Notes - Acts Chapters 3 - 6
Chapter 3 — Peter and John perform the first miracle of the church andPeter preaches again. This is God’s last call to the nation to turn to Him asa corporate body. Jesus will return to set up His kingdom as predicted by theprophets (vv. 24-26). The suffering of Christ had been fulfilled (vv. 18, 19).
Chapter 4—5000 are saved at the preaching of Peter’s second sermon,but the apostles are arrested and imprisoned. The reason given for theirarrest is that they preached the resurrection (v. 2). The apostles are broughtto trial before the Sanhedrin to explain the power or name they used in healingthe lame man. Peter answers by the power of the Holy Spirit and presentsJesus as the only way of salvation and His name as the name of powerand salvation. The apostles are reprimanded by the Sanhedrin and commandedto desist from preaching in the name of Jesus. The apostles returnto the company of the early church. The church went to prayer, quotingPsalm 2:1 and 2. They did not pray for cessation of persecution, but forcourage to speak the Word of God (v. 29). Notice the power of prayer (vv.30, 31), also the high plane of spirituality of the early church.
Chapter 5 — Introduces the defection in the church, followed by thedeath of Ananias and Sapphira. These Christians were not living on thehigh spiritual level of the early church, although they were saved. Whenthey lied to the Holy Spirit, they were removed from the company of believers.They committed the sin unto death (1 John 5:16). The amazing thingis that this sin could not exist in the early church. There was holiness of lifein the church. Peter was probably as much surprised as anyone whenAnanias died (v. 5). Power continues in the church (vv. 12-14); multitudesare saved. The apostles exercise the apostolic gifts. The apostles are arrestedthe second time and put in prison (vv. 17, 18). Gamaliel counselsrestraint and moderation in dealing with them. They are beaten, forbiddento speak in the name of Jesus, and continue to preach in His name.
Chapter 6 — Gives the selection of deacons due to the defection, andthe account of Stephen — framed, arrested, tried.
v. 1 — The Grecians were Hebrews with a background of Greek culture,while the Hebrews were those who still followed the Mosaic Law. The highplane to which the Spirit had brought the church was interrupted by theintrusion of satanic division and confusion. The sharing of material substance,which first characterized the church (Acts 2:44-46), gave way to theselfishness of the old nature. The Grecians (evidently a minority group) feltneglected and demanded that their widows be given equal considerationwith the Hebrews.
v. 2 — The apostles do not feel that they should have the burden of thisdetail, as it would take them from the study of the Word of God, prayer, andthe ministry of the Word (v. 4).
v. 3 — Certain qualified men are chosen to assume the burden of handlingthe material substance. Notice their qualifications:
- men of honest report
- full of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)
- men of wisdom — application of scriptural truth
- men of conviction (v. 10)
- full of faith — not only saving faith, but serving faith and witnessing faith (not amount, but object of faith)
v. 5 — Of the list of the first 7 deacons, we have only the record of 2 —Stephen and Philip.
v. 6 — Laying on of hands merely designates these men for the office,denoting their fellowship in the things of Christ and representation for thecorporate body of believers.
v. 7 — The church continues to grow in spite of the internal condition.
vv. 8-15 — Stephen, a strong witness to the gospel, incurs the hatred ofcertain sects. False witnesses are brought before the council to accuse Stephen.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Leave a Reply