Monday Devo
Scripture:
Luke 4:1-3
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. 2 These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. 3 They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning.
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. 2 These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. 3 They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning.
Commentary:
4:1 The captain of the temple was second in rank to the high priest. The Sadducees may have accepted only the Pentateuch as Scripture; they also denied the resurrection (see 23:8), and represented the privileged aristocracy who worked closely with the Romans to protect their own political and economic interests. (See Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 13.297; 18.17–18; see also Jewish Groups at the Time of the New Testament.)
4:2 Though the Sadducees did not themselves believe in a resurrection, most other Jews did, including the Pharisees (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 18.14). The Sadducees were upset with Peter’s preaching that in Jesus the general resurrection had begun, a message with definite messianic implications that was liable to be viewed by the Romans as revolutionary.
4:3 The Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin, met in the mornings. Since it was evening, the two apostles were placed in detention for the night.
4:2 Though the Sadducees did not themselves believe in a resurrection, most other Jews did, including the Pharisees (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 18.14). The Sadducees were upset with Peter’s preaching that in Jesus the general resurrection had begun, a message with definite messianic implications that was liable to be viewed by the Romans as revolutionary.
4:3 The Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin, met in the mornings. Since it was evening, the two apostles were placed in detention for the night.
Questions:
- In Acts 4, we see Peter and John getting in a little hot water for healing the paralyzed man. They are confronted by some of the religious leaders. Verse 2 says that they were "very disturbed" by the apostles' message. That's just what the Gospel does, isn't it? It's the great stumbling block, and when we came to faith with Jesus, we all had to wrestle with it. It's no small thing to have to be faced with the fact that we are sinful and in need of a Savior. Can you remember when you were first disturbed by the message of the Gospel? What was it like to realize that faith in Jesus was the only way?
- Peter and John were making waves because they were actively talking about Jesus, preaching everywhere they went. They weren't just part of the crowd. This is a great example for our own lives. Are we more part of the crowd? Or do we stand out because of our love and passion for Jesus? What do you need to change in order to be known for this?
Prayer Topics:
- That you would spend your life for the Gospel.
- That you would stand out from the crowd.
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