November 17

Acts 4-6 (biblegateway.com)

Standing Firm in Faith and Filled With the Spirit

After the Holy Spirit empowered the church at Pentecost and thousands believed, the apostles immediately faced opposition. Yet through bold preaching, unity, and the Spirit’s power, the early church continued to grow and stand firm in the gospel. In Acts 4–6, the early church experiences both remarkable growth and increasing persecution.

Acts 4 — Bold Witness in the Face of Opposition, Spirit-Empowered Courage, and the Unity of the Early Church

As Peter and John are still speaking to the people, “the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them” (v. 1). The Sadducees, who denied any resurrection or angelic existence, are deeply disturbed because the apostles are teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead (v. 2). The very doctrine they reject now stands proven by the risen Christ. Unable to refute the message, they resort to suppression. Peter and John are arrested and held overnight (v. 3). Yet even opposition serves God’s purpose: “many of those who heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand” (v. 4). Persecution cannot silence the gospel; it often multiplies its fruit. Suffering frequently opens doors that comfort never could.

The next day, the rulers, elders, and scribes gather in Jerusalem, including Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, as well as members of the high-priestly family (v. 5–6). This is largely the same group that condemned Jesus. They set Peter and John before them and ask, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” (v. 7). The question reveals both suspicion and fear, as authority is the issue.

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…” (v. 8). The boldness of his answer fulfills Jesus’ promise that the Spirit would give His followers words when they stand before rulers (Luke 12:11–12). Peter declares that the man was healed “by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead” (v. 9–10). The miracle is evidence of Christ’s living power, not human merit.

Peter then quotes Psalm 118:22: “The stone that was rejected by you, the builders, has become the cornerstone” (v. 11). The leaders who should have recognized the Messiah have rejected Him, yet God has exalted Him as the foundation of salvation. Finally, Peter proclaims one of the clearest statements of exclusive salvation in Scripture: “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” (v. 12). The gospel is both universal in offer and exclusive in truth. Forgiveness and new life are found only in Christ, whose death and resurrection opened the way for all who believe.

For believers today, this passage reminds us that Spirit-filled courage and clear testimony are still the marks of true faith. The world may question by what authority we speak, but the answer remains the same: by the name of Jesus Christ. Opposition cannot hinder His church when it stands firm on that name. Like the apostles, we are called to proclaim salvation through Christ alone, with conviction, humility, and unwavering confidence that the risen Lord still works through His people.

The council observes the boldness of Peter and John and perceives that they are “uneducated, common men” (v. 13). Their confidence and clarity astonish the religious leaders, who recognize that they “had been with Jesus.” Their courage is not the product of training but of transformation. Being with Christ had changed them from fearful followers into fearless witnesses. The Spirit gives wisdom that human schooling cannot produce.

Seeing the healed man standing beside them, the council can make no objection (v. 14). The living evidence of God’s power stands before their eyes. They order the apostles to leave the room and confer among themselves (v. 15). The leaders admit that a “notable sign” has occurred, one undeniable even to their opponents, but they refuse to yield to its message. Rather than submit to the truth, they choose to suppress it. “So that it may spread no further,” they decide to threaten them and command them not to speak in the name of Jesus (v. 16–17). Unbelief often acknowledges the miraculous yet hardens the heart against repentance.

When the apostles are called back, the council commands them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus (v. 18). But Peter and John reply with calm conviction: “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” (v. 19–20). The apostles honor civil authority but affirm a higher allegiance. When obedience to man conflicts with obedience to God, the believer must choose faithfulness to God. Furthermore, spiritual courage does not depend on personality but on conviction, a settled resolve to obey God, whatever the cost.

After further threats, the leaders release them, finding no basis to punish them because of the people who are glorifying God for what had happened (v. 21). The healed man, more than forty years old, is living proof that the power of Christ cannot be silenced (v. 22). Truth has triumphed where authority has failed.

This moment marks an early test of the church’s loyalty. Faithful witness to Christ will always provoke resistance, yet it is through such testing that courage grows. The apostles model a pattern every believer and church must follow: measured respect for authority, unwavering obedience to God, and joyful proclamation of Christ. When God’s people stand firm in truth and grace, the world may threaten, but cannot prevail. The same Spirit who filled Peter and John still empowers believers today to speak the truth in love, whatever the cost.

Upon their release, Peter and John return to their companions and report all that the chief priests and elders have said (v. 23). Rather than respond with fear, the believers lift their voices together in united prayer (v. 24). They begin not by asking for deliverance, but by affirming God’s absolute sovereignty, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.” Their prayer begins in worship, reminding themselves that the One who rules creation also rules their circumstances.

They quote Psalm 2, recognizing that the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain against the Lord and His Anointed (v. 25–26). What once described Israel’s kings now finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. They interpret Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles, and Israel as those who conspired against Jesus, yet they did only what God’s hand and plan had determined beforehand to occur (v. 27–28). This affirms divine sovereignty without denying human responsibility. Men act freely, but their rebellion still fulfills God’s redemptive purpose. Persecution does not hinder God’s plan; it accomplishes it.

Then they pray, not for protection, but for perseverance: “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” (v. 29–30). Their focus is not escape, but obedience. Prayer does not remove challenges but gives courage to face them. The early believers understood that the same God who shook the earth at Sinai now empowers His people to shake the world with the gospel.

After they pray, “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” (v. 31). The physical shaking mirrors a spiritual reality; God’s power confirms His presence. The filling of the Spirit renews their courage and unity for continued witness.

This passage shows the pattern of a healthy church: persecution drives it to prayer, prayer leads to renewed filling, and renewed filling results in bold proclamation. The church does not depend on political favor or social ease but on the unshakable presence of God. For believers today, the call is the same. Pray for boldness, trust God’s sovereign hand, and continue to speak His Word with clarity, conviction, and grace.

The full number of those who believed were “of one heart and soul,” and no one claimed that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had all things in common (v. 32). Their unity is both spiritual and practical, born of shared faith in Christ and love through the Spirit. This was not enforced communalism but voluntary generosity flowing from transformed hearts. The believers still owned personal property, but they held it loosely, seeing possessions as means for ministry rather than measures of worth.

With great power, the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all (v. 33). The same Spirit who filled them with boldness now fills them with compassion. The church’s witness and its unity go hand in hand, proclaiming a risen Savior and displaying His life through sacrificial love. When God’s grace works powerfully within a church, believers freely share what they have so that others may be strengthened and needs met.

“There was not a needy person among them,” for those who owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds to the apostles, who distributed to each as any had need (v. 34–35). This recalls Deuteronomy’s vision of a covenant community without poverty among God’s people (Deut. 15:4). Their giving was not an attempt to earn favor but an expression of Spirit-produced love. Grace moves believers from self-preservation to self-giving.

Luke closes the section with a living example: Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas, “son of encouragement,” sold a field he owned and laid the money at the apostles’ feet (v. 36–37). His act embodies the generosity and encouragement that will mark his later ministry (Acts 9:27; 11:22–24). Barnabas models what it means to be led by the Spirit: seeing needs, giving willingly, and building others up in faith. His sincere devotion sets the backdrop for the contrast that follows in the account of Ananias and Sapphira.

This closing portrait of the early church reveals what happens when believers live fully yielded to the Spirit. Unity replaces division, generosity replaces greed, and grace replaces fear. The resurrection they proclaim is reflected in the way they live, selfless, sincere, and Spirit-filled. For the church today, the call is to return to that same wholehearted devotion: one heart, one soul, and one purpose, to glorify Christ and care for His people through love in action.

Acts 4 reveals a church that stands courageous in witness, prays with confidence in God’s sovereignty, and lives in radical unity and generosity. The risen Christ works through His Spirit-filled people. Opposition arises, but the church does not retreat. Rather, it proclaims, prays, and persists. The chapter reminds believers that obedience to God may bring opposition from men, yet God grants boldness, guards His church, and multiplies His grace as the gospel advances.

Acts 5 — Purity, Power, Persecution, and Perseverance in the Early Church

The previous passage ends with a picture of unity and grace as believers share freely, and Barnabas models Spirit-led generosity. Yet immediately Luke contrasts genuine devotion with counterfeit piety. The brightness of grace throws the darkness of hypocrisy into sharp relief. The Spirit who unites and empowers the church also guards its holiness.

A man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property (v. 1). With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back part of the proceeds and brought only a portion, laying it at the apostles’ feet while pretending it was the full amount (v. 2). Their sin is not in holding property or keeping part of the sale, but in hypocrisy, seeking the appearance of sacrifice without the reality of honesty. Peter confronts him: “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?” (v. 3). The language echoes Judas’s betrayal, showing how deceit within the heart threatens the purity of the church.

Peter reminds him that the property was his to sell or not sell, and the money was his to give or to keep. The issue was not possession but pretense. “You have not lied to man but to God” (v. 4). This affirms the deity of the Holy Spirit; lying to the Spirit is lying to God Himself. God takes deceit in worship seriously, for dishonesty corrupts the witness of His people. Upon hearing these words, Ananias falls down and dies, and great fear comes upon all who hear it (v. 5). Young men wrap his body, carry him out, and bury him (v. 6). The Spirit acts decisively to guard the holiness of the new church.

About three hours later, Sapphira enters, unaware of what has happened (v. 7). Peter asks her whether they sold the land for the stated amount, and she confirms the lie (v. 8). Peter exposes their agreement to “test the Spirit of the Lord” (v. 9). Their deception was deliberate and united, a willful testing of God’s patience. Immediately, she falls down dead at his feet, and the young men carry her out and bury her beside her husband (v. 10). “And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things” (v. 11).

This account marks the first mention of “the church” in Acts and underscores its holy character. Hypocrisy, pretending to be more devoted than one truly is, destroys unity and integrity. God’s swift judgment reminds believers that sin within the body is never private; it affects the whole fellowship. God calls His people to personal holiness, truthful living, and voluntary obedience, not coerced conformity, but sincere faith.

The early church learns that the same Spirit who empowers also purifies. The fear of the Lord is not terror but reverent awe, a deep awareness of God’s presence, justice, and grace. For today’s church, this passage calls believers to live transparently before God and one another, to serve without pretense, and to keep the focus on God’s glory rather than human approval. The Spirit who gives life also guards the purity of Christ’s body, reminding every generation that integrity before God is essential to effective witness.

Following the sobering account of divine judgment, Luke turns again to show the Spirit’s life-giving power at work through the apostles. Many signs and wonders are being done among the people by the hands of the apostles, and the believers meet together in Solomon’s Portico (v. 12). This open area of the temple complex becomes a regular gathering place for the early church, a public witness to God’s continuing work. The same Spirit who judged hypocrisy now confirms the truth of the gospel with power.

None of the unbelieving dare to join them lightly, yet the people hold them in high esteem (v. 13). More than ever, believers are added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women (v. 14). The church continues to grow, not through human persuasion but through the evident work of God. True evangelism flows from Spirit-empowered testimony, where holiness and compassion combine to display Christ’s reality.

People bring the sick into the streets and lay them on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passes by (v. 15). Crowds also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all are healed (v. 16). The risen Christ continues His ministry through His apostles with undeniable power. These miracles do not glorify the apostles but testify that Jesus, exalted at the Father’s right hand, is still active through His church.

For today’s believers, this passage calls the church to remember that spiritual power and moral purity are inseparable. The same Spirit who fills with boldness also produces reverence, unity, and compassion. When God’s people live in holiness and truth, the world may fear their message, yet it cannot deny the presence of Christ within them.

The high priest and the Sadducees, filled with jealousy, rise up against the apostles, arrest them, and put them in the public prison (v. 17–18). Their opposition is not based on truth but on envy. The same religious group that denied the resurrection now resists its evidence. This opposition reflects the growing tension between the old religious order and the new Spirit-empowered witness of Christ’s followers.

But during the night, an angel of the Lord opens the prison doors, brings them out, and says, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life” (v. 19–20). The Lord Himself intervenes to keep His message moving forward. The phrase “this life” points to the new spiritual life found only in Christ, the resurrection life already at work in believers. No prison can confine the gospel; God’s purposes cannot be hindered by human authority.

At daybreak, they enter the temple and begin to teach (v. 21). The same place from which they were arrested becomes the platform for renewed witness. Their obedience is immediate, their courage sustained by faith rather than circumstance. God overrules human restrictions so that His word continues to advance.

For today’s church, this passage reminds believers that divine calling outweighs human command. When God opens a door, His people must step through in faith. Opposition may be fierce, but God’s mission continues—by His power, through His Spirit, and for His glory.

When the council assembles and the officers report that the prison is found securely locked but the cells are empty, the chief priests and the captain of the temple are perplexed, wondering what this might lead to (v. 21–24). Soon, someone reports, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people” (v. 25). The captain and officers bring them without violence, fearing the reaction of the crowd (v. 26). Once again, human authority finds itself powerless to restrain the work of God.

The high priest confronts them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us” (v. 27–28). Their words reveal both guilt and resistance. They recognize the apostles’ impact, that the gospel has filled the city, but refuse to repent. The leaders feared the people’s opinion more than God’s truth, while the apostles feared God more than men.

Peter and the apostles reply with courage: “We must obey God rather than men” (v. 29). This statement reflects the believer’s ultimate allegiance to divine authority. The apostles proclaim that “the God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree” (v. 30). God exalted Him “at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (v. 31). Christ’s exaltation brings both authority and mercy. He is willing to grant repentance and pardon to those who turn to Him in faith.

Peter concludes, “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him” (v. 32). The testimony of the apostles and the Spirit together confirms the truth of the resurrection. Their boldness in witness flows from obedience, not arrogance, for when believers surrender to God’s Spirit, He supplies courage to speak truth even before opposition.

For today’s church, this scene reminds believers that obedience to God must remain supreme, even when truth conflicts with cultural or religious pressure. Like the early disciples, we bear witness not by our strength but by the Spirit’s power. The risen Christ still reigns as Leader and Savior, calling His people to proclaim repentance and forgiveness to every generation.

When the council hears Peter’s bold testimony, they are enraged and want to kill the apostles (v. 33). Opposition to the truth now reaches murderous intent. Yet God provides an unexpected voice of restraint. Gamaliel, a Pharisee and highly respected teacher of the law, stands up, orders the apostles to be taken outside, and urges caution (v. 34–35). Though a Pharisee and therefore theologically at odds with the Sadducees, Gamaliel commands respect throughout the Sanhedrin. His measured words display God’s providence, using a respected leader within the council itself to preserve His messengers.

Gamaliel reminds them of earlier movements that failed: Theudas, who claimed greatness and perished with his followers, and Judas the Galilean, whose revolt likewise came to nothing (v. 36–37). His reasoning is simple yet profound: “If this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God” (v. 38–39). His counsel momentarily restrains the fury of the council. Gamaliel’s words reveal a truth still vital for the church: God’s work cannot be silenced by human effort; His purposes stand.

The council accepts his advice, but not without cruelty. They beat the apostles, charge them again not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then release them (v. 40). The punishment is intended to intimidate, yet it produces the opposite result. The apostles depart rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name (v. 41). Their joy flows from identification with Christ, the suffering Servant who was rejected by men but glorified by God.

They do not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ every day in the temple and from house to house (v. 42). The church cannot be silenced; the gospel continues to spread through courage, obedience, and joy.

For believers today, this passage calls the church back to the heart of true discipleship: faithfulness regardless of cost. The early apostles did not seek comfort but counted suffering for Christ as honor. When God’s people hold firmly to the Name above all names, opposition becomes opportunity, and persecution refines rather than weakens faith. The same Spirit who sustained them empowers believers now to stand, speak, and rejoice in the Lord’s unshakable mission.

Acts 6 — Growing Ministry, Godly Leadership, and the Rise of Stephen

As the number of disciples continues to increase, a complaint arises from the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews) against the Hebrews because their widows are being neglected in the daily distribution (v. 1). Growth brings both blessing and strain. The early church is marked by generosity, yet the rapid expansion reveals the need for structure. The issue is not selfishness but oversight, an opportunity for Spirit-guided organization. This moment marks the first administrative challenge of the growing body, showing that practical service is essential to spiritual health.

The Twelve summon the full number of disciples and say, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables” (v. 2). They do not demean physical service but uphold the priority of prayer and preaching. Leadership must not be consumed with tasks that others, equally filled with the Spirit, can faithfully do. Godly leaders focus on what only they are called to do, while empowering others to share the load. The apostles urge the church to select seven men “of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom,” to oversee the ministry, while they devote themselves “to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (v. 3–4). Spiritual leadership requires both devotion and delegation; balance keeps the body healthy.

The proposal pleases the whole gathering, and they choose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, along with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch (v. 5). The apostles pray and lay their hands on them (v. 6). This act signifies both blessing and commissioning, affirming that every kind of ministry, whether word or service, is sacred. The selection of these seven shows that Spirit-filled service is not limited to the pulpit but extends to every work done in Christ’s name. As this godly structure is established, “the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith” (v. 7). Organization does not hinder the Spirit; rather, it effectively channels His work.

For the church today, this passage calls believers to return to the model Christ intended: a Spirit-filled body in which every member serves according to their calling and gifting. Pastors and teachers must remain devoted to prayer and the Word; deacons and servants must meet practical needs with grace and integrity. When the church functions in harmony, the gospel advances unhindered, and the world sees the beauty of Christ’s design for His people.

Stephen, full of grace and power, is performing great wonders and signs among the people (v. 8). As the church grows, so does opposition. Members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and men from Cilicia and Asia, begin disputing with him (v. 9). Yet they cannot withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he speaks (v. 10). His defense is not rooted in cleverness but in the Spirit’s illumination, fulfilling Jesus’ promise that His witnesses would be given words none could contradict (Luke 21:15).

Unable to refute Stephen’s message, his opponents resort to deceit. They secretly persuade men to accuse him of speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God (v. 11). Stirring up the people, the elders, and the scribes, they seize him and bring him before the council (v. 12). False witnesses declare that he continually speaks against the holy place and the law, claiming that Jesus would destroy the temple and alter the customs handed down by Moses (v. 13–14). The accusations twist the truth. Jesus did foretell the temple’s destruction (Luke 21:6), yet His intent was fulfillment, not rebellion. Hostility often arises when truth threatens man-made religion. Stephen’s faithfulness exposes the hearts of those unwilling to change.

As he stands before the Sanhedrin, all who sit in the council gaze intently at him and see that his face is like the face of an angel (v. 15). The radiance reflects the peace and presence of God, an outward sign of inward communion. Stephen’s countenance reveals that he stands in the power of divine grace, not in the grip of human fear. The Spirit’s fullness transforms accusation into opportunity and suffering into testimony.

For believers today, Stephen’s example reminds the church that Spirit-filled witness is often met with resistance but always marked by grace. Truth spoken with boldness and humility cannot be silenced by slander. The same Spirit who gave Stephen wisdom and courage strengthens every believer to stand firm, even when faith is tested before the world.

Acts 6 shows the early church navigating growth with spiritual wisdom. Needs arise, leaders respond, servants are appointed, and the mission advances. The chapter highlights the importance of Spirit-filled character for those who serve, the priority of the Word and prayer for those who lead, and the unstoppable spread of the gospel when the church remains united, organized, and Spirit-led. Stephen’s rising influence sets the stage for the gospel’s expansion beyond Jerusalem.

Conclusion:

Acts 4–6 reveal a church filled with courage, holiness, unity, and compassion, rooted in prayer and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Opposition did not weaken the church; it strengthened its resolve. Generosity and servant leadership marked the believers as they lived out the gospel. The apostles’ unwavering commitment to preach Christ, even under threat, challenges believers to stand firm with the same boldness today.

For the church now, these chapters remind us that spiritual power is not found in comfort or compromise, but in faithful obedience to God’s Word and dependence on His Spirit. We are called to live with integrity, to resist hypocrisy, to serve one another with love, and to proclaim Christ with courage. The God who sustained the early church is the same God who sustains His people today—still filling, empowering, and multiplying those who walk in obedience to Him.