Acts 4: How to Handle Attacks when Working for God

The accounts of the actions of Jesus’ disciples continue in Acts chapter four and are connected to chapter three because the healing of the lame man is still part of the events. Peter and John kept preaching about Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem which greatly annoyed the Sadducees and Pharisees.

And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. (Acts 4:3-4 ESV)

We often think that when we are called into ministry, all will go well. God empowered Peter to heal a man, and then proclaim the Gospel in Jerusalem. This resulted in his imprisonment, but at the same time the number of Christians increased by two-thirds, from 3000 to 5000! God would even use their imprisonment for His glory:

On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” (Acts 4:5-7 ESV)

Incarceration brought them before the leaders of the land as well as many onlookers, providing an opportunity to share about the power of God through Jesus. Paul would suffer a much worse fate, and a prophecy would confirm what God had told him.

And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come to us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus said the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that ownes this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.”

And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, sought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What mean you to weep and to break my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:10-13 AKJV)

This is how kind our God is. He will let us know when our lives must be poured out for Him as a result of our calling. Paul was aware that he would die in Jerusalem. The prophet Agabus just showed what would come before that. There is a reward for standing in faith despite persecution and even death:

Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be you faithful to death, and I will give you a crown of life. (Revelation 2:10 AKJV)

Holding to our faith in God and His ways through persecution and even death earns us a crown of life in Heaven. Each crown is linked to spiritual abilities where the Holy Spirit, the essence of God, flows in the greatest measure, in Heaven! Let’s continue reading about the disciples and see what else happened because they held the course despite being imprisoned.

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the Stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the Cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:8-12 ESV)

Peter, filled with the Spirit, proclaimed the core of the Gospel message. Jesus fulfilled the prophecies about the cornerstone that would be rejected. He died and was raised to life. It is through Him that we get to Heaven! How did the religious leaders respond?

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. 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, 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.” (Acts 4:13-16 ESV)

The religious leaders were astonished by the knowledge and passion with which the disciples spoke when empowered by the Holy Spirit. They acknowledged that a “notable sign” had been performed by them. This should have led them to receive the corrections as coming from God, however, it did not.

“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.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

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, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:17-20 ESV)

Every year, offerings were made to the Temple treasury to pay for sin. If this message about Jesus being the way to salvation, people wouldn’t need to give sin offerings or sacrifices. These leaders cared more about receiving money than about the Messiah and following what God is saying. They didn’t want the message to spread and tried to prevent it.

Peter’s response seems to be in opposition to many scriptures which urge us to obey authorities who are placed over us.

Let every person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God’s appointment. (Romans 13:1)

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by Him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. (1 Peter 2:13-14 ESV)

As Christians, we will be protected by God if we obey the laws of the land and we are in good standing with the Lord. However, Peter’s response shows us that we must do what is right in God’s sight. There are three key points to follow when our mission for God leads to attacks:

1. Bring it to church leaders

2. Seek God for wisdom until you hear from the Holy Spirit with confirmation in the Word of God.

3. Ask for empowerment to do the job

The final verses, though few, show how the disciples implemented these steps.

1. Bringing it to Church Leaders

Once released, Peter and John brought this before the elders of the church to make sure what they were doing was God’s will. This led immediately to the second step.

2. Seek God for Wisdom

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, 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? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed”—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, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. (Acts 4:24-28 ESV)

The search for wisdom began with worshiping God by stating how amazing He is. When they prayed, the Holy Spirit brought confirmation through a song of David that was a prophecy. The disciples were unlearned. They probably couldn’t quote the scriptures from memory. This is one way we can know that it is the Holy Spirit, He brings us scripture we don’t have memorized.

This scripture showed that there would be resistance to them, which Jesus also prophesied over them before He left, as seen in the fifteenth chapter of John. Now that the disciples knew this was God’s will, they went on to step three.

3. Ask for Empowerment

“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 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. (Acts 4:29-31 ESV)

The first filling of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was for the Holy Spirit, and His gifts were immediately manifest. Now the disciples were filled a second time with the Holy Spirit to do the job God had for them. These are the three steps that we should do when we feel we are being attacked for the job God has called us to do.

After this, the new body of believers drew together. Those who had property sold it so that a community could be developed for all those who believed. This was for this particular situation: persecution of believers had been prophesied and had begun. It was also because the Holy Spirit flowed so strongly among them.

There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. (Acts 4:34-35 ESV)

The assignment from the Lord was for the Gospel to go forth to all the land. When the Holy Spirit flowed with such measure, many sold extra that they had to be used for this endeavor. There will be persecution of Christians again, and there may be a need of a place of help and refuge for many. We pray that the Lord will provide, for only He knows when and where the need will be.

The primary focus for this chapter of Acts is that there may be opposition when we work for God. If we will humble ourselves and seek confirmation with other Christians, God will answer us. Not only that, He will empower us to overcome the opposition!