong people, even with your “half-brothers” in the faith, you may find yourself in a pit.
Half brothers may serve the same God but come from a different “mother,” a different church, and they cannot grasp the depth of what God has revealed to you. Later, Joseph was also potted when Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him and had him confined again.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
This shows us that walking in revelation comes with trials. But just like Joseph, being marked and being put in a hold is part of God’s plan to position you for His greater purpose.
Even when Joseph was confined, he continued to receive revelations from God. His words brought life to some and death to others, depending on how they received them. Eventually, God’s plan unfolded, and Joseph was set second in command to Pharaoh. Through it all, Joseph remained faithful.
David: Endurance and Kingship
David is another example. He spent thirteen years running from Saul and hiding in caves. During those hard years, David wrote psalms and strengthened his trust in God. Saul represents the system of man, or Babylon. If you do not go along with that system, you may face opposition, just like David did when Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his javelin. Even so, after years of faithfulness, David was raised up to be king over all Israel. His life is a beautiful picture of Christ, and it reminds us that if we stay faithful to God’s word and avoid the trap of man’s system, we also are called kings and priests.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Jesus and Paul: Rejection and True Family
Jesus himself faced misunderstanding and rejection. Some people called him a lunatic. Even his own family came to take him away, thinking something was wrong. But Jesus said that his true family was those who do the will of God.
Paul faced similar trials. He was put in prison and accused of being mad because of his learning and teaching. The same will happen to us if we share profound spiritual truth—people will say we are out of our minds.
But being in “hold” is not a bad thing. Joseph, David, Jesus, and Paul all found themselves in difficult places because of their faith, but what a company to be in! Being set apart, being marked for the Lord, and being different from the religious systems is what truly matters. We are not called to preach a gospel that pleases people or focuses on external standards.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
The most excellent call is to true ministry, to lift those who are crippled—not just in body, but in mind and spirit. This is the kind of lifting and healing that Christ calls us to bring. Even when opposition and trials come, the plans of the religious system will often backfire, as we see in Acts 4:5-12. God’s purpose will succeed.
Acts 4:5-12
5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Acts 4:13
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
Boldness Before the Sanhedrin
In verse 13 of Acts 4, something important happens. The Sanhedrin, with its 71 members made up of Sadducees, Pharisees, independents, and the high priest, stands in judgment over three men: Peter, John, and the man who used to be crippled. This is a dramatic contrast—71 against three.
As the Sanhedrin observes them, they notice the boldness of Peter and John. The scripture says they “perceived” something about them. The word “perceived” here means to take eagerly, to seize, or to possess. The leaders took note of the confidence and presence of these men.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
They also recognized that Peter and John were “unlearned” and “ignorant.” “Unlearned” means unlettered—they had no formal education, and they were not college graduates. The word “ignorant” comes from the Greek “idiotes.” It doesn’t mean they were fools, but rather that they were private citizens without any advanced schooling or position. In other words, these men were ordinary people with no special training, yet their confidence and authority stood out for all to see.
Acts 4:7-12
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
When the 71 members of the Sanhedrin saw Peter, John, and the man who had been healed, they assumed it would be easy to overpower them. They thought they could quickly silence this “Jesus movement.” Confident in their authority, they asked Peter, “By what name have you done this?” expecting to intimidate him.
But Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered with boldness. He declared that the man standing before them was made whole by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth—the one they had crucified but whom God raised from the dead. Everyone knew this cripple had been sitting at the gate for forty years, and now he stood healed, a living testimony before them.
The Meaning of “Sozo”
Peter explained that their question was about more than healing. The original Greek word used in verse 9, “sozo,” means both “saved” and “healed.” This man didn’t just get physical healing; he experienced salvation. Peter used that same word again in verse 12, saying there is no other name under heaven by which people can be saved except for Jesus.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Instead of stopping the gospel, the Sanhedrin’s challenge backfired. The miracle became evidence of both the saving and healing power of Jesus right before their eyes. What began as 71 against three turned into three standing boldly, and Peter took the opportunity to preach yet another sermon to the religious leaders. The tables had turned, and the truth of Christ confronted the whole system with undeniable power.
Acts 4:13
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
The Power of Witness and Testimony
Peter began preaching to the Sanhedrin about Jesus, salvation, and the healing power of God. The response from the leaders was amazement. Verse 13 says that when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they marveled. What truly caught their attention was that these men had been with Jesus.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Boldness Without Credentials
That is the real mark of true ministry. The most excellent credential is not formal education or special training. It is having spent time with Jesus. It is letting His presence change you so much that others can tell you’ve been with Him.
Our goal should be for people to notice that about us, too. We want others to see that we gather with Jesus. We want to leave this place running, leaping, and praising God, ready to lift up those who are weak and hurting. When we do that, people will know—we have been with Jesus. That is what matters most.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Acts 4:14-15
14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
Handling Opposition and Rejection
When the healed man stood with Peter and John, the Sanhedrin had nothing they could say against it. The miracle was undeniable. Unable to discredit them, the leaders sent Peter and John out of the council and began discussing among themselves what to do. The word “confer” used here has a root meaning related to tossing or throwing. The council tossed the issue around like a hot potato, unsure what to do with such a clear sign from God.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Rejection by Systems
The story shows us something important. When God works in a real and powerful way among His people, others might not understand. They may even start “tossing you around,” questioning or criticizing what’s happening. If you are part of a church that really follows the Spirit—lifting people and preaching Jesus boldly—you may find that your church will be talked about and misunderstood. This is something to expect when true ministry is at work. You’ll be marked, set apart, and sometimes rejected.
Standing Out for Truth
But this isn’t a bad thing. When the Word takes root in your life and real change happens, the world and even other churches might not know how to handle it. If you do what God has called you to do, it will baffle the systems of man. Choosing to preach truth and walk in New Testament faith, rather than blending in or seeking the majority, is what creates a real spiritual impact. That is the kind of church and life that truly honors God’s plan.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Identifying With the New Thing God is Doing
There are two kinds of people in the world among God’s people—those who identify with the old and those who identify with the new. In Luke chapter 2, we see this picture when baby Jesus is brought to the temple and meets the old prophet Simeon. God promised Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. In one moment, law and grace, the old anointing and the new anointing, met together.
Old and New Anointings
Today, you are in one of those two places. You can identify with the old way, represented by Simeon, a faithful man of God. Alternatively, you can choose to identify with the new, becoming part of the body of Christ as it is being formed now. The body of Christ is still like a baby—it cannot yet do all the miracles and wonders that are promised, but it is starting to come together and grow.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
A Critical Moment For Us
This is a critical moment. It is not about size or numbers, but about recognizing what God is doing today. We have the opportunity not only to witness what God is doing but also to be a part of His plan. As the old age gives way to the new, we must decide where we will stand. I want to be part of what God is doing now, to identify with Christ Himself and not just with what God has done in the past. I want to be a part of the consolation of Israel, not merely to observe it.
There is a people today who are truly becoming the body of Christ. I believe we are at the end of this age—the close of the sixth day and the dawning of the seventh, God’s day. We are leaving behind the number of man and entering God’s fullness. In this season, I do not want to identify with what was old. My desire is to be found in Christ, right where God is moving and revealing Himself now. My message each time is about embracing what God is doing in this new time, among these new people, the body of Christ coming together.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
If you grasp just one thing tonight, let it be this: You were that crippled person, not in your body but in your mind and thinking. True ministry was sent by God to raise you up at precisely the right time, just as in Acts 3. Do you believe you are sitting here tonight by God’s appointment? Our God is more than able to bring the right word, at the right time, to the right place. That is His purpose.
Overcoming Crippled Thinking
Every one of us deals with crippled thinking—anything that is not aligned with the mind of Christ. It takes true, Spirit-led ministry to lift and renew our minds. Yet, whenever we commit to changing our thinking and aligning it with Christ, various reasons and excuses arise. Like the Sanhedrin’s 71 members, we find 71 reasons not to pray, not to tithe, not to read the Bible, not to gather with other believers.
But if we allow God—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the “three” within us—to point us in the right direction, we can overcome those excuses. The three in us can stand against the 71 that oppose us. That’s how we start winning the battle in our minds and lives.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
In the end, after all the talking and tossing around, the Sanhedrin could find nothing to accuse Peter, John, and the healed man of, so they let them go. When you commit to following God fully, the opposition may try to bind you or toss you around, but God’s purpose will stand.
Acts 4:23-31
23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Returning to Fellowship — The Power of ‘Your Own Company’
In verses 23 through 31, after being released, Peter, John, and the healed man went back to their own company. This is a beautiful part of Scripture. When they were let go, they immediately returned to be with their own people. There is a deep longing to be with those who share your faith, your struggles, and your victory in Christ.
Think about the formerly crippled man for a moment. Just the day before, he was begging for alms, unable to walk. Suddenly, by the power of God, he was healed—walking, leaping, and praising God through the temple. He experienced being thrown in jail, and in just one day, his whole world changed. After all that, he went to join his new family in Christ.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Joy in Community
Imagine the joy he must have felt when he entered a room filled with thousands of people whom Jesus had also changed. If it was exciting for three of them to be praising God together, how much more overwhelming it must have been for the healed man to be surrounded by a whole company of believers, all worshiping and rejoicing together. There is a special joy and strength in coming together with others who share your story and your faith. That’s what the early church experienced, and it’s what we should treasure as well.
Acts 4:24
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Unity and Prayer in the Early Church
In verse 24, it says that when the believers heard what had happened, they lifted their voices to God with one accord. The Greek word “homothamadon” used here means being in the same place at the same time with the same passion. The whole group was united—they shared the same excitement and praised God together. It wasn’t just a few worshiping, but everyone was involved. That’s how it should be when God’s people come together.
Then they prayed. The believers prayed the very psalm that began our service. This illustrates the ongoing theme of prayer throughout the early church. This week’s bulletin highlighted the importance of prayer. There is a real need for everyone in the church to increase their dedication to prayer, not decrease it. It’s a concern when people pray less over time. We need prayer now more than ever.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Look at the history of the early church. In Acts chapter two, they prayed for Judas’s replacement. They met house to house daily, praying faithfully. In Acts chapter three, they went to the temple at the set hour for prayer. And now, once again, they come together to pray after facing opposition. Consistent, fervent prayer was a priority. If we neglect prayer, we risk missing out on what God is doing in our lives. Even when busy, we must prioritize time for prayer and the Word, just as the apostles did.
Apostolic Priorities
In Acts 6, we see the selection of deacons, also referred to as servants. The reason for their choice was to allow the apostles time to focus on prayer and the Word of God. It is vital to prioritize prayer and let other things fall into place. If we neglect this, we risk missing out on what God has for us.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
This was very clear to me this week. There is so much more I could share and break down, but time does not permit it all. The passage later discusses Barnabas, who sold his property and donated the proceeds. He is compared to Ananias and Sapphira, who sold their property but kept part of the price.
We can examine these stories more closely next week, as Barnabas aligns better with Chapter Five. For now, let’s remember that focusing on prayer and God’s Word is essential. That must be our priority if we want to follow the example laid out in Acts truly.
Acts 4:32-37
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Generosity and Trustworthiness in Ministry
In the early church, no one lacked what they needed. Those who owned land and houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles. The funds were laid at the apostles’ feet and then distributed to anyone who had need. This practice may seem shocking today, especially given the numerous instances of financial mismanagement by various ministries over time. But in this first church, the apostles handled the funds with honesty, and everyone was cared for.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Ministry Must Be Trustworthy
I realized that the ministry must be trustworthy. Throughout the book of Acts, the apostles never misused the money entrusted to them. Scripture never accuses them of mismanagement. True ministry must be trustworthy. If trust is broken, it is not really ministry.
Recognizing Our Own Crippled Places
As we close, let’s remember an important lesson. We must recognize ourselves as the crippled. It is not enough to point out someone else’s weakness or inability. We each have places in our lives and thinking that are crippled or weak. It is in those places that we must allow God’s ministry to lift us up, help us grow, and bring us out of our powerless state.
Acts Series Chapter 4: How to Show You’ve Been with Jesus
Living Out the New Life
If we’re honest, we all have areas that need improvement. We need help, and that is where the ministry is intended to assist. When we allow ministry to help us, it will confuse and baffle the world, or “Babylon.” The world may talk about us, try to discourage us, or even oppose us. But when we return to our own company of believers, what the world says or thinks will not matter. We will know that we are right with God because the healing starts from within, when we recognize our own need and let the ministry raise us up.
Acts Series Chapter 4 Audio
