04: Opposition against the Name, but the Church Thrives (Acts 4)

Though they faced opposition and threats from the authorities, they knew these were part of God’s plan. Therefore, they remained focused on their ministry and prayed for their faith to be strengthened. The number of believers increased (4), and the church experienced spiritual revival (32–37).

👉 Read Acts 4:1-37

Q1. Why were the priests and Sadducees annoyed at Peter and John? (2)

They taught the people in the temple without permission from the religious authorities.

They proclaimed the resurrection from the dead, which the Sadducees did not believe in.

The Sadducees were a Jewish religious group whose name likely came from Zadok, the high priest in David’s time. They rivaled the Pharisees for religious leadership.

Q2. When Peter and John were asked by what power or what name they were healing and preaching without getting permission from the Jewish authorities, what was their answer? (v10, v11) 

- in the name of Jesus (the name they rejected)

- by God's power (who raised the dead)

‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ (8): Jesus said, ‘the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.’ (Matt 10:20)

‘a good work done to a crippled man’ (9): Peter exposes their evil intentions. Instead of recognizing God's good work, they sought to accuse the apostles of performing an unverified healing and teaching without authorization. Remember, they had accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub. Peter's point is, “Who else but God could perform such a good work?”

Peter’s saying in v. 10- 11 implies that they are standing opposite to God’s will. 

Q3. Being asked by the Jewish leaders not to speak in the name of Jesus, what did Peter and John answer? 

- "It is right to obey God rather than man" (v19)

- We cannot stop saying what we have seen

Though they saw signs of the Lord’s working among them (14, 16, 22), they chose to suppress the name. This is willful refusal of the name.

Q4. Fill the blanks with the proper verse number(s). When the other disciples heard how the chief priests and elders had threatened Peter and John, they remembered David’s prophecy about the uprising of the nations against the Lord’s Anointed ( ). Such threats were opposition against Jesus ( ). Knowing that this was part of God’s predestined plan ( ), they prayed for courage to preach the name ( ) and for the Lord to confirm the name with His powerful hand ( ). After they finished praying, the place was shaken, and the Holy Spirit enabled them to speak the gospel boldly ( ).

V25-26, v27, v28, v29, v30, v31

Q5. They have everything in common, of one heart and soul. With great (         ) the apostles gave their testimony to the (                 ) of the Lord Jesus, and great (        ) was upon them all. No one was in need because many sacrificially donated. Barnabas was one of those who brought all his possessions. Later, he introduced Paul to the Jerusalem church and encouraged him to start a ministry at the Church of Antioch. That's why his name means (                                        ). Later, he started the mission trip with Paul starting at his hometown (              ). His other name was (           ).

They have everything in common, of one heart and soul. With great (power), the apostles gave their testimony to the ( resurrection  ) of the Lord Jesus, and great ( grace  ) was upon them all. No one was in need because many sacrificially donated. Barnabas was one of those who brought all his possessions. Later, he introduced Paul to the Jerusalem church and encouraged him to start a ministry at the Church of Antioch. That's why his name means ( son of encouragement ). Later, he started the mission trip with Paul, starting at his hometown ( Cyprus ). His other name was ( Joseph  ).

Sharing life together, powerful and truthful preaching, abundant grace, and sacrificial giving—these were the marks of a spiritually revived church.

Surely, the Lord is alive among them.