Bill Acton :: Acts 5 - The Witness Before the Jewish Council

Sermon Outline for Acts 5

The Witness Before the Jewish Council

1. The Occasion of the Witness
   1. The Apostles imprisoned
   2. The Lord sets them free
   3. The Angel charges them to teach the people
   4. The Apostles obey the Lord
   5. The Jewish leaders apprehend them again – Act 5:20-27
2. The Content of the Witness
   1. The charge – Act 5:28
      1. You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching
      2. You are accusing us
      3. You have disobeyed our command
   2. The reply – Act 5:29
   3. The message
      1. Loyalty to the Lord
      2. Loyalty to the facts of the Gospel
         1. He maintained the death and resurrection of Christ – Act 5:30
         2. He maintained the lordship of Christ – Act 5:31
            1. He is a Prince
               1. To be honored and obeyed
               2. He has power and dominion
            2. He is a Saviour
               1. He has accomplished the saving work
               2. He is approachable
            3. Approach Him as a Prince
               1. With a confession of sin (past rebellion)
               2. Accept His great purpose
                  1. To love God
                  2. To be like God
               3. Submit to His rule
               4. Surrender everything to Him
                  1. You are not your own
                  2. You belong to Him
               5. Give Him your loving loyalty
            4. Approach Him as a Saviour
               1. Confess your need of a Saviour
               2. Believe that He is able to save you
               3. Submit yourself entirely to His salvation
            5. Receive His gifts
               1. Repentance
                  1. Change of mind
                  2. Change of living
               2. Forgiveness
                  1. As though your sin had never been
                  2. Eternal removal of the penalty
               3. Ask Him for them
                  1. Humbly
                  2. Believingly
         3. He maintains the redemptive work of Christ – Act 5:31
      3. Loyalty to the Holy Spirit – Act 5:32
3. The Result of the Witness – Act 5:33-42
   1. On the Council – Act 5:33
      1. They were “cut to the heart”
      2. The convicting work of the Holy Spirit
      3. Thrown into an uncontrollable rage with intent to kill
      4. They hated the truth – Eph 6:12
   2. On Gamaliel – Act 5:34-39
      1. An appeal to common sense
      2. An appeal to the sovereignty of God
   3. On the Disciples – Act 5:40-42
      1. Suffering - “They beat them”
      2. Joy – Act 5:41
         1. They were rejoicing
         2. Suffering in His name is a privilege – Mat 5:11
      3. Continuing witness – Act 5:42
         1. When? Every day
         2. Where? Temple and home
         3. How? They ceased not
         4. What? To teach and preach Jesus as the Christ