P.AllanWant to know why “the One enthroned in heaven laughs” at rulers who gather against him (Psalm 2:4)?  Look no further than this “interruption malfunction.”

Sermon Interrupted.

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.  They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.  They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.  But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand (Acts 4:1-4).

The healing of a cripple (https://theoldpreacher.com/god-has-glorified-his-servant-jesus/had drawn a few thousand astonished spectators.  Peter and John are telling how God’s glorified servant Jesus had worked that miracle.  A commotion grows as a troop of Jewish authorities come stomping through the crowd.

They’re outraged that “the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.”  Getting Jesus crucified hadn’t made his name go away!  They throw Peter and John in the Jerusalem jail overnight.  Even so, about 2,000 men believe.  (Hear the Lord laughing?)

Court Crippled.

By the end of this next scene, it’s apparent that the powerful Jewish Court has been crippled by two “unschooled, ordinary” prisoners.

The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.  Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family.  They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!  If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed,  then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.   He is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”   (Acts 4:5-12).

Luke’s list of Court members indicates that this is the same body that less than two months ago decided Jesus deserved death.  From the start the Court has a big problem on its hands:  clearly a miracle had been performed (“By what power or what name did you do this?”  ” . . . since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them . . ., “) 

How is this common fisherman able to answer so boldly and wisely?  Peter was “filled with the Spirit.”  (Someone has suggested that The Acts of the Apostles should be called The Acts of the Holy Spirit!)

Peter says, “Are you kidding me?  Are you putting us on trial ‘for an act of kindness shown to the cripple”?  Here’s how it was done, he says.  “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.” 

Luke begins Acts with these words:  “In the first book (the Gospel According to Luke), O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach . . . ” (1:1).  Implication:  in Acts Jesus continues to do and teach.  This is what Peter proclaims.  ” . . . Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead [did this]!”  . . . ”   In other words, “Jesus is alive!  And he healed this cripple when we called on his name!”

Peter’s defense turns prosecution.  He  quotes Psalm 188:22 and declares Jesus is the stone they rejected.  Jesus  is the cornerstone of the new “temple” God is building.  Jesus is the only name by whom salvation can be found.  It’s a powerful testimony that leaves the Court with its collective mouth hanging open and silent.

 Apostles Win.

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.  But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.   So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.  “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it.  But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”  Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.  For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”  After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.  For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old (Acts 4:13-26).

The Jerusalem jail, even for one night, was no luxury resort.  Knowing what this Court did to Jesus must have frightened the two apostles.  But above it all the Lord must have been laughing at the persecutors.   What can they do?  They can’t deny the miracle; everybody’s seen it.  But they can’t let this insidious conduct continue.  But when they command them to stop preaching in Jesus’ name, the two refuse to obey; they must obey God and tell what they’ve seen and heard.  The Court’s clout is reduced to threats.

Meanwhile the people are praising God for the miracle they’ve seen.  And the Lord, I’m sure, is laughing.

Laughing Lord,
as the psalmist wrote, You have set your Anointed King on Your holy hill.
Rebellion against You and resistance to You are equally futile.
This “Interruption Malfunction” is only
one proof.
As it encouraged the early church, may it encourage
all Your people who are being opposed because they are Yours.
I pray especially for Your people facing abuse and persecution today.
Protect them, fill them with the Holy Spirit,
empower them to uphold Your name against those who hate it.
May they know—may we
all know—
that You lough mockingly at Your puny opposition.
And may Your hurting people be convinced
that even if they can’t laugh now
that in the end they—
and we—
will all laugh together with You forever.
In the name of the risen Lord of lords.  Amen.