• The Occasion of the Witness – Act 3:1-11
• The Contents of the Witness – Act 3:12-26
• The Results of the Witness – Act 4:1-31
  • The first persecution – Act 4:1-7
    • The arrest of Peter and John
    • The priests, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees
      • They were outraged by the proclamation of the resurrection
      • Their leadership was threatened
      • They placed Peter and John in custody – Act 4:3
    • The great parenthesis
      • Some heard the Word of God
      • Some believed the Word of God
      • God made the difference, not man
      • The number of men was 5000 - how many women?
    • The trial
      • The Sanhedrin
        • The rulers, the elders, the scribes, the High Priest and all his relatives
        • The crucial question: “By what power, or by what name, have you done this?”
          • They were afraid
          • They were determined to stop it
            • Many governments today are opposed to this message
            • They are opposing it with all their might
  • Another witness to the Sanhedrin
    • To identify with Christ was certain death or imprisonment
    • The amazing courage displayed
    • The source of their courage - the indwelling Holy Spirit – Act 4:8
      • The first weakness among believers lies in not knowing our resources
      • The second weakness among believers lies in not believing in (counting on, relying upon) our resources
        • Others can tell us what to do
        • Only the Spirit of the risen Christ can empower us to do it
      • The evidence of courage – Act 4:10-11
        • Immediate exaltation of Christ
        • Direct accusation against them
        • Contrast Peter at the trial of Christ
  • The content of the witness – Act 4:10-12
    • The crucifixion of Christ
    • The resurrection of Christ
    • The continuing ministry of Christ
    • The identity of Christ – Act 4:11 – He is the Jewish Messiah
    • The salvation in Christ – Act 4:12
    • The message of Christ – Act 4:10 – to all the people of Israel

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