Like a Lion

"Like a Lion" - Acts 4:13 But the righteous are as confident as a lion. Just is that it is in accordance with justice (what must be done in accordance with equity or legality). Equity (equality, natural justice or impartiality, recognizing the right of each one; legality = subject to the law, according to the law, the welfare of others). The leaders of religious formalism are stunned when they discover "men without letters and of the "vulgar" (common people) making an impact on the community, while they, with all their wisdom, "do not manage to rise above flesh and blood."

I. The Sanhedrin (the Supreme Council of Jewish law) was stunned by the boldness (bravery, they marveled) of Peter and John.

A. They were without letters; they would have liked to cast them aside as "common people" of the vulgar.

1. But there was something in their self-control (character of one who masters the impulses of their way of being), their lives full of strength, and their fearlessness (bravery, courage, valor, daring) that made them think about Jesus when He appeared on trial.

2. They attributed the fearlessness of the apostles to the fact that they had "been with Jesus in the past," but the real explanation was that they were "now" filled with the Holy Spirit (Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?)

3. (Mark 15:43) Boldly (courage, bravery, valor (in conscience—godliness, responsibility, humility) Joseph of Arimathea had the need to act quickly, which probably gave courage (aptitude, right action) to Joseph of Arimathea to ask "permission from Pilate to bury the body of the Holy One of Israel," your Savior and Redeemer from our sin and wickedness.

4. Joseph was a devout Jew (committed religion, duties, religious exercises) and a member of the Sanhedrin (the Supreme Council of Jewish law).

5. Up to this point, Joseph had been a secret disciple of Jesus.

6. Although he was a member of the Sanhedrin, he disagreed with their verdict in the case of Jesus.

7. His great privilege of taking Jesus in His body and with love, tenderness, pain and the great emptiness, that he would no longer have Him more and less in His "arms".

8. Give Him a proper burial.

9. And permission was granted, and with alacrity (haste, speed) Joseph wrapped Him (took away the shame of His nakedness) in a sheet and laid Him in a tomb hewn out of a rock which had never been used before.

10. A good and just man. (Luke 23:50-53).

11. (Acts 4:31) When they had finished praying, the place where they were gathered shook—a physical expression of the spiritual power present.

12. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, indicating their obedience to the Lord, "their walk in the light," "their surrender to Him."

13. "They kept speaking boldly (courage, bravery) the word of God," in the clear answer to his prayer in verse 29; And now, Lord, look at their threats and enable Your servants that with all boldness (bravery) they may speak Your word." (Acts 4:29).

14. (Acts 9:29) At first, the disciples in Jerusalem were afraid to receive Saul, doubting the sincerity of his profession as a believer.

15. Barnabas proved true to his name as a son of consolation, (comfort) by befriending Saul, telling others about his conversion, and telling them about his fearless (courageous, brave, daring, unaware of the dangers) testimony for Christ in Damascus.

16. The believers soon realized that Saul "was genuine" when they saw him preaching "boldly" (bold, determined, resolute, daring) in the name of the Lord in Jerusalem.

17. This aroused (provoked) the most intense opposition among the Greeks.

18. When the brothers realized that his lives were in danger because of the Hellenistic Jews (Greek Jews raised outside of Israel, speaking Greek, and bringing customs and attitudes and education from those living in the diaspora) that were much more of the Jerusalemborn groups, they escorted Saul to the port of Caesarea.

19. From there he went to his hometown of Tarsus.

20. (Acts 14:3) Although they knew trouble was coming, the preachers stayed, "speaking" boldly (courage, bravery) "trusting in the Lord, who confirmed the divine nature of the message by giving them power to perform "signs" and "wonders"; are two different words for miracles.

21. The word "sign" simply means that the miracle teaches us a lesson, while the word "wonder" suggests that the miracle creates a sense of wonder (extraordinary, excellent, admirable).

22. (Acts 19:8) For three months Paul went to the synagogue in Ephesus, arguing and persuading about the kingdom of God.

23. By arguing we understand that he spoke to the intellect of people.

24. To persuade, he "tried to influence their wills" (kela) especially with regard to faith in Jesus as the Christ.

25. The theme of his talks was "Concerning the Kingdom of God." Amen