Acts Pt. 11 | Sermon Notes
Acts Pt. 11
Pastor Chris Pletcher
January 19, 2025
Acts 5:12-42 // Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
“Go and stand… and speak…”
“GO” was one of the last words they heard Jesus speak.
Matthew 28:16-20 // Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
I wonder if this wild encounter with a jail-breaking angel reminded them of Jesus’ last words. I think this would have been such a sobering reminder of their purpose and calling. GO. I’m not setting you free so you can go home and be safe and comfortable… I’m setting you free so you can go back to the place where they just arrested you, stand firm, and keep speaking… ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LIFE. I am so challenged by this.
“The words of this LIFE.”
Zoe = 135 times in NT Greek, but there is one biblical author who was obsessed with this word. John. Uses it 36 times in his Gospel, 13 times in his 1st Letter, and 17 times in Revelation. That’s HALF! John was obsessed with the abundant LIFE of Jesus, for 2 main reasons I believe:
He heard this theme over and over again in Jesus' teaching.
John 1:4-5 // In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 3:14-17 // As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
John 4:14 // Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
John 6:35 // Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
John 10:10 // The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 14:6 // Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 17:3 // And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
He had experienced this LIFE first hand.
1 John 1:1-3 // That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Matthew 6:31-33 // Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
My Plan to SEEK HIM FIRST in 2025:
Father, what time should I wake up each day?
Father, what words are you saying over this year?
Father, what book of the Bible should I read daily?
“You will not be able to overthrow them.”
Overthrow = καταλύω (katalyō) = To destroy, demolish, deprive of success (cause to fail), to disintegrate, to dissolve, to throw down
Matthew 24:1-2 // Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
Do you see the UNSTOPPABLE nature of God? It’s amazing, it’s almost like Jesus was telling the truth when He said, “I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH AND THE GATES OF HELL WILL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.” You can beat us, hate us, imprison us, reject us, try to silence us, and even kill us… BUT THIS MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM WILL BE PREACHED UNTO ALL NATIONS!
There will be resistance… BUT OUR GOD IS GREATER!
Remember when the Israelites were backed up against the Red Sea…
Remember when Elijah and his servant were surrounded by an army…
Remember when they killed GOD and put His body in a tomb…
1 John 4:4 // Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Response // Anyone want to get their fight back today? Anyone want to get your courage back today? Anyone want to get a fiery vision for your life today? Last I checked it’s still true… We only get one life to live and that one life is a vapor.