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Lesson 7

Authority Questioned

Acts 4:1-12

Over the years I have tried to understand and deal with the issue of authority. There have been times when I lost respect for people in positions of leadership because of the decisions they made and the way they treated the people who worked under them. Maybe, in all of this, there was somewhat of a sense of rebellion on my part because I had a different view of what the qualities of a person in charge of others should be. Those in leadership, in my opinion, should be men with a servant/ Leadership mentality and not that of a ruler.

Someone asked the other day how much authority does the Southern Baptist Convention, national or state, have over Bethany Place? The answer to that question is that each church in the SBC is autonomous and self governing. If that is true, who then has the authority to lead each of these churches? Primarily, Bethany Place has been a staff led church with the congregation involved in voting on almost all decisions.

In our present situation we might ask ourselves some questions.

1. How have we found this method of governance to work out in the life of the church?
2. How should we determine who it is that has the authority to make decisions for us that have an impact on our lives and the life of the church?
3. What are the qualities we should seek in the person who is called to have authority?

Let’s take a moment to reflect on what we have already studied that sets the stage for our look at the events in chapter 4.

1. The apostles spent 7 days in prayer and becoming of one mind. Chapter 1
2. The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles at Pentecost. Chapter 2
3. Peter preached his first sermon. Chapter 2
4. Three thousand became new believers. Chapter 2
5. The early Church began to be discipled by the apostles. Chapter 2
6. They began to form community. Chapter 2
7. Signs and wonders were being performed. Chapter 2
8. The lame man was healed. Chapter 3
9. Peter preached his second sermon within the Temple grounds in Solomon Portico. Chapter 3
10. In both of his sermons, he exposed the participation of the religious leaders in the death of Christ who Peter now shared as the resurrected Savior of the world.

In chapter 4 we see the opening volleys in the ongoing conflict between two different views. On the one side were those who practiced a form of Judaism entirely based on the law and the followers of Jesus Christ. This was the crossroad at which choices had to be made. Everything hinged on the understanding of the source of authority in one’s life, the law or Christ. The narrative found here clearly shows us the position that the apostles had taken.

Acts 4:1-3

Immediately following these events the apostles were arrested.

1. Who composed the group that arrested the apostles?
2. What do we know about them?
3. What was the reason these leaders put them in jail overnight?

Acts 4:4

Even though the religious leaders responded in a negative way to the teaching of the apostles an additional five thousand souls were added to the church.

1. How is it that the people heard what the apostles had said and the leaders misunderstood?
2. What was the major difference between the people and the leaders?
3. Why did the event that was taking place on the temple grounds bother them so much?
4. If the temple was God’s house, who had a right to preach and heal on the grounds?

Acts 4:5-7

As the apostles were brought before the council they were asked a very important question. It was, “By what power, or in what name have you done this? What were they really asking? We see by the answer that the apostles gave that the real questions were:

1. Who gave you the right to go about healing and preaching?
2. What is the source of your authority?

Before we continue on with the apostles answer let us go back into Matthew to see how Jesus responded to a question much like the one being asked in this chapter in Acts. When asked about His authority he did not answer them directly but asked them about their understanding of John. If they did not accept John they certainly would not believe Him. (Mt. 21:23-27) In the last chapter He tells the disciples, that all authority had been given to Him. He then gave them the commission to make disciples. (Mt. 28:18) Unlike the Jews the apostles heard what Jesus was telling them before His crucifixion and resurrection.   Now, under the authority of Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit they could answer the religious leaders.

They in Acts 4:8-10 shared in a very definitive way the role that Jesus played in the healing.

1. They took no credit for the healing. It was not in their power to perform such a feat.
2. They identified the source of the healing. It was the very man they had crucified the Messiah of Israel, the one called Jesus the Nazarene.

Acts 4: 11-12

1. By using the Scripture out of Psalm 118:22 what was Peter saying to his audience?
2. What does the last verse say about Christianity?
3. In what ways does this verse reinforce what John wrote in 14:6 of his gospel?

This lesson has been all about recognizing Christ’s authority. There are certain characteristics that must be recognized as inherent in the relationship each of you have with Christ. Possibly you have found in your own walk that it is sometimes more difficult to accept the truth than all of the lies with which the world is constantly bombarding you. To come to the realization that it is only God’s word that is infallible, inerrant and holds all truth you must totally submit your will to the authority of Christ. There are certain facts that are explicit in the text that the writer has shared with us.

1. Man is limited in what he can accomplish in his own strength.
2. There are certain things that can only occurred when you are empowered by the Holy Spirit and are acting in the name of Christ.
3. Jesus was raised from the dead after being crucified by those who opposed Him.
4. Only in Christ can man achieve eternal life. There is no such thing as universal salvation. It is the exclusive right of God to give it to whom He chooses.

Only by consciously accepting the above can you say that you are truly living under the authority of Christ.

Although each of you is called to make disciples, there are those who provide the leadership to equip the church for the ministry and provide the means for spiritual growth. (Eph. 4:11-12) This attitude is reflected in the way you view those to whom God has given the responsibility to lead the church. The questions that each of you must answer, as you deal with this whole issue of authority are:

1. In what ways is it evident to the world that Christ is truly living in you and through you?
2. What evidence is present that He has completely authority over your will?
3. How does your life reflect what you have read in Acts 4:12 and Matthew 28:18?

The world is observing your actions to determine under whose authority you act and speak. You will either answer by acknowledging by your words and actions that you are living out the commands of Christ, or, you have decided to live according to the world’s standards. It is really your choice.

Remember we always do things in the name of some cause, organization, or person. Everything then hinges on the understanding of the source of the controlling factors in our lives. How are we to deal with this whole issue? Here are some thoughts

1. Evaluate everything in the light of Scripture. Our lesson today gives us a picture of how the apostles were able to answer the question of the Jews in light of the commands given to them by Jesus, the Word of God. We can do the same.
2. Even though we don’t hear it much anymore, the statement, “What Would Jesus Do?” is still a true test for us before saying anything or taking action.
3. Remember that “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)
4. Do not let the distractions of the world that creep into our lives and the church cause us to lose focus of the task we have been given according to the commands of Jesus to make disciples.

Next week we will look at the actual interrogation by the Jews. Think as you prepare for our time together about the question, “Who was actually on trial?”