1. “We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 5:29)

2. A Threat From Inside  God’s people submit to God’s Spirit with  Power  Proclamation  Property (see Deuteronomy 15:4)  A positive and a negative example  Barnabas  Ananias and Sapphira  Compare to Joshua 7: “In both narratives an act of deceit interrupts the victorious progress of the people of God” (F. F. Bruce)  Satan filled Ananias’ heart  Sapphira tested the Spirit

3. The Response  Great fear!  No one dared join them, but  more & more believed in the Lord & were added  The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people.

5. Increasing Opposition from Outside  The arrest  All the apostles imprisoned overnight  But an angel freed them & sent them to the temple  The arraignment  The confusion: Where are they?  The re-capture (with great care!)  The confrontation: Why didn’t you obey us?

6. The Sermon  We must obey God rather than man!  You killed Jesus  The God of our fathers raised and exalted him!  We and the Spirit are witnesses  Acts 1:8– “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…”  The Spirit is given to those who obey him!

7. The Response of the Sanhedrin  Anger!  Gamaliel gives prudent advice  If it is of human origin, it will fail  If it is from God…  Final response  Flogging  A second command to cease and desist

8. The Response of the Apostles  Rejoicing!  they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name!  “the honor of being dishonored, the grace to be disgraced” (J. A. Alexander)  They continued to witness to Jesus  Everyday  Everywhere (from temple courts & house to house)