No Other Authority

Saturday, September 5, 2015
Act 4:13-22 NIV

13 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. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name." 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." 21 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. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) After the lame man at the gate Beautiful was miraculously healed, the Sanhedrin questionned the apostles and asked who gave them authority to heal the man. Peter boldly confessed that the man was healed in the name of Jesus Christ. What astonished the religious leaders? (v.13)
2) What did the Sanhedrin do next? Why? (v.14-17)
3) What did the Sanhedrin command  the apostles to refrain from doing and how did the apostles respond? (v.18-20)
4) What did the Sanhedrin finally do to the Apostles John and Peter? Why? (v.21-22)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) Have you ever witnessed a miracle in your life, ministry, and/or local church? If so, please briefly describe one such time.
6) What, if anything, did the "religious" people say about the miracle?

LIFE LESSONS
7) The Lord still does the miraculous among those who truly believe that He is able.