Empowered Witnesses: The Transformative Power of Resurrection
Summary
The resurrection of Christ is not just a moment to celebrate once a year, but the ongoing foundation of our faith and the reason we gather, worship, and serve. As we look at the lives of Peter and John in Acts 4, we see how the resurrection power of Jesus transformed ordinary men into bold witnesses, even in the face of fierce opposition. After healing a man who had been lame for forty years, Peter and John found themselves arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin—the same religious leaders who had condemned Jesus. The Sadducees, who denied the resurrection and clung to power, were threatened by the message and the miracle, but Peter and John stood firm, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Peter, filled with the Spirit, spoke with clarity and courage, declaring that it was by the name of Jesus—whom they had crucified and whom God had raised from the dead—that the man was healed. He boldly proclaimed that salvation is found in no one else. John, though silent in the narrative, stood faithfully beside Peter, embodying the strength and unity of the early church. Their courage was not rooted in education or status, but in their time with Jesus and the indwelling of the Spirit.
The religious leaders were astonished by the boldness of these “unschooled, ordinary men,” recognizing that they had been with Jesus. Despite threats and pressure to remain silent, Peter and John refused to stop speaking about what they had seen and heard. Their unwavering commitment led to thousands more coming to faith, the confirmation of God’s miraculous work, and the worship of God by the people.
This account challenges us to examine our own courage and willingness to share the gospel, even with those who oppose or hurt us. It reminds us that the power to witness comes not from our abilities, but from the Spirit within us. Whether we are in the spotlight or quietly supporting others, each of us is called to be faithful, courageous, and obedient, trusting that God will use our witness for His glory.
Key Takeaways
- The Power of the Resurrection Transforms Ordinary Lives
The resurrection of Jesus is not just a doctrine to affirm, but a living power that changes who we are. Peter and John, once ordinary fishermen, became bold witnesses because they had encountered the risen Christ and received the Holy Spirit. This same resurrection power is available to us, enabling us to live and speak with courage in a world that often opposes the truth. [25:23]
- Courage Is Rooted in the Holy Spirit, Not Human Ability
Peter’s boldness before the Sanhedrin was not a product of his own education or eloquence, but the direct result of being filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives us words, wisdom, and courage beyond our natural capacity, especially when we are called to stand for truth in difficult situations. Our confidence comes from God’s presence, not our qualifications. [49:06]
- The Gospel Must Be Shared, Even with Our Enemies
Peter and John did not withhold the message of salvation from those who sought to harm them. Instead, they offered the hope of Christ even to their adversaries, modeling the grace and love of Jesus. We are called to do the same, refusing to let bitterness or fear keep us from sharing the good news with anyone, including those who have wronged us. [56:17]
- Faithfulness Is Not Always Loud—Silent Support Matters
While Peter spoke, John stood faithfully by his side, demonstrating that not every act of faith requires the spotlight. God uses both the outspoken and the steadfastly supportive to advance His kingdom. Our willingness to serve, encourage, and stand with others is just as vital as public proclamation. [01:11:49]
- True Boldness Prioritizes God’s Approval Over Human Acceptance
Peter and John’s refusal to be silenced was rooted in their desire to please God rather than people. They understood that obedience to God’s call outweighs the comfort of human approval or the fear of rejection. We are challenged to examine whose approval we seek and to find our courage in the assurance that we are serving Christ above all. [01:08:57]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[23:28] - Introduction to Acts 4: Standing Up for the Faith
[25:23] - The Transformation of John
[27:23] - Healing the Lame Beggar and Public Response
[29:25] - Pharisees, Sadducees, and Religious Divisions
[32:00] - Denominations and Secondary Issues
[33:51] - The Sadducees’ Compromise and Power
[35:49] - Jesus’ Approach to Hardened Hearts
[37:48] - The Sadducees’ Opposition to the Resurrection
[39:27] - Modern Parallels: Standing Firm in Truth
[41:19] - The Church Grows Despite Opposition
[46:10] - Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
[49:06] - The Holy Spirit’s Empowerment
[53:41] - Jesus as the Cornerstone
[56:17] - Sharing the Gospel with Our Enemies
[58:09] - The Nature of Courage and Assurance
[01:03:20] - God Uses Ordinary People
[01:07:01] - The Unstoppable Witness
[01:11:49] - John’s Quiet Faithfulness
[01:13:23] - Every Believer’s Call to Courage
[01:14:54] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Power and Courage of Resurrection (Acts 4)
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### Bible Reading
Acts 4:1-22
*(Peter and John before the Sanhedrin after healing the lame man and boldly proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection and salvation)*
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### Observation Questions
1. What specific event led to Peter and John being arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin? ([27:23])
2. According to Peter’s response, by whose name and power was the lame man healed? ([51:23])
3. How did the religious leaders react to the boldness of Peter and John, and what did they notice about them? ([58:09])
4. What was John’s role during this confrontation, and how is it described in the sermon? ([01:11:49])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why was the message of the resurrection so threatening to the Sadducees and the religious leaders? ([37:48])
2. What does Peter’s boldness, despite being “unschooled, ordinary men,” reveal about the source of true courage in sharing the gospel? ([49:06])
3. How does John’s silent support alongside Peter challenge our ideas about what it means to be faithful in ministry? ([01:11:49])
4. Why do you think Peter and John insisted on sharing the gospel even with those who were actively opposing and threatening them? ([56:17])
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### Application Questions
1. The resurrection is described as an ongoing foundation for our faith, not just a once-a-year celebration. In what ways can you keep the reality of the resurrection central in your daily life and worship? ([23:28])
2. Peter and John’s courage came from the Holy Spirit, not from their own abilities or education. Are there situations where you feel unqualified to speak about your faith? How can you rely more on the Spirit’s power in those moments? ([49:06])
3. The sermon points out that Peter and John offered the message of salvation even to their enemies. Is there someone in your life you find it hard to forgive or share the gospel with? What would it look like to offer them grace and truth? ([56:17])
4. John’s quiet faithfulness was just as important as Peter’s bold words. Are you more comfortable in a supporting role or in the spotlight? How can you use your unique gifts to serve God and others, even if it’s behind the scenes? ([01:11:49])
5. Peter and John chose to obey God rather than seek human approval. Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to prioritize people’s opinions over God’s calling? What would it look like to shift your focus to pleasing God first? ([01:08:57])
6. The religious leaders were “astonished” by the boldness of ordinary men who had “been with Jesus.” How can spending time with Jesus (in prayer, Scripture, worship) shape your confidence and witness to others? ([58:09])
7. After seeing God work through them, Peter and John grew in confidence and courage. Can you recall a time when God used you in a way that surprised you? How did that experience affect your faith and willingness to step out again? ([01:10:17])
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*End with prayer, asking God for the courage, faithfulness, and boldness of Peter and John, and for the Spirit’s help to witness in both big and small ways.*
Devotional
Day 1: Standing Up for the Faith
Peter and John, though facing opposition and even imprisonment, stood boldly for their faith in Jesus, proclaiming His resurrection and the exclusive salvation found in Him. Their courage was not rooted in their own strength or education, but in the power of the Holy Spirit, which emboldened them to speak the truth even to those who sought to silence them. This unwavering commitment to Christ, even in the face of threats, led to thousands coming to faith and the name of Jesus being lifted high. Their example challenges us to consider what it means to stand up for our faith in our own contexts, trusting that God can use our obedience to impact many. [23:28]
Acts 4:8-12 (ESV)
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 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. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 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.”
Reflection: Where in your life do you sense God calling you to stand up for your faith, even if it means facing discomfort or opposition? What step of boldness can you take today?
Day 2: The Power and Presence of the Holy Spirit
The courage and boldness displayed by Peter and John were not products of their own abilities, but the direct result of being filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit empowered them to speak with clarity, conviction, and love, even when they were considered "unschooled, ordinary men" by the religious elite. This same Spirit is available to every believer, equipping us to share the gospel and live out our faith with confidence, regardless of our background or perceived qualifications. When we rely on the Spirit, God can use us in ways far beyond what we imagine. [50:30]
Acts 4:13 (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.
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to rely more on the Holy Spirit’s power rather than your own abilities? How can you invite the Spirit to fill you with boldness today?
Day 3: Salvation Is for Everyone—Even Our Enemies
Peter and John did not withhold the message of salvation, even from those who had the power to harm them and who had orchestrated Jesus’ death. Instead, they proclaimed that salvation through Jesus was available to all, including their enemies. This radical grace reflects the heart of God, who desires that everyone has the opportunity to hear and respond to the gospel, regardless of their past or opposition. We are called to extend this same grace, sharing the hope of Christ even with those we find difficult to love or forgive. [56:17]
Luke 6:27-28 (ESV)
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”
Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you find difficult to love or forgive? How can you take a step toward sharing Christ’s love and message with them this week?
Day 4: God Uses Ordinary People for Extraordinary Purposes
The religious leaders were astonished that ordinary, unschooled men like Peter and John could speak with such authority and insight. Their only explanation was that these men had been with Jesus. God delights in using ordinary people—regardless of education, status, or background—to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. What matters most is not our credentials, but our willingness to be with Jesus and to be used by Him. Every believer has a vital role in God’s mission, and no one is insignificant in His kingdom. [01:03:20]
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (ESV)
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
Reflection: In what ways have you doubted your usefulness to God because you feel “ordinary”? How can you offer yourself to Him today, trusting He can use you for His purposes?
Day 5: Courage to Obey God Over Pleasing People
When commanded by the authorities to stop speaking about Jesus, Peter and John responded that they must obey God rather than men. Their allegiance was clear: pleasing God was more important than pleasing people, even when it came at great personal cost. This kind of courage is rooted in a deep conviction about the truth of the gospel and a desire to honor God above all else. We are challenged to examine our own hearts and ask whether we are more concerned with the approval of others or with faithfulness to God’s calling. [01:08:57]
Galatians 1:10 (ESV)
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you are tempted to seek people’s approval over God’s? What would it look like to choose obedience to God in that area today?
Quotes
Today, we're continuing in our study about John, about the disciple John, and today is one of those passages that you're going to look at me and you said, it has not a lot to do with John. He didn't really, he didn't say anything in this whole point. But John is there. It's him and Peter that we're going to be looking at in Acts chapter 4, if you want to turn over there, Acts chapter 4, and I called it Standing Up for the Faith, and that's exactly what they did. [00:23:28]
And so what I want to do is, as we've been talking about the disciple John, and looking at his life, and looking at where he was before he met Jesus, kind of how he viewed himself, how he viewed who he was, and how he carried himself, to then being with Jesus, and now being after Jesus, and how God has shaped and molded him, and is still continuing to mold him in this process to where he needs him to be. And the one thing I wanted to convey over and over again is that John did not change a hundred percent. What I mean is that he went from being a sinner, being forgiven by the blood and resurrection of Christ, absolutely. [00:24:44]
To what we see in his writings in 1st through 3rd John of seeing that grace now takes a point in this message as well. Truth is still there. Truth is still important. It is absolute truth. But God shows grace even in the truth. [00:25:39]
We see that he comes across, him and John come across this man who was lame since birth. That's an important detail that will come back up, and as they were going to the temple, they saw him lying there next to the gate that was called Beautiful, and he was begging for money, and Peter and John were stopped by this man, and Peter told him that he had no silver or gold to give him, but told him that in the name of Jesus that he would be able to walk. He helps the man up. The man begins walking, jumping, and praising God, and all of the people that were there recognize that this man was the one that they've seen for 40 years begging at the temple has now been healed. [00:27:23]
He preaches the message of what the Jews had done in killing Jesus and proclaiming his resurrection and his salvation is only through Christ, and he calls for the people that were there that have seen this happen to repent of their sins and to be saved by Jesus Christ alone. An amazing story, and you think even from our context, if this were something to happen that we were to see, how could anybody have a problem with a man who has been lame for 40 years get up and start walking and jumping and praising God. [00:28:13]
The Pharisees were the more, and I say this kind of tongue -in -cheek, liberal than of the religious leaders. Believe me when I say they were still ultra -conservative in what they believed in Judaism, but they were still more open to the ideas of, say, the resurrection of the bodies. After you die, you are resurrected to be with the Lord. They were open to the idea of angelic beings being a real thing. [00:29:32]
The Torah, the law of God, that's what they pertain to, and they stuck strictly to it. So the Pharisees and Sadducees actually kind of argued with one another over a lot of different theological issues. And you're like, well, how could that be? How could they be so opposed to one another in Judaism that you'd have multiple, let me use the word that we use, denominations of something? [00:30:21]
But the other really interesting thing about where I was at is that the main churches and the main denominations in which we lived all agreed with one another about salvation, about the virgin birth, about what it means to be saved, what sin is. Presbyterian, Methodist, Christian, Baptist, all the same belief. You know what we differed on? All those other details of Scripture that we would call in the theological world the secondary issues. [00:31:17]
You say, why would that be a problem? Well, based upon the law of Moses, a Levite was supposed to be the high priest, right? You're supposed to come from the tribe of Levi, and then you would be the high priest until your death. That was the whole point of being a high priest. The problem at this day and age of the Roman Empire being in charge is that the Romans came in and they said, we're going to control how the Jews appoint their high priests. [00:34:05]
But he knew with the Sadducees that they were hearts were too hardened, that they were never going to listen to him, and so he just didn't even entertain it. And you said, why is that important? And I find that so important is because as a minister, as people that I talk to, that all they want to do is argue. And all they want to do is go against the Lord. [00:35:56]
You're not wanting to learn. Your questions are not rooted in something that is wanting to know more. Your questions are rooted into something that wants to trap me, into saying something or contradicting something, even though I may not mean to. Jesus went through the same thing with both of these groups. Not wanting to learn, but wanting to trap him. [00:36:27]
You have two men, Peter and John, who have healed a man that's been lame for 40 years. All of these people see it, and now they're listening to what Peter has to say because he has a platform now to stand upon and say, you have killed the Messiah. You have gone against him. But he has rose again, and he is offering salvation to those who believe. [00:37:25]
God was growing his church. God was starting from the beginning of the church after the Holy Spirit has now indwelled the disciples. And now he's going to start growing it. What happens when you have 5 ,000 men on top of that women and children? Stop coming to your temple. Stop paying the dues to purchase the animals that are needed to make the sacrifices. [00:41:34]
When we think over the history of the world and Christianity, there's been lots of times that the main issue of Christianity being spread is because of power and control. Jesus came and he wanted power and control, but it wasn't over the physical realm. It wasn't over the Roman Empire. What was it of? It was over each of our hearts. [00:42:32]
So Peter and John are now in jail, and now we see the church continue to grow to the 5 ,000. Now, one of the things I was reading back through this, I've preached this before, I've read this story a bunch of times, and it's a detail I'd never thought about, and I was reading this commentary, and he pointed out that it could be that maybe, possibly, it's not in Scripture, so we can't say it's 100 % true, but the idea is very nice where we think that the number has grown to 5 ,000. [00:44:19]
The two men, along with the others, who called the shots for Jesus to be crucified, Peter is telling them, you remember the guy that you had killed for no reason? It's by him. And then he says, Peter not only is telling them by the authority he has it, but he also gets them to think about two of the greatest problems and disagreements they have with the other Pharisees, or excuse me, with the Pharisees or even the Christians, where they said, we crucified him. That's an issue for no reason. But the second one being, he immediately calls out their idea of resurrection and how he knows they don't believe in it. [00:53:12]
And he says, whom you crucified, but God raised from the dead. That is the reason that we can stand before you now and have the power to do what we did and say the things that we are saying. He then says, Jesus, and he's now quoting Psalm 118, he says, Jesus is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. [00:53:41]
But Peter doesn't stop there. He says in verse 12, he not only tells them of what they did wrong, but he does something amazing. He says, salvation is found in no one else. There's no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Peter preaches salvation to the enemy that is wanting to kill him. [00:56:40]
Let's be honest that there's somebody in your life you don't want to tell the gospel to. They've hurt you too bad. They've gone against you somehow. They've done wrong by you some way. And so you say, you know what? I'm never going to tell them about salvation. There are people in my life that I know that when I was younger that I said I would never tell them about salvation. God got a hold of me pretty quickly after that. [00:56:45]
And so Peter and John take this opportunity to not just tell them by what power they're doing these things, but they actually share the gospel with the ones who are threatening to kill them. And then we see in verse 13, it says, when they saw the courage, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Sanhedrin, when they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. [00:57:40]
Peter and John were confident, bold, and assured that what they were speaking was the truth. So when they saw the courage, it means they saw Peter and John's boldness, they saw their confidence, and they saw that they were assured in their faith. You ever talk to somebody that's assured in something? My family, I have a tendency of this being a problem. [00:58:34]
But we have to be up here. We have to be presentable. We have to be confident in what we're saying, and the thing is, the amazing thing about the difference between public speaking and preaching is that when I get up here and I preach the Word of God, I know that I'm going to be confident in what I'm saying, not because of my own knowledge, but because of what the Bible says right in front of me. [01:01:41]
And so when we, Peter and John are standing before these religious leaders with courage, with boldness, with confidence, and they are assured that what they're saying is true, they're not worried about what's about to happen to them. And so if we have the same courage to go before people that we know, are we worried about what the ramifications are after we tell them the gospel? They won't be my friend anymore. They don't talk to me anymore. They make fun of me, right? Peter and John could care less. [01:02:14]
Peter and John said, no, the truth is more important than anything else. And here's what it is. And here's what grace looks like. And then they said something that I will try not to preach too long about because I could be on it for days when Peter and John are standing before them and what the Pharisees and the these men, they were unschooled, ordinary men. They were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. These were fishermen. These were not theologians. These were not scholars who had been to school. These were not Pharisees and high priests who had all of the books of the first five books of the Old Testament memorized. These were ordinary people. [01:03:20]
I was thinking, who else is important that would follow that same path? Some of the same people we still mention today. The biggest one that we talk about a lot, I quote a lot, Charles Spurgeon. No college degree. D .L. Moody, Moody Bible Institute up in Chicago. Super important man. His education ended after fifth grade. Formal education ended after fifth grade. William Carey, what some people call the father of modern missions. [01:04:56]
The only difference is that when they looked at Peter and John, they saw that the spirit was inside them, and they said they were astonished because they knew that these were ordinary men that are saying these things that are so above where they should be educationally and articulating what they should be saying. This is so much above them, and yet they're teaching and professing and telling them about this gospel, and they said they must have been with Jesus because they're saying everything exactly what he said, and they're teaching exactly what he taught. [01:06:00]
The enemy of God cannot deny the miracles that God does. He can try, but over and over again we see that he cannot fully deny it because he knows that it is true and that it has happened. He says, but to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn Peter and John, warn them to speak no longer to anyone in the name of Jesus. So they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Stop talking about Jesus, and you can go. [01:07:01]
Peter says, which is right? Do we listen to you or do we listen to God and teach about the things that we have seen and heard? Just like Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me. And then later in the New Testament, Paul says in Galatians, it's my favorite verse in the Bible, and I'll preach on it another day, but Galatians 1, 10, it says, am I now trying to win the approval of human beings or of God? [01:08:20]
But my goal and honor and what I'm wanting to do and what Peter and John are doing and what all of us as Christians should be doing is saying that I am not wanting to please people, I'm wanting to please the Lord. And so right now, you're asking us not to talk about Jesus? Yeah, we're not going to, we're going to keep doing that. We're going to keep talking about Jesus. And the last couple of verses, he says, after further threats, they let them go. [01:09:02]
The age, it just shows how long he had been with this disease and how he wasn't able to walk since birth and now he's able to. That's amazing that God's work in his life. But what do we see? What do we learn from this story? What did Peter and John get out of this? The people were praising God. And I wonder if we asked Peter and we asked John, hey, was it worth it that night in jail and that trial? Well, if we asked if it was worth it, I wondered what they said. Well, here's the results of what happened for that one story we just talked about. Two thousand more men came to Christ. Peter preached the gospel to more people and he preached it to the enemy. The Sanhedrin confirmed the miracle. [01:10:20]
God has a purpose for all of us. And like we saw in the video before the message, the point of the church is to come together to worship with one another, to be confident, to encourage one another so that what? We can go outside of this building and tell others about Jesus. But there's one thing that I will not compromise, and I will continue to badger home to anybody that listens. [01:13:40]
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