Acts 5:12-42
Open Doors for the Gospel
I. Acts 5:12-16 God continues to work mightily
through the purified church.
Acts 5:12-16 12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders
were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's
Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them
highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both
men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid
them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might
fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to
Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean
spirits, and they were all healed.
A. Miracles are taking place among the people by the hand
of the Apostles.
These miraculous signs confirmed the validity of the apostles’ witness
and connected their work to Christ’s healing ministry. (LABC)
1. I do not believe that we can then take from this that
after the Apostles died, all signs and wonders ceased.
a) Not only does the Bible not teach this, but rather
shows other believers besides the Apostles doing
miracles, and church history to this day does not
prove such a point.
2. That being said, there was a great outpouring of the
Holy Spirit in the early Church as the Apostles
established the Church as commanded by Jesus Christ.
Solomon’s Colonnade was part of the temple complex … A colonnade is
an entrance or porch supported by columns. (LABC)
B. 5:13 Those who were casual attendees decided that
after the Ananias incident, they were not going to attend
any more.
1. This, however, did not stop the growth of the church
by true believers coming into the faith.
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C. Peter’s shadow was nothing more than a point of
release for the people’s faith.
1. This is much like the woman who believed that if she
could just touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, she would be
made well.
D. What is important for us to see is that the Lord
answered the prayer that signs and wonders would follow
as the disciples preached. Secondly, the attempt of Satan
to corrupt the church with hypocrisy was thwarted.
II. Acts 5:17-18 Satan seeks to shut the door on the
gospel.
17
Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the
sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 18 and laid their
hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.
A.
The changed lives were cause for the
Sadducees to try to stop that which the Lord
was doing.
1.
Whenever God is doing a work, Satan will do
everything in his power to try and stop it.
2.
He for the second times seeks to use external
threats to silence the Gospel.
B. Satan has been trying since the Church began to silence
the preaching of the Gospel.
1. Jesus warned us that there would be conflict,
intimidation, and outright persecution.
2. Satan’s certain demise and the Gospel’s powerful
march around the globe into every tribe, tongue, and
nation will not stop the efforts of evil men used
unwittingly by the Devil to silence the words of life.
C. You can be certain that as you step forward to share
your faith, Satan will be there to create conflict or
corruption.
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1 Peter 5:8-9 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil
walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist
him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are
experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
III.Acts 5:19-25 God opens the doors for more
preaching.
A.
5:19-20 The prison doors are opened by an angel for
preaching the words that bring life.
19
But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them
out, and said, 20 "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of
this life."
1. The gospel cannot be shut up.
Revelation 3:8 "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open
door, and no one can shut it; for you have a litt”
2. All attempts to shut up the gospel have always failed
and will always fail, for as Jesus said, “the gates of hell
will not prevail”.
a) When you look back on the history of the Church,
you see that Satan has sought to silence the gospel
through internal corruption and external persecution.
b) We need not worry about the health and
survivability of the Church; we only need be
concerned with our part in the Church.
3. The feeble attempts of men and Satan have yet to
prove effective in the silencing of the Gospel.
B. 5:21-25 They were fearless in obedient preaching.
21
And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and
taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council
together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to
have them brought. 22 But when the officers came and did not find them in the
prison, they returned and reported, 23 saying, "Indeed we found the prison shut
securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened
them, we found no one inside!" 24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the
temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the
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outcome would be. 25 So one came and told them, saying, "Look, the men whom
you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!"
1. The men of this world had their plan, yet God was not
using human wisdom and power to accomplish His plan.
2. Verse 25 shows us the fearless faith that these men
had when it came to preaching the gospel!!
a) Some say Christianity is boring… not their
Christianity!
b) Step out!
c) Share your Faith!
d) God is on the Gospel’s side!
e) Satan will not prevail!
f) God is still drawing men and women into His
kingdom!
g) Endure the attack of Satan!
h) Get out there and preach again!
IV. Acts 5:26-28 They were accused of spreading the
Gospel.
26
Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for
they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had
brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,
28
saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look,
you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood
on us!"
A.
I pray that we will allow the Lord to do in
Lynchburg what the disciples did in Jerusalem.
1. Proclaim life to all we meet.
2. Proclaim life in our work places, homes, schools,
community events, air waves, jails, etc.
B.
Take every opportunity the Lord gives you.
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1. But remember these believers did this as they were
filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
V. Acts 5:29-32 They were obedient to God in preaching.
29
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God
rather than men. 30 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered
by hanging on a tree. 31 "Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and
Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 "And we are His
witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to
those who obey Him."
A. Your employer, friends, family members, and the
governments will say, “Be quiet, keep it to yourself, you
can’t do that,” etc.
1. And we say WE ARE HIS WITNESSES; I MUST OBEY
GOD RATHER THAN YOU.
B. Don’t let the threats and consequences of preaching the
gospel ever silence you.
1. It is a matter of obedience.
VI.
Acts 5:33- 41 They were beaten for the faith.
A. 5:33-40 Gamaliel advises restraint.
33
When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. 34 Then one
in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in
respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a
little while. 35 And he said to them: "Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what
you intend to do regarding these men. 36 "For some time ago Theudas rose up,
claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He
was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 "After
this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away
many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were
dispersed. 38 "And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them
alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 "but if it is of
God, you cannot overthrow it -- lest you even be found to fight against God." 40
And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten
them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let
them go.
1. Gamaliel’s advice was more accurate then he ever
knew.
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2. The Council wasfighting against God, and they failed
to overthrow the work of Christ.
B. 5:41 They experienced joy in suffering.
41
So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were
counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.
VII.
Acts 5:42 They were tenacious in teaching.
42
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and
preaching Jesus as the Christ.
A.
B.
The imprisonment, the warnings, and the
beatings didn’t stop that which the Lord had
commanded them to do.
1.
Let’s not cease to preach Jesus as the Savior
of the world in the face of the obstacles
placed before us not to share.
2.
People are looking; let’s show them.
The Lord has strategically placed us throughout
the city and I believe He wants to save.
VIII.
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