“UNMUTED” Acts 4
preached Sunday 9/21/25 at AO
Scripture Focus (Acts 4:13-31) – “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. [14] But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, [16] saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. [17] But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” [18] So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. [19] But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, [20] for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” [21] And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. [22] For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old. [23] When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. [24] And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, [25] who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain [26] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’
– [27] for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,
both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, [28] to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. [29] And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, [30] while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” [31] And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”
- Externally simple, internally transformed Christians (13)
“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.”
Why were the opponents astonished? They recognized that unlettered, untrained men, ignorant of the methods and traditions of their prescribed ways of learning were:
- Possessing an anointing they did not hold (4:8)
- Releasing a power they did not have (4:9-10)
- Proclaiming a risen Savior whom they did not know (4:11-12)
- Operating in a boldness that they could not intimidate (4:13a)
- Powerfully anointed, impossible to ignore Christians (14-16)
“But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it…”
The unbelieving elites who hated Christ and His followers had to hold a meeting because they had no idea what to do with these simple Jesus-followers and their miracles
- Terribly inconvenient and spiritually dangerous Christians (17-18)
“But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.”
- Rightly defiant and boldly courageous Christians (19-22)
“But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” [21] And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. [22] For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
- Beautifully contagious and entirely dependent Christians (23-28)
“When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. [24] And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, [25] who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain [26] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’ – [27] for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, [28] to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”
- Proactively zealous and freshly filled Christians (29-31)
“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, [30] while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” [31] And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”
Speech Patterns in Acts 4
4:1 – “they were speaking to the people”
4:2 – “they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” 4:4 – “many of those who had heard the word believed”
4:8 – “Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said”
4:13 – “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John”
4:17 – “let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”
4:18 – “So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” 4:20 – “for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
4:23 – “they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.” 4:24 – “they lifted their voices together to God and said”
4:29 – “grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness”,
4:31 – “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”