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Acts 4:9-10 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, (10) let it be known to you all, 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 stands here before you whole.

Peter and John were declaring to these leaders that their life was a testimony to the resurrection of Jesus. Acts 10:40-43 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, (41) not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. (42) And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. (43) To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

Peter and John had the personal experience of the resurrected Jesus.  This was their witness.  As His disciples, we must be carrying about in our body the resurrected Jesus.  This is our witness.  II Corinthians 4:10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

For we have died with Christ and our life is in Christ.  Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

To Peter and John, their life did not matter anymore.  They had died with Christ and it was the resurrected Jesus who was now living through them. 

The disciples were witnesses of the Holy Spirit operating in them. The Father raised Jesus from the dead through His Holy Spirit.  Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

As the disciples were being questioned, they were acutely conscious that they were witnesses to the resurrected Jesus living and working powerfully through them, through His Holy Spirit. 

As the disciples were witnesses to the risen Jesus, they were witnessing that Jesus has been ordained by God to be the judge of the living and the dead.  When we witness the resurrected Jesus living through us, we are also telling people that Jesus is the judge of the living and the dead. Acts 17:30-31 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, (31) because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

This message of God judging the world through Jesus because He was raised from the dead, needed to be made known to the leaders.  The disciples saw themselves as witnesses for this purpose. 

The leaders also needed to know that Jesus was the seed of David according to the flesh but He was the Son of God.  This was made known by His resurrection from the dead.  Romans 1:3-4 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, (4) and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

This Jesus was the one to whom the law, the psalms and the prophets witnessed.  This the leaders needed to know.  They could not put Jesus aside. 

Peter and John were fully accomplishing their task of being His witnesses.  We too need to see ourselves as being His witnesses as the Lord takes us before various groups, who question us.  They emphasised before the leaders that the lame man was made whole. 

This must be our position of strength from which we must witness to the world.  The Lord gives wholeness to those who come to Him.  There is no need for us to be apologetic or reticent about our stand for Jesus.  Let us be bold and declare out in the open that Jesus gives wholeness.  Why should we be afraid or ashamed of declaring Jesus, who does what is good for man and creation? 

Colossians 1:21-22 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled (22) in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

Let us realise that the devil is defeated by Jesus on the cross and so we need not be afraid of him or his threats to us.  Jesus makes a person whole.

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Acts 4:9-10 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, (10) let it be known to you all, 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 stands here before you whole.

Peter and John had now reached their pivotal point in their response.  This was the resurrection of Jesus because of whom this lame made was made whole.

Acts 2:24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

The wages of sin is death.  This man was physically alive but he was dead in several ways.  One aspect of his death was his lameness. 

When God created His entire creation, including man, He looked at everything and saw that it was very good. Genesis 1:31 *Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.* So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

This goodness of God was the Shalom life that God gave man and creation.  The Lord commanded man not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; (17) but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

The comprehensive death of man and creation took place when we rebelled and rejected God.  Shalom was taken away from us.  One aspect of this death is various diseases and illnesses.

When we will be restored to the fullness of our fellowship with God, there will be no more death. Revelation 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. (4) And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

This lame man was made whole by Jesus Christ, whom God raised from the dead.  This wellness that had happened to the lame man was a testimony and foretaste of the wellness/Shalom that will once again be restored in His presence.

The second matter was the forgiveness of sins. 

Acts 13:29-41 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. (30) *But God raised Him from the dead.* (31) He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. (32) And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. (33) God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘YOU ARE MY SON, TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’ (34) *And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption*, He has spoken thus: ‘I WILL GIVE YOU THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID.’ (35) Therefore He also says in another Psalm: *’YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION.’*(36) “For David, after he had  served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; (37) *but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. (38) Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; (39) and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.* (40) Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: (41) ‘BEHOLD, YOU DESPISERS, MARVEL AND PERISH! FOR I WORK A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL BY NO MEANS BELIEVE, THOUGH ONE WERE TO DECLARE IT TO YOU.’ “

The sin in our flesh causes corruption. David died and saw corruption. Though Jesus died and was buried, His body did not see corruption but He was raised from the dead by the Father.  Sin and death were conquered.  Since Jesus was raised from the dead, He is able to give forgiveness of sin. 

This lame man was healed in his body but also in his whole person, he was now forgiven of his sin, because Jesus, who was raised from the dead had intervened in his life. 

This testimony of the healing of the lame man was crucial because the leaders needed to know that through Jesus Christ when a person believes in Him, he is justified before God, which the keeping of the law of Moses could not provide.  

Testifying before those who persecute us is the precious opportunity to present Christ as the Redeemer and Saviour of man and creation.  Let us not waste these opportunities by being self-focused.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18hy6k2wHp43JjoLIFmYXGB-3SA9fNu4V/view?usp=share_link

Acts 4:9-10 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, (10) let it be known to you all, 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 stands here before you whole._

Peter and John confronted the leaders. … Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, …

They had done the same in Acts chapter two.  There it was an audience of Jews from different nations.  Acts 2:22-23 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— (23) Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 

They reiterated that the entire house of Israel was responsible to have crucified Jesus, whom God has made Lord and Christ.  Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

In Acts chapter three, they categorically held this crowd of Jews, responsible for the killing of the Prince of life. Acts 3:13-15 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. (14) But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, (15) and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.

In Acts chapter five, the apostles were once again before the leaders and they laid it on them that they were the ones who had murdered Jesus, whom God of the fathers had raised from the dead. Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.

As the disciples prayed, they considered all of humanity responsible to be against Jesus Christ. Acts 4:26-28 THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’ (27) “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together (28) to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

It is the world that is guilty of rejecting God and this must be laid at their feet.  It is about convicting the world of sin. This is the work of His Holy Spirit.

John 3:16-20 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (18) “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19) And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (20) For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

God has provided the solution for man to be saved from the everlasting fire.  The light has come into the world, which is Jesus, but man loves to remain in darkness because his ways are against God.  This is the message that we must take into the enemy camp.

We must place the mirror before the world, of their evil.  Romans 1:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; (29) being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, (30) backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31) undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; (32) who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

It is when we take the fight into the enemy camp that the devil will flee.  Right now, our response to the persecution has been apologetic and rueful. We are trying to assert our rights to have the freedom to present Christ but we have not come to the place of holding our audience accountable for rejecting God.    

We must show our audience that there will be indignation and wrath on every soul that does evil.  Romans 2:8-11 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, (9) tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; (10) but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (11) For there is no partiality with God.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18Ujc-XviLND5CLfaYOKvD7h5RkK2xDXS/view?usp=share_link

Acts 4:9-10 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, (10) let it be known to you all, 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 stands here before you whole.

We can imagine how, Peter and John would have stood tall, with their head held high, to make this declaration to the leaders.  “…let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…”

This shows the quality of their response.  They were not intimidated by the stature of the leaders before whom they were speaking. This is the work of His Holy Spirit. They were fully conscious of what was at stake for them but their response is strong.

We recollect the response of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed Nego to emperor Nebuchadnezzar.  What was at stake for these three young men was to either climb their career ladder or be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.  These were the options before them.  They did not dither or waver.  They made their stand clear to the emperor.  Daniel 3:18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

This is the boldness that is needed for the church these days.  We must take a stand for Jesus and make it known to whoever our audience may be, as to whom we belong.  Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, But the righteous are bold as a lion.

It is the Holy Spirit who gives us boldness in such situations. Once we have accepted that we are prepared to lay down our lives for Jesus, we will not fear.  We fear God, so we seek to please Him and Him alone.  Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

In the ultimate analysis, whoever seeks to save his life will lose it.  It is in losing our lives for Christ and His Gospel that we save our lives. What use is it if we have gained the world but have lost our souls?  Mark 8:35-36 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. (36) For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

If we do not make known to the world our commitment to Christ, we are denying Christ.  If we have denied Christ before men then we are not one of those, for whom Jesus will intercede before the Father.  Matthew 10:32-33 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. (33) But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

What are we to make known to the world?

We are to make known Christ.  Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” This was the boldness of the apostles that they categorically made known Christ to the world. 

The apostles saw their identity in the resurrected Jesus.  Therefore, they made this statement that this wellness to a helpless man was by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 

II Corinthians 5:14-17 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; (15) and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. (16) Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. (17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

The disciples could understand very clearly that since Jesus had died for them, they had no basis to live but to be identified with His death.  When we identify with Christ in His death, we identify with Him also in His resurrection.

Our identity is now in the resurrected Christ. We do not know Christ according to the flesh any longer but we know Him according to the Spirit of God, who raised Him from the dead and who lives in us.  The resurrected Christ is therefore our identity and it is Him that we make known to the world.

If we have not died and risen again with Jesus, then we will struggle to make known to the world, that the good works that we do, we do in the name of Jesus Christ. He is our all in all.  We do not exist outside of Christ.  

May His church arise to make known to the world the name of Jesus Christ.

Acts 4:9-10 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, (10) let it be known to you all, 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 stands here before you whole.

For any normal-thinking person, this accusation of the leaders against the disciples would be seen as ridiculous. The leaders should have lauded and thanked the disciples for the good work that was done. The highest body of the Jews had gathered, to come up with such an outrageous accusation against His disciples.  This is happening today and these are the ways of the devil. 

This was what the Lord had to experience in His ministry.  John 7:22-24 Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. (23) If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? (24) Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” The Lord told the leaders to learn what is righteous judgement and not judge by appearance. 

The Lord turned the table on the tables on the leaders and made them confront their own blindness.  John 10:32-33 Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” (33) The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”

The leaders then accepted that their real issue with Jesus was He, being a Man was making Himself to be God. Man’s problem is with His submission to God.

The good that the disciples had done and the good that we as His church are doing today, are known to everyone as good deeds.  Yet, the world is vehemently against us because they are being confronted with the God of heaven and earth, who is to be worshipped by submission to His will.

The devil does not want anyone to submit to God.  The devil knows that he is destined to everlasting fire.  His intention is to take as many as he can with him to the same place of everlasting destruction.  The good work that we do is a clarion call for the people of the world to repent, surrender to the lordship of Christ and escape the eternal fire. This the devil is preventing and causing people to resist God. 

Let us look at another matter regarding the healing of the lame man.  The lame man was made well.   The wellness that happened to this man was complete wellness. 

This man was lame on his feet but now he stood, walked, leapt, and was praising God.  Acts 3:6-8 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (7) And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. (8) So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.

The strength that the man received in his legs and ankles bones was such that he stood, walked, and leapt. Not only was this a powerful physical healing.  The man was also reconciled with God, internally, for he entered the temple to worship God with praise. 

Later we see that this man stood alongside Peter and John, as a witness for the disciples, as they were being questioned by the leaders. Acts 4:14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

He was physically healed, he became a worshipper of God with praise, and he became a witness to Jesus.  This is the description of wellness.

When the Lord intervenes in a person’s life, He brings wellness.  He gives life in all its fullness.  Whereas, the devil’s agenda is to steal, kill and destroy. John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

This is why Jesus came.  He came to seek and save those who are lost. Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

The leaders were questioning the disciples about the wellness that had happened to the lame man.  This is the same line of questioning that has been happening all through the centuries and is happening even today.

We as His church must be familiar with their line of questioning and be prepared.  Peter and John responded to their questioning appropriately.  The Holy Spirit will enable us also to respond to the questioning that we are being subjected to, appropriately.

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