Peter and the Apostles were Jailed and set Free by an Angel

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Acts 5:17-32

But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 20 “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” 21 Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought. 22 But the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back, 23 saying, “We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this. 25 But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” 26 Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

27 When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31 “He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Well, here we go again. The Apostles were just being obedient to God: preaching, and healing the sick, and casting out demons; and the high priest and his associates couldn’t stand it and were jealous of their power. So, they threw them in jail.

But during the night an angel set them free and told them to get busy preaching in the temple. The next day when the Jewish leaders found out what happened, they came and questioned them and asked them why they were continuing to preach about Jesus and to bring His blood down upon them.

Well, Peter saw his opportunity to preach to them saying, “We must obey God rather than men.” And they also preached the gospel to them and blamed them for His death. Oh, they were furious and intended to kill them. But a wise man named Gamaliel talked them out of it (verses 33-39).

So they flogged them, ordered them not to speak of Jesus any more, and let them go (v. 40). But, as you may guess, they kept on preaching in the temple and from house to house. And it seemed that they were even more energized to do it.

Great Fear came Over the Church

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Acts 5:12-16

At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. 14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number,  15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16 Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

After the death of Anania and Sapphira, great fear came over the church (v. 11). Then also, because of the great miraculous power of healings and casting out demons by the Apostles—especially by Peter—the people dared not associate with them.

This power was given to all that believed after the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. I would say that it was given to some more than others, according to their faith. It seemed to be especially given to Peter (v. 15). He, and I suppose some of the other Apostles, had the same healing power that Jesus had; for “they were all being healed” (Mk. 16:17-18; Lu. 24:49).

Peter Dealt with Hypocrisy in the Church

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Acts 5:1-11

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

As you may read from the text, a man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of their property; and they kept a portion of the price for themselves; and they gave the rest to the church (the Lord). Their sin was that they were declaring to the church that they gave all the money from the land to the church. Hence they were lying to the church—and the Lord. Yes, their sin was really to God; anytime we sin against anyone, we are sinning against God. And in a broader sense, their sin was of spiritual hypocrisy. They were faking their Christianity. They wanted so badly to be popular in the church so they lied about the full price of the land.

As for how Peter knew of their lie, there is no doubt that the Holy Spirit revealed it to him. And he did not hesitate to deal with it harshly and immediately. For just as Achon was caught in a lie and he and his entire family were stoned to death for it (Josh. 7:16-26), Peter knew that this sin of Ananias and Sapphira was of equal disgrace to God; particularly since the New Testament church was just starting, and it had to be built on a strong and holy foundation of truth—without hypocrisy.

Peter and John Obeyed God rather than Men

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Acts 4:13, 19-20

Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus…

19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 

This text, as you can see, comes directly after Peter’s reply to the Jewish leaders (verses 8-12). Their amazement was not so much that they were involved in a miraculous healing, but rather that they, being uneducated, could speak so well; and they recognized that they spoke with the same authority as Jesus; and thus, they perceived that it was because they spent so much time with Him. To this we also must be amazed and recognize that our best knowledge and learning will come by being around godly people—in addition to reading and memorizing Scripture.

In verses 14 through 18, we have what we may call a conundrum among the leaders. They didn’t know what to do with the evidence of the healing and all of what Peter and John said. But it was certain that they could not allow what had happened to continue.

Why? I suppose because they feared what would happen to their own ruling power. And certainly, Satan was controlling them. But Peter and John knew what to do. They knew that God was a greater authority. They must obey God rather than men; they must continue to speak all the words of God and to obey Him.

Peter and John Jailed for Preaching about Jesus

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Acts 4:5-12

On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7 When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead — by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 “He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.  12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Immediately after Peter (with John) gave his message to the people (Acts 3:11-26), priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came and put Peter and John in jail for preaching about Jesus (mainly for proclaiming His resurrection; for the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection).

On the next day (v. 5), they questioned Peter and John as to what gave them the authority to speak about Jesus the way they did. Well, I imagine that Peter immediately recognized his open door to preach to them. And Peter was indeed filled with the Spirit and held nothing back, He proclaimed Jesus as the healer of the sick man and as the chief cornerstone which they rejected. Then, to put a cap on it, Peter told them that they could be saved by no other name except by Jesus Christ. Peter certainly was filled with the Holy Spirit—which became evident by his great boldness.

Peter Takes an Opportunity to Preach

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Acts 3:11-26

While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. 12 But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13 “The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. 14 “But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. 16 “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17 “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. 18 “But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. 22 “Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. 23 ‘And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 “And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. 25 “It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’ 26 “For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

When the people saw how the man was healed and were amazed, Peter quickly shut it down, taking no credit for the healing; but he gave all the credit to Jesus—having faith in Him.

Then, starting in verse 17, Peter began a gospel presentation, declaring how Christ suffered as prophesied and how they must repent and return to God, that their sins would be forgiven. This is usually where we end our gospel presentation. But Peter when on in verses 19 through 21, to speak of the Millennial Kingdom, which Jesus will bring about; it will be times of refreshing and of the restoration of all things. Peter also spoke of Moses and Samuel and his successors that have announced the coming of Christ and the blessings He would bring.

So, we see that Peter is getting a great start in his ministry. He certainly is turning out to be a man of great faith, and a great preacher and teacher. And many are following him as they followed Jesus.

Peter and John Brought Healing to a Man

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Acts 3:1-10

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. 2 And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” 5 And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene — walk!” 7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8 With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10 and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Everything in this text is pretty straight forward. But I have to say with great amazement that Peter (with John) acted just like Jesus would have done. And his healing ability was very Christlike—nothing lacking.

Peter the Great Evangelist

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Acts 2:37-42

Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Here we have an immediate response by the people to Peter’s previous sermon—particularly when he said that they nailed Christ to the cross. They no doubt were convicted by the Holy Spirit who just came down to them.

When they asked Peter what to do, he said that they should repent and be baptized. And I take it that Peter did not separate repentance from baptism. He was not telling them to just be dunked under the water as an act of obedience; but to act out the meaning of baptism—that they would be buried and resurrected with Christ; hence, that they would be forgiven of their sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It may be that Peter explained to them more thoroughly what baptism means.

“The promise” (in verse 39) I think is both the receiving of the Holy Spirit and their salvation; for they could not be saved apart from the Holy Spirit.

The three thousand souls that were saved and added to the church is something hard to fathom. Where did they come from? Those in the upper room (120 persons) must have immediately gone out to evangelize others and then brought them together. How did it all happen so quickly? No doubt it was a revival that was spread quickly by the Holy Spirit as well as by all those who witnessed the Holy Spirit’s coming and Peter’s message.

Peter’s Upper Room Sermon

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 Acts 2:14-36

But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. 15 “For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; 16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says, ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; 18 EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT. And they shall prophesy. 19 ‘AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVEAND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE. 20 ‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESSAND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME. 21 ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’

22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know —  23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24 “But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. 25 “For David says of Him,

‘I SAW THE LORD ALWAYS IN MY PRESENCE; FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN. 26 ‘THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE; 27 BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES, NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY. 28 ‘YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE; YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE.’

29 “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 “And so, because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY. 32 “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. 34 “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:

‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD,”SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, 35 UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.”‘

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ — this Jesus whom you crucified.”

This is the second time that Peter stood up to preach to the people in the upper room. This time his sermon was much longer. First, as an introduction, Peter told the crowd that the people who spoke in other languages (v. 4) were not drunk as they thought. He explained that what was spoken (in other languages) was from the prophet Joel (in Joel 2:28-32).

These words (from verses 17 to 21) are prophetic (from Joel) for their present time, and also for the future: for the seven years of God’s judgment (the Tribulation), and then for the millennial kingdom.

Then in verse 22, Peter began preaching about Jesus; that He was crucified, but then raised up. Peter gave them a familiar quote from David (Ps. 16:10), and then went on to explain that it was not he (David) that was being spoken of, but his descendant Christ. He, not David, is now in heaven at God’s right hand.

Peter Directs the Disciples to Elect A Replacement for Judas

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Acts 1:12-16

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

15 At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said, 16 “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.

Sometime after Jesus performed the miracle of fish on the Sea of Galilee in front of the seven disciples, and after Jesus encouraged Peter to continue to follow Him in discipleship (Jn.  21:1-23), He gathered all eleven of His disciples together on the Mount of Olives where He spoke His last words to them and then ascended to heaven (Acts 1:4-9).

The disciples then, according to Jesus command, immediately went to Jerusalem (a Sabbath day’s journey) to the upper room, where they were staying. We don’t know what kind of arrangements they had made with the owner; whether they purchased the room, or were renting it, or he was just letting them stay there. But we know that they ate the last supper there; and it was also where Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection. Now they would stay there as a place of safety, and to wait and pray until the day of Pentecost (vv. 4-5).

It appears from the text that the upper room was rather large; for one hundred and twenty people were gathered there, waiting for the coming Holy Spirit.

As for Peter, he had apparently felt the strong call of God to lead this group of disciples. And here it seems that he was led by God to give his first sermon, mainly having to do with electing another man to replace Judas. And as it happened by lot, Matthias was the one who was divinely chosen (verse 26).