Common Men

Acts 4 and the Theme of Common Men

Months we have, when I've preached on Sunday night and some on Sunday morning, we have been going through the book of 2nd Timothy. Tonight we're gonna kind of when I say take a break, I don't preach all that often, but we are as far as me preaching gonna take a break from 2nd Timothy.

A while back, I can't even remember what it was that Pastor Quatro said, but he had me think, he said something in a sermon that made me think of this text, of our text tonight in Acts chapter 4. You can go ahead and turn there.

And ever since then, it's just, I've read it probably 15 -20 times since then, and tonight that is where we are going to take our text is from Acts chapter 4. I want to start, and I often do start with a quote, maybe I do that too often, but tonight I am going to start again once again with a quote, a quote that is often attributed to Abraham Lincoln that states, God must love the common man, he made so many of them.

I'm not here this evening to get you to ascribe to the theology of Abraham Lincoln or or even have you like the former US president, that's not my goal, but I do want us to think about that statement.

God must love the common man, he made so many of them. I want us to think, does God love the common man or woman? Does God make common men or women? Does God use the common man? Who is the common man?

Are there uncommon men or women? Hopefully these questions get your wheels turning before we examine our text tonight in Acts 4. I have a very simple message for you to not found in these verses, but to give you some background on where we find, how we find Peter and John in our text, is this was after in Acts chapter 1, Christ had ascended and then the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2 had come in its fullness.

Peter had already preached at Pentecost and 3 ,000 it says were saved and then the previous chapter before this one in Acts chapter 3, we find where Peter and John had healed a lame beggar who had been lame from birth and then after that Peter begins calling the people to repent and turn from their sins and that leads us to our text this evening in Acts chapter 4.

I'm going to read verses 1 through 22, if you'd please stand as we reverence the reading of God's Holy Word. Acts chapter 4 beginning in verse 1, and as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead and they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day for it was already evening, but many of those who had heard the word believed and the number of the men came to about 5 ,000.

On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander and all who were of the high priestly family and when they had set them in the midst they inquired by what power or by what name did you do this?

Then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them rulers of the people and elders if we are to being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man by what means this man has been healed let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified whom God raised from the dead by him this man is standing before you well.

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you the builders which has become the cornerstone and there is salvation in no one else for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated common men they were astonished and they recognized that they had been with Jesus but seeing the man who was healed standing beside them they said no they had nothing to say in opposition but when they had commanded them to leave the council they conferred with one another saying what shall we do with these men for that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and we cannot deny it but in order that it may spread no further among the people let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.

So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God you must judge.

For we cannot but speak what we have seen and heard. When they had further threatened them they let them go finding no way to punish them because of the people for all were praising God for what had happened for the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than 40 years old.

Peter, John, and the Boldness of the Gospel

Let us go to the prayer father God we thank you for this evening that we can come and gather here and worship as a body of believers. We thank you for this Lord's Day that has been set aside. Well we pray that everything we do would be glorifying to you with the prayer the time of prayer the singing of songs.

Lord as we come into the preaching of your word I pray that it be glorifying to you. Pray that I would preach your word rightly father God that I would be led by your spirit. I pray Lord that through this we would be through this sermon we might realize our need for Christ that in and of ourselves we are nothing that any of myself I'm nothing that I need Christ.

We need Christ father God. I pray for all those listening Lord that if nothing else that our our knowledge of our weakness our knowledge of Christ would Lord would strengthen would we would grow in that and that you would be glorified in Christ's name.

Amen. There is a lot in our text that we could spend a great deal of time on so much of that. What Peter says in verses 10 through 12 we're going to read that here in a second but also 19 and 20 when Peter and John answered them whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God you must judge.

For we cannot but speak what we have seen or heard. There's so much here that we don't have time to get into tonight. But we see in verse 3 of our text where Peter and John there they are arrested and they are examined something was going on.

And these priests the captain of the temple in the Sadducees they didn't like it. They didn't like what was going on at least from the numbers we have in Acts chapter 2 and here in Acts chapter 4 at least 8 ,000 followers or Christians had been added in a short period of time these had been added by the Holy Spirit working through Peter's proclamation of the gospel on two separate occasions and these leaders they sought to stop it or at least they wanted to contain this spread of the gospel this speaking in the name of Christ.

And in their examination they asked them a question. Look at verse 7. And when they had set them in the midst they inquired by what power or by what name did you do this. Peter responded. It says then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them rulers of the people and elders if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man and by what means this man has been healed.

Let it be known to all of you and all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified whom God raised from the dead by him this man is standing before you. Well this Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you the builders which has become the cornerstone.

And there is salvation in no one else. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Amen. Amen. Peter responded. And upon this response we have verse 13. And now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and were perceived and perceived that they were uneducated common men they were astonished and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

So upon this response there were a few observations that were made about Peter and John the first one being that they were bold. Now when they saw their boldness or saw the boldness of Peter and John they were astonished.

So the second they were astonished because when they perceived that they were uneducated so bold uneducated common me. And the last one and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. What do we make of these observations that these religious leaders made of Peter and John were they correct and what they perceived of these men.

As we examine this I want to look at Peter specifically. I want to examine Peter in this text. We're going to briefly want to look at how Peter got here. So a few observations from the about Peter from this text we've already named three or four bold uneducated common been with Jesus.

That was y 'all in verse 13. Very few look up at verse 8. Then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit. So observations of Peter filled with the Holy Spirit. Bold uneducated common in being with Jesus in verse 13 these high priests they saw their boldness and were astonished.

Why. Because they were uneducated and common men. That's where I want to start this evening that these people these high priests perceived that Peter and John were uneducated and common. Were these men right in their assessment of Peter and John.

Absolutely. They were right. They were right. Let's look at Peter. Was Peter just a common and uneducated man would understand that. What did they mean by common and uneducated. What they meant was there was nothing about Peter that made Peter stand out as being above anyone else.

There was nothing about Peter that would lead one to believe that he was smarter than the next guy. Peter was not a scholar. He was not a religious leader or teacher. He did not have formal training as other men these themselves had.

He had no religious credentials to be teaching and preaching in this way common here is synonymous with ordinary as in the LSB he was ordinary. He was a common fisherman. Luke chapter five highlights this.

I'm gonna read a few verses from Luke chapter 5. On one occasion while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the Word of God he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret and he saw two boats by the lake but the fishermen had gone out of them were washing their nets getting into one of the boats which was Simon's.

He asked him to put out a little from the land and he sat down and talked to people from the boat. And we had finished speaking. He said to Simon put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.

And Simon had answered master we toiled all night and took nothing but at your word I will let down the nets. And when they had done this they enclosed a large number of fish and their nets were breaking.

They signaled to their partners and the other boats to come and help and they came and filled both the boats and so that they began to seek. But when Simon Peter saw it he fell down at Jesus's knees saying depart from me from me for I am a sinful man O Lord.

For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had been taken. And so also were the James and John the sons of Zebedee who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon do not be afraid.

From now on you will be catching men. And when they had brought their boats to land they left everything and followed him. So in our examination of was Peter just a common man. I don't want you to take my word for it.

I want us to take the Word of God. And so we start with. He was a common man. He was a common fisherman and there's nothing at all wrong with being a fisherman. There's nothing wrong with making your living by fishing.

I wish I was good enough to make my living by fishing. It sounds like something I would like to try but I'm not good enough to make my living. But that is how Peter made his living. There's nothing wrong with that.

But there was nothing extraordinary about Peter. Peter was a man. He was right in his self-assessment. In verse 8 of in Luke he says not only a man he says but I am a sinful man. He was right. Peter had a reputation that we see throughout the Gospels of of being a hothead somewhat a loudmouth.

He often spoke before he thought he had several what we would call foot-and-mouth instances. And there are multiple instances of Peter showing his faults in his humanity. There's two in Matthew 26 alone.

Matthew 26 beginning verse 36. Then Jesus went with him to a place called Gethsemane and he said to his disciples sit here while I go over there and pray and take him with him. Peter and the two sons of Zebedee.

He began to be sorrowful and troubled and said to them my soul is very sorrowful even to death. Remain here and watch with me. And going a little farther he fell in his face and prayed saying my father if it be possible let this cup pass from me.

Nevertheless not as I will but as you will. And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter so could you not watch with me one hour. Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.

The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak. Later on in that chapter Jesus said to them friend this is when they were coming to to take Jesus friend do what you came to do. And they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.

And behold one of those who were with Jesus. We find in another gospel that this was Peter stretch out his hand drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Then Jesus said to him put your sword back into its place for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

Do you think that I cannot appeal to my father. And he wouldn't want send me more than 12 legions of angels. But how then should scriptures be fulfilled. That it must be so to further make our case that they were right in their assessment that Peter was a common man.

At times Peter thought he was uncommon. At times Peter thought he was extraordinary. I'll read two different accounts of the same instance. Matthew 26. Then Jesus said to them all will fall away because of me this night for it is written I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.

But after I am raised up I will go before you to Galilee. Peter answered him though all fall away because of you. I will never fall away. Jesus said to him truly I tell you this very night before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.

Peter said to him even if I must die with you I will not deny you. And all the disciples said the same. Another account of this in Luke 22. Simon Simon behold Satan demanded to have you that he might sift you as wheat.

But I've prayed for you that you may not fail. And when you have turned again strengthen your brothers. Peter said to him Lord I'm ready to go with you both to prison and to death. Jesus said I tell you Peter the rooster will not crow this day until you deny three times that you know me.

Peter who was so sure of himself that he argued with Jesus he argued with Christ that all-knowing all-seeing all-powerful son of the Living God God in the flesh. Peter argued with him. He said everyone else may reject you.

Everyone else every one of these other guys they may reject you but not me not the mighty Peter. I will not reject you. The problem is that Peter didn't realize just how weak he really was. Peter didn't understand that he was just a common man.

He would very soon however I've read a lot of my read one more and then we'll move on. Look 22. Peter didn't understand how weak he really was. But look chapter 22 later on after he had said I'll not deny you begin verse 54.

And they seized him and led him away bringing him into the high priest's house. And Peter was falling at a distance when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together. Peter sat down among them.

Then a servant girl seeing him as he said in the light looking closely at him said this man was also with him but he did not denied it saying woman I do not know him. And a little later someone else said to him you also are one of them.

But Peter said man I am NOT. And after an interval about of about an hour still another insisted saying certainly this man was with him for he too is a Galilean. But Peter said man I do not know what you're talking about.

And immediately while there was he was still speaking. The rooster crowed and the Lord turned and looked at Peter and Peter remembered the saying of the Lord how he had said to him before the rooster crows today you will deny me three times.

And he went out and wept bitterly. Here you have Peter who had not long before argued with Christ that he would never deny him. I will never deny you. I'll never turn away. Everyone else might but not Peter.

I would never. Peter being filled with pride had made a guarantee that he couldn't he couldn't see through. And we're quick. We're very quick to bash Peter for this and he was wrong and he was sinful.

And we should recognize it. But we should also be humbled by. For we all too often find ourselves in the same situation as Peter believing in our own strength that our own strength our own status our own power that we think that we have will see us through thinking that we have something to boast about listening to the lies of our godless culture and believing that we are somebody that we are not common or we are not ordinary not trusting in what God has written about us.

We like Peter will say no Christ. I would never. All the world might do that. But I would never. I am strong enough I can resist. I have the power not to fail. That is us all too often and all too often friends.

We think too highly of ourselves. We think too highly of ourselves. As pastor culture has noted many times the lie our society is spreading to us and our children is how wonderful and how strong that we are in and of ourselves.

You hear things like find your inner strength trust in yourselves. Friends do not believe these destructive lies. They are destructive lies for that is what they are. These lies have created a society where people have been told so often how great they are.

And when they fail and they will fail they crumble and lose all hope. For they have placed their hope in a flawed being. They have placed their hope in themselves. Peter was made to see how common and weak that he really is.

We must see the same in ourselves. This instance of this is a very familiar instance. We've talked about it many times. We covered it recently in family worship. This instance of denying Christ we talked about it actually this week as we're going through John it had to have been the lowest one of the lowest and weakest points of Peter's life.

He had denied his master after arguing that he never would. This was a low point but I would argue that this was one of the greatest points of Peter's life. You may wonder how could you say that at this moment Peter was made to see just how common that he really was just how ordinary just how weak that he was.

And by the grace of God in the life of Peter he was being refined. Peter writes of refinement in the life of the Christian. 1st Peter chapter 1 verse 6. He says in this. You rejoice though now for a little while if necessary you've been grieved by various trials so that the tested genuineness of your faith more precious than gold that perishes though is it tested by fire may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Not only was Peter made to realize how weak that he was he realized how much he needed Christ. The low points in the times in our life we are at our lowest. Where we have failed those are not meaningless.

Those are not meaningless. As hard as these times may be. Even in times when we have failed miserably God will often in the lives of believers use these times. Through these times a refining takes place in the life of the believer.

And there are many ways that in which in Scripture that God uses our failures. I want to look at four four actions that God brings about when we fail due to our being common and weak. And we'll we will go back to our text.

I promise number one is he through our failures and through our shortcomings he makes us to realize just how common and just how weak that we really are. One of the passages where Paul addresses weakness in 1st Corinthians 2 says.

And I when I came to you brothers did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling.

And my speech and my message were not implausible words of wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power so that your faith may not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. God understands our weakness better than we do.

Christ knew Peter would fail. He predicted it. He knew that Peter's flesh was weak in the garden when he couldn't stay awake. He knows us better than we do. He knows we are weak and he knows that we will fail.

And oftentimes he uses our failures to make that weakness even more clear to us. We are weak we are wretched. We have no righteousness in and of ourselves. And because of that we are not only made to see our weakness but we are made to realize.

Strength comes from God alone through Christ alone. Paul in another passage on his weakness rights. But he said to me my grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect and weakness. Therefore I will boast all more gladly in my weaknesses that so that the power of Christ may rest upon me for the sake of Christ.

Then I'm content with weakness insult hardships persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak then I'm strong. We need to understand that what Paul is boasting about here is not sin. Rather Paul is saying that even in his weakness even in times when he does fail but even in times when he is insulted even in times when he well when he faces hard times when he is persecuted he understands that in the face of all these things he is weak.

He can do nothing but that God works through these things for his own glory. His weaknesses are an opportunity for Christ to show his power. He can boast in that. Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians that we read a minute ago 1st Corinthians 2 5.

So that your faith may not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. The gospel in our text was being proclaimed by common and unlearned men. Boldly calling others to repent. Boldly he says. He tells him he says.

Let it be known to all of you and all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you who God raised from the dead by him this man is standing before you. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you the builders which has become the cornerstone and there is no salvation.

He tells him he's rejected by you the builders which has become the cornerstone and there is salvation and no one else. For there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

And when they were oppressed to be quiet be quiet just quit talking about him. How did they respond. Verse 19. Whether it is right in the sight of you of God to listen to you rather than to God. You must judge.

For we cannot speak. For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard. How could these men who were proclaiming the gospel. These men that were common and unlearned. How could they boldly proclaim the gospel.

How could they boldly in chapter 3 call others to repent. They asked them in verse 7 of our text. By what power or by what name did you do this. What does he say. What power. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

That power by the name and the power of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Well more on that in a few minutes our being common and our being weak. And by God's grace and spirit being made to see our weakness and made to see that our power comes from Christ.

We are driven to seek God. Proverbs 8 17. I love those who love me. And those who seek me diligently will find me. Earlier on in Acts chapter 1 Christ he had ascended. What did the disciples do when Christ had ascended.

He had ascended. The son of God who had walked with them who had taught them their master their teacher had now ascended back to heaven. What did they do. Acts 114. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and his brother.

They sought God. God had just descended. What were they doing. They were seeking God as weak God reliant creatures. We must seek God. We must seek him through his word. God has written a word to his people.

The believer needs the Word of God. We need the Word of God. It is a sword for the weak and the defenseless. A lamp unto the feet of those who have a tendency to stray. We need the word and we seek God through his word.

We seek him through prayer. Through our weak words to an almighty God. We humbly bow before him. And our seeking God. It drives away our pride through our seeking of God through him showing us how weak we are showing us our need for him and through our being driven to seek him.

He humbles us. He humbles us by his grace. We realize we are made to realize that we are weak and have no power outside of Christ. We must seek the Lord. We must humble ourselves seek the Lord tonight.

Christian humble yourself be used by God. Peter was being used by God. Acts 2 14. Pete and Peter. But Peter standing with the eleven lifted up his voice and addressed them. Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem.

Let this be known to you and give ear to my words. He was rat loudly proclaiming he would go on to proclaim the gospel even though he was weak. He proclaimed the gospel. God has a habit of using only only using weak people to accomplish his will.

That's outside of Christ. Of course he was God in the flesh. God wants to use weak people. Charles Spurgeon once said in a sermon God does not need your strength. He has more than enough power of his own.

He asked your weakness. He has none of that himself and he is longing therefore to take your weakness and use it as an instrument in his own mighty hand. Will you not yield your weakness to him and receive his strength.

God uses common men and women. There aren't any other kind. Jesus wanted to use Peter. We find in our text where where he was using Peter. We also find in John 21 where when they had finished breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter Simon son of John do you love me more than these.

And he said to him yes Lord you know I love you. And he said to him feed my lambs. He said to him a second time Simon son of John do you love me. He said to him yes Lord you know that I love you. And he said to him tend my sheep.

And he said to him the third time Simon son of John do you love me. And Peter was grieved because he had said to him a third time do you love me. And Jesus said to him Lord you know everything you know that I love you.

And Jesus said to him feed my sheep. Truly truly I say to you when you were young you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted. But when you were old you will stretch out your hands and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.

And he said to show he this. He said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God. And after saying this he said to him follow me. These are very very significant things. Right there in John verse 15 Simon son of John do you love me more than these.

Just before this text we find where the disciples Peter said I'm going fishing. And the disciples they went and they go fishing feeling hopeless. And then Christ he appears on the shoreline. And once John realized that it was it was the Lord.

What it. What did Peter do. What did he do. He jumped in the water and he swam to Jesus. He couldn't wait until the boat got to the shore. And now Jesus is asking Peter if Peter loves him Jesus more than the other disciples love him love Jesus.

He asked him he said you love me more than they do. It's a reminder back to Peter's claim that even if all turned away from Christ he would never. And then he presses Peter further. He asked him the question.

Asked him three times and I don't know if in the text many will argue here. He addressed him three times because he denied him three times. I can't say that. Definitely. But he reminded him three times that Peter was grieved.

Christ was asking. He was reminding him of his weakness. Why would Christ remind him of this. Because he had a job for Peter. He was going to use Peter. What was his job for Peter from that text. To feed his sheep.

To do what we find him doing in Acts chapter 4 to boldly spread the gospel to the world. And through that Christ would call his sheep. Peter was about to have a part in establishing Christ's Church where he would feed Christ's sheep.

He would feed his bride. He would feed the church. He didn't need Peter relying on Peter or Peter doing it Peter's way he would. That would lead to a lot of trouble. Peter needed to know that he was weak and in need of Christ.

He said follow me not follow after your own power. Peter follow me listen to me learn from me do what I've commanded. Going back to our text says that they perceived that they were uneducated and common men and they were right in that assessment.

They also said that these men were bold. It said now they saw their boldness. They were also right in that assessment. How can that be. How can these men. How can Peter who is uneducated common and weak be bold.

Well because of the two other two observations made in our text. Because what did they say. They had recognized that they had been with Jesus. How were these weak men able to proclaim the gospel boldly.

Because they had been with Jesus. They had been taught by Christ. They were following Christ. In verse 8 they were filled and led by the Holy Spirit of God. Our failures serve as a reminder to us of our weakness a reminder of us to us to not rely on ourselves or to do it our way.

They are a reminder to follow Christ that we can be bold because we have been with him. Christ is our only hope. We have no hope in our might. We have nothing to boast. Whereas we are common Christ is uncommon.

Whereas we are ordinary Christ is extraordinary. We have been filled with the Holy Spirit of God. We have communion with God in spite of our weakness. We can read his word. We can go to him in prayer.

And God says he will build up the weak. Isaiah 40 29. He gives power to the faint into him that has no might. He increases strength. Even you shall feign and be weary. And the young men shall fall exhausted.

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength and they shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not weary be weary. They shall walk and not faint. God will build up the weak.

God will work through the weak. Paul writes for he was crew in 2nd Corinthians 13. For he was crucified in weakness but lives by the power of God for all. We also are weak in him. But in dealing with you we live with him by the power of God.

Peter was not perfect from that point on and I know we can get a little crazy with Bible comparisons. You're not Peter. You're not an apostle. But you do share something with Peter and that is his humanity his sin his weakness his being common.

Peter still sinned and was called out for it. Paul calls Peter out for it. But he had a boldness that he didn't have before and that came from Christ. Listen to the end of their political go down. And in Acts chapter 4 go down to verse 29.

Listen to the end of their prayer here in Acts 4. And I'm gonna leave you with this. Acts 4 29. And now Lord look upon their threats and grant your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness while you stretch out your hand to heal.