Why Preach Christ? (Acts 4:1-22)
Introduction: The Great Reversal
The book of Acts shows us that God has a sense of humor. There are parts when you laugh, and then you weep at the same time. Here we find Peter and John. These are blue-collar fishermen with no formal rabbinic training. They are not trained in rhetoric or any fancy talk. They are called to stand before the rulers, or Israel’s ruling council. These are men who know how to mend nets, not argue fine points of Torah. And yet the God who chose a stuttering shepherd to confront Pharaoh now places these ordinary men before the extraordinary powers of Jerusalem.
The religious elite thought they had solved their Jesus problem by crucifying him. "Sacrifice the one, save the nation," Caiaphas had calculated. But now that "one" has risen, and his followers are standing in Solomon's Portico proclaiming Christ and healing people, they have to see that their plan failed. Luke reports that five thousand converts were saved that day. The Sanhedrin had a plan, but their plan did not rule the universe.
The Arrest (When the Gospel Offends Everyone)
The gospel is an equal opportunity offender. The Sadducees we could label as the religious liberals who denied the supernatural. They are offended because Peter proclaims resurrection.
The Pharisees, whom we could classify as the religious conservatives obsessed with purity, are offended because this crucified criminal is being declared the Messiah.
The gospel cuts across our categories. It challenges the conservative tendency to control God's work ("He must operate within our parameters") and the liberal tendency to domesticate God's work ("Surely he doesn't actually intervene in history").
But notice the apostles' posture. Their goal is not to offend both sides. They're simply asking: "How do we glorify Christ?" When your gaze is fixed on Jesus, you become simultaneously more courageous and more humble. You speak clearly without being condescending, boldly without being arrogant. The preaching of the Gospel is a key that truly opens and closes the kingdom of God by God’s power.
The Defense (The Spirit's Apologetic)
Peter opens his mouth, and something unexpected happens. This is the same Peter who choked in a servant girl's presence, and who denied Christ three times. In fact, Peter opened his mouth once, and Christ said, “Get behind me, Satan.” Peter is the last man you want holding the microphone when you are under pressure.
But now, "filled with the Holy Spirit," he delivers a masterful defense that shocks the Jewish council.
He doesn't hide behind theological nuances. He names "Jesus of Nazareth” as the messiah. Yes, the town of Nazareth is a humble town. The leaders do not see this as symbolizing Christ’s humility, but as a way to discredit Christ’s messianic credentials. After all, nothing good comes from Nazareth. (John 1:46)
Peter identifies Jesus of Nazareth, but also accuses the leaders when he exclaims, "You crucified him." But he doesn't stop there. He proclaims the great reversal: God raised him. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. The new Christian temple is built around and in Christ.
This is the heart of Christian apologetics. It's about Spirit-empowered testimony to the person of Christ, "Apart from him, there is no salvation.” Jesus alone has defeated death. He alone can make the broken whole. He alone is the great healer.
The Dilemma (When Evidence Isn't Enough)
The Sanhedrin's response is almost tragically comical. They can't deny the miracle that has transpired. The crippled man is standing right there, "holding fast to Peter and John." Five thousand new believers aren't exactly subtle. So what do they do? They try to suppress the message. "Stop speaking in this name."
Notice the logic: they assume the gospel's power depends on its messengers. Silence the apostles, and the movement dies. They fail to see that the message itself has power. Christ works through his message. They fail to see that what they sought to destroy God raised. We might think that Christ has abandoned his people. However, this is the living Christ, reigning from heaven, building his church through his Spirit. Clearly, Christ’s promise in Luke 21:15 is confirmed, “I will give you a mouth and wisdom.”
Peter's response is both respectful and unmovable: "We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." The apostles will not and cannot deny who sent them. The gospel spreads not through political maneuvering but through ordinary people who have encountered the extraordinary grace of Jesus. The leaders should take on the yoke of Christ.
Conclusion: Who Do You Say That He Is?
The narrative leaves us with the same question Jesus once asked his disciples: "Who do you say that I am?" The crippled beggar wasn't merely healed, but he was "saved.” He was made whole, completed in Christ. This is the offer: not just a better life, but a new life.
The religious leaders saw Jesus as a problem to be managed. The apostles saw him as the Savior to be proclaimed and embraced. We are called to clearly see Christ and take his yoke upon us. Do you see him as your Lord? The same power that made the lame man walk is the same power to give us true life and communion with God. Take hold of Christ. Find your wholeness in him.