00:20my brothers and sisters we were having
00:22the bible study on the acts of the
00:26and today let us continue this bible
00:28study today we are going to reflect on
00:31the acts of the apostles chapter 4 verse
00:341 onwards let us read this bible passage
00:38the explanations about these bible
00:42we know the background
00:45peter healed a crippled
00:49and then as a result there was a
00:50reaction from the people the authorities
00:53and then peter had to give a long sermon
00:57as a result of the long sermon there was
00:59lots of people got converted and also
01:05now they are entering into the
01:07seriousness of the complications they
01:10started facing objections from all the
01:14initially when they started this
01:15ministry they didn't have much
01:17objections because the leaders thought
01:20once the leader is killed this group
01:25the pharisees sadhus is the high priest
01:28and everyone thought jesus is killed in
01:31so therefore his disciples are not going
01:33to flourish because they after all
01:35they're all illiterate people they're
01:37all fishermen they can't do much
01:39therefore this group will slowly die
01:42that was the impression of the leaders
01:44therefore they didn't bother about doing
01:46anything against these early disciples
01:50even after the pentecost experience
01:52everyone kept quiet they didn't react
01:55but this miracle which they did in the
02:01crippled sitting at the beautiful gate
02:04every day and everybody had seen him who
02:08now in front of everyone he is standing
02:11and walking normally and this has shaken
02:14the faith of everyone and the whole
02:17jerusalem came to know about this
02:19incident even the leaders came to know
02:21and people started flocking after peter
02:23and john they started believing in the
02:26power of the peter and john and whatever
02:28that they preached they believed and
02:30that made the leaders
02:32shaken they started reacting
02:36let us read how did they react
02:38while peter and john were speaking to
02:44the captain of the temple
02:47and the sadducees came to them
02:52the captain of the temple came the
02:55sadducees came so the priest means
02:57the priests who are in charge who are
03:01doing the ministry in the temple the
03:07run doing the ministry there in each day
03:10for the temple services
03:15these miracles are happening in the
03:18and all these people are believing in
03:20peter and john and they are preaching in
03:22the temple therefore priests were
03:26the second one captain of the temple
03:28there is a position called captain of
03:31the temple he is the second in command
03:33after the high priest high priest is the
03:36uh the supreme authority of the temple
03:38high priest after the high priest there
03:42captain of the temple his the hebrew
03:48i had spoken about this
03:50title and this person some time back in
03:53one of the talks so the captain of the
03:56temple or the sagan hakanaya
03:58is the one who is in charge of he is the
04:02bridge between rome and jewish people
04:05he is a jewish man but he is well
04:07connected to roman empire he is
04:10representing jewish people as well as
04:12the roman empire he has the secular
04:15power and spiritual power he is the
04:17second in command of the temple
04:20after the high priest he has an
04:22army under him there are soldiers under
04:25him he can command the soldiers will
04:28obey he's the second in command he's a
04:31very important person captain of the
04:33temple now why is he coming together
04:35because now there is a lot of confusion
04:38is taking place in the temple people are
04:40all after peter and john they want to
04:44and the peter and john are preaching the
04:46gospel which is just contrary to and
04:49which is disturbing the priest and the
04:51levites and sadducees and everyone
04:54therefore there will be a disorder in
04:56the temple in order to bring the order
04:58the captain of the temple is also
05:00summoned he also came to
05:05and the third group is the sadhuses
05:11very important group of people
05:16rationalist there are you know there are
05:20groups in the jewish religion
05:26so i will just short explanation about
05:31pharisees are strict followers of law
05:35they strictly follow the law very
05:38extremely strictly follow the rule the
05:48rational they don't follow everything
05:53but they don't believe in the
05:55angels saints after life
05:58miracles all these things they don't
06:00believe they believe in yahweh they
06:02believe in god they believe in the
06:04scripture but they don't believe
06:06anything that is not reasonable
06:08they don't believe in the angels they
06:10don't believe that there is a life after
06:12death they don't believe in the miracles
06:14they don't believe in the supernatural
06:17so these this is a very elite group very
06:21and aristocratic families
06:24and they have lots of wealth and very
06:28and is a small group of people sadhuses
06:31the pharisees are strictly follow
06:34the laws they believing in the angels
06:37miracles wonders after life everything
06:42the scribes are the people who are
06:45writing the law i mean the scripture
06:48they they know they are expert in the
06:52if if anybody has got a doubt in the
06:54scripture they go to scribes
06:57if they if anyone has got a doubt in the
07:00law they go to pharisees
07:03and this is how they they followed so
07:06the scribes are the people who are very
07:08expert in the scripture they know the
07:11torah very well by heart
07:13and they even write down the handwritten
07:16and the torah and they
07:18share it and keep it safe so this is
07:23now the pharisees doesn't seem to be
07:27john and peter only the sadhu seas are
07:30interested they are very much disturbed
07:33and they came forward
07:34the priests were disturbed because these
07:36things are happening in the temple
07:38captain of the temple is disturbed
07:40because it is going to bring disorder in
07:42the temple and there will be commotion
07:44and maybe even right therefore he want
07:46to take control so that is captain so
07:49the sadhu sees came the reason why they
07:54peter and john is preaching about the
07:58they are preaching about jesus is alive
08:01there is life after death
08:03sadhusi's don't believe in this
08:05and now they are proclaiming with
08:08conviction and with example miracles
08:11therefore sadhuses were very disturbed
08:14and they were so disturbed they want to
08:16stop this movement at the earliest
08:19otherwise these will increase and their
08:22existence will be at stake
08:24one reason and second reason is they are
08:27well connected to romans
08:29romans are very normally they are very
08:31generous to the jewish people but they
08:33will never tolerate any
08:36any kind of violence and right if there
08:39is any objection there is that division
08:42then the romans will come and destroy
08:44everything they can't tolerate they
08:47normally they keep quiet but if there is
08:49any division or any kind of riot or
08:51violence any disorder the romans will
08:54come and destroy everything
08:56and then that is why that sadhus is new
09:00if this group flourished
09:02then there will be big problem between
09:04jewish people and these christians
09:08such things happens then the roman
09:11empire roman army will come and destroy
09:14and the big loss will be for the sadhus
09:17because they are the richest people
09:19most of the wealth belong to them
09:21therefore they didn't want to lose their
09:24they didn't want to disturb the roman
09:26therefore they wanted to get rid of this
09:29movement this new christian movement
09:32completely that is why they also came
09:34together i hope you understood the
09:37background why these people are so
09:41so now let's read much annoyed because
09:44they were teaching the people and
09:46proclaiming that jesus
09:48in jesus there is the resurrection of
09:50the dead that is why sadhu says were
09:53the sadhusi could not accept this
09:55because they spoke against the
09:57resurrection now there is a proof in
09:59front of them jesus is resurrected this
10:02miracle that happened is a sign that
10:06but still sadhusi's were not ready to
10:09believe because they have hidden agenda
10:13they have something to hold back
10:16today even today even though the truth
10:18is preached many people cannot accept it
10:21because they don't want to let go of
10:24there are people they don't want to
10:26leave many things you know when we
10:28preach the word of god when you listen
10:30to the retreat when you listen to
10:32certain talks you know this is evil this
10:34is wrong this is right this is not
10:36correct but we are not ready to follow
10:39it though we know this is we understand
10:42the truth but we don't want to change
10:44why because we are afraid to let go we
10:47don't want to lose something we don't
10:49want to give up some bad habits we don't
10:51want to give us some pleasure therefore
10:54we tolerate we compromise
10:56we hear the sadhuzis they came to know
10:59the peter and john they are ordinary
11:01fishermen and they are preaching the
11:03gospel so powerfully
11:08able to perform miracle
11:11and it is a clear sign jesus is alive
11:16don't want to accept it because if they
11:19accept they will have to lose many
11:22they will lose their property they will
11:24lose a lot of problem and the romans
11:27will be against them therefore they
11:29close the eyes to the truth
11:32there are so many people even today
11:34though they know the truth they close
11:36the eyes towards the truth because they
11:39don't want to let go of many things they
11:42don't want to sacrifice many of their
11:45they want to hold on to it therefore
11:48they pretend us if they have not seen
11:55so they arrested them so what did they
11:58these captain of the temple he has army
12:01under him so he arrested them
12:04and put them in custody until the next
12:06day for it was already evening because
12:09they arrested in such a way that they
12:14so they are arrested you know they the
12:17temple authorities even sadhuses and
12:19pharisees and high priest they have an
12:22army under them they also have army the
12:25romans have given some army under them
12:28the priest the high priest had some army
12:32the romans are the one who are
12:33controlling the whole palestine but
12:35still they are the high priest has got
12:37some army you know why did roman
12:39government do this because romans wanted
12:42to please the jewish people
12:46the high priest and the sadhus and
12:49captain of the temple had the authority
12:51to catch anyone and put them behind the
12:55they had the authority they had army but
12:58one can one problem they cannot put
13:03to put anyone to death they need the
13:06otherwise to put behind the bus they can
13:10to kill somebody they need the
13:11permission that is why
13:13the rom the pharisees and sadhuses could
13:19they had to go through all the process
13:22lies and wrong witnesses fake witnesses
13:27convince pilate pilot is a roman army
13:30leader roman governor so he has to
13:33decide only he can give the authority
13:35because he is the roman government
13:38therefore only he can kill somebody
13:41permit someone to kill so that is the
13:44only difference otherwise the priest the
13:46high priest and the hebrew jewish people
13:49had the army to keep someone in the
13:53it was poor we really like this but many
13:56of those who heard the word
13:59so though jesus the peter and john were
14:03many of those who heard the word
14:07and they numbered about 5 000 people
14:11now the number of early christians
14:13increased initially it was only 120
14:16then 3000 people were added and 300 3120
14:21and now the number increased to
14:29but it's not a easy and fast growing but
14:32it's a small growing it's not just
14:34fourth chapter doesn't mean the fourth
14:36day it can be so many months and days so
14:40therefore it took a lot of time but
14:42still five thousand people were gathered
14:46and they became christians was five
14:49the next day they are rulers now earlier
14:52we saw three people the priest
14:54the captain of the temple the sadhusi's
14:57now rulers elders scribes
15:01assembled in jerusalem
15:09there is a group of people called
15:15sanhedrin there is who is sandra
15:17sanhedrin sanhedrin means a group of
15:23is like a court sanhedrin means supreme
15:27there is a high sanhedrin and lesser tax
15:30on her dream two types of court order
15:34caught you know we are all have caught
15:36in our countries high court supreme
15:40so there are different chords the
15:42highest court is supreme court
15:45and then lower courts are there
15:47the same way the highest sanhedrin high
15:50sign sanhedrin and lesser
15:56is like a local court
15:58in the local cities some people around
16:0128 people or somebody come together so
16:04these are called sanhedrin lesses sun
16:07red dream but the supreme court high
16:14plus the high priest 71 people
16:18so where does it come from
16:20this idea comes from the numbers chapter
16:28so the lord said to moses gather for me
16:3170 of the elders of israel whom you know
16:34to be the elders of the people and
16:36officers over them bring them to the
16:39tent of meeting and have them make their
16:40take their place where
16:44moses responsibility was divided for the
16:49and these 70 elders continued this
16:51number of 70 people continued in the
16:54tradition of jewish people at the end
16:56they got a name the name is called
17:00sanhedrin is the supreme authority or
17:05they are the people finalizing all the
17:07judgments they are the ones who are
17:11so these are called the high sanhedrin
17:14people now they have come together it is
17:16in fact the sun hadrian condemned jesus
17:20it is the same 70 people 70 plus 1 71
17:25people who condemned jesus and declared
17:28that jesus should be crucified the same
17:31people and now the same 70 elders the 70
17:36sanhedrin members gather together the
17:40because jesus died just some uh maybe
17:42from 60 70 maybe three four months ago
17:46before this incident
17:47so these are the same people who are
17:50the same elders so now you can see
17:53almost six groups of people
17:55against whom against the early
17:59against the early apostles the priest
18:02the captain of the temple sadducees the
18:05rulers elders scribes scribes are the
18:08one who are expert in the bible the old
18:15that is next person the the seventh
18:18person anna's the high priest
18:21and kayafast kaifas is his
18:25annas is the father-in-law of caiaphas
18:28and these are the same people who
18:32and the third one is john john is his
18:37and alexander and there is somebody his
18:40and all who were of the high priestly
18:43family these are all high priest people
18:45high priestly family because those days
18:50cat there are there were high priests
18:52coming from around four important
18:54families they held the position of high
18:56priest as a succession so these are all
18:59belonging to the high priestly family
19:02annas he is the high priest and kaifas
19:05is son-in-law and john is the son
19:08and of caiaphas and alexander
19:11in the mishnah in the book of mishnah
19:16the meaning of kaifas the family name of
19:19kayafa's called mangi
19:22many people say it is in order to insult
19:24him make fun of him they gave his name
19:31uh he was against the pharisees he is
19:34one of the sadhus he was against the
19:36pharisees so pharisees called him the
19:38monkey that is how he got this name
19:43these are some background stories about
19:46these very important people of jewish
19:50and then let's read verse seven
19:52let's read verse seven when they had
19:54made the prisoners stand in their midst
19:57now the prisoners are john and james i
19:59mean peter and john they inquired
20:02by what power or by what name did you do
20:06why did they ask this question because
20:08if anybody has to preach anything
20:11only the priests are allowed to preach
20:14or only those whom the priest interest
20:18can preach or give teaching in the
20:22and if they have to do some kind of
20:24miracle or anything that they have to do
20:26in the temple they have to get
20:29and now permission from that either
20:32captain the temple or the high priest
20:35now no priest has entrusted this duty to
20:38this pre uh john and peter
20:40therefore all the son had dreamed the 70
20:44elders and all the other people high
20:46priest and he praised the son-in-law and
20:48his son and his family members and the
20:51sadhus pharisees and then the elders and
20:54the captain of the temple and the priest
20:56everyone gathered together in front of
20:58all of them these two ordinary people
21:03peter and john ordinary people
21:06they were just standing there and their
21:08question was asked by what power
21:12or by what authority what name
21:15did you do this it has to be done in the
21:17name of either the priest or the captain
21:19of the temple but what did what is the
21:21name that you do this
21:23then we read like this
21:29filled with the holy spirit
21:31he's already filled with the holy spirit
21:35he is it is not like he had a holy
21:37spirit later earlier and then he the
21:39holy spirit left and now he the holy
21:42spirit came back no that doesn't mean
21:44that is not what he meant here
21:46the holy spirit is already in him on the
21:48pentecost day for permanently
21:53it is filled with the holy spirit means
21:55now whatever he is going to preach and
21:58it is not from peter but it is from the
22:02that is why the word filled with the
22:04holy spirit is written there because
22:06jesus said when you are brought in front
22:08of the leaders and kings and rulers
22:12don't worry what to preach what to say
22:15that moment the holy spirit will give
22:17you what you need to speak
22:19there is a word of god in the in the
22:21bible and that is why this word of god
22:24is fulfilled here and that is why this
22:26word is added filled with the holy
22:28spirit he said to them
22:30rulers of the people and elders he is
22:33addressing them who is addressing peter
22:37rulers of the people that that they are
22:39secular leaders secular
22:42rulers of the people and the elders 70
22:4671 sanhedrin people he is addressing all
22:50peter knows these are the same people
22:53who crucified jesus his master
22:56peter knew these are the same people who
22:59have authority to do whatever they want
23:02these are the same people who crucified
23:04jesus so badly and flogged him for
23:07torturing passion all passion he went
23:11peter knew very well
23:13but he was ready to face it
23:16he was ready to face all this imagine
23:19all the seventies so powerful people
23:22the most supreme court judges there
23:25standing around peter and john
23:27the captain of the temple the second in
23:29command and also the annas the high
23:32priest the first in command everyone is
23:35standing there in sit being seated and
23:40audience and they're
23:42these two ordinary fishermen standing
23:45and when they are asked what authority
23:47in what name you have come to preach
23:50then peter opened his mouth addressing
23:52all of them rulers of the people and
23:58if we are questioned today
24:00because of a good deed done to someone
24:03who was sick and are asked how this man
24:10to let it be known to all of you
24:16peter is preaching boldly without any
24:19doubt he knows these are the same people
24:23now he's not bothered what the
24:25consequence is going to be he's not
24:27bothered whether he had to carry the
24:29cross and go to mount calvary and be
24:31killed just like jesus was killed he is
24:34not bothered about the consequence he is
24:36just badly preaching the gospel this is
24:38a clear sign jesus is alive this is a
24:41clear sign he he knows jesus is alive
24:44hundred percent he's not you know any
24:48jewish person if he's summoned in front
24:50of such a mighty crowd the supreme
24:54authority of the jewish people they will
24:56collapse either they will get a heart
24:58attack and die on the spot
25:01or they won't be able to stand in front
25:04but here peter and john standing boldly
25:08and telling them on their face let it be
25:10known to all of you and to all the
25:13people of israel not only them all the
25:15people out there israel that this man is
25:19standing before you showing the person
25:21who is healed this man is standing
25:23before you in good health by the name of
25:26jesus of nazareth jesus christ of
25:29nazareth whom you crucified
25:34they were so stunned no one ever ever
25:38open their mouth and point the fingers
25:42high priest and the seventy elders the
25:45highest supreme court of jewish people
25:48and peter is telling them you crucified
25:52and he says whom god raised from the
25:54dead he is alive now you are asking me
25:57what authority i have what name i have
26:00i have the person i know who's who gave
26:02me authority i know the person i'm
26:04telling you the person and he's alive
26:06but he's not here right now to show but
26:10he is raised from the dead god raised
26:13and that authority with that authority i
26:16stand here to tell you this
26:21my dear brothers and sisters you have to
26:22imagine the whole setup the whole
26:25situation the whole scene
26:27you will be so shocked to see
26:30looking at the courage of these people
26:32i know if you continue reading verse 11
26:36this jesus is the stone that was
26:38rejected by you the builders you are the
26:41builders of the church and builders of
26:43the temple and builders of the jewish
26:45people you rejected and it has become
26:50he's accusing them on their face and
26:52telling them the importance of jesus
26:56there is a salvation in no one else
27:00now the most powerful statement in the
27:03peter is making in front of the highest
27:05authority of the jewish people there is
27:07salvation in no one else for there is no
27:11other name under heaven given among
27:13mortals by which we must be saved
27:18you know when when we imagine the
27:20authority and the power the courage and
27:23boldness which peter had the ordinary
27:26person who denied jesus three times in
27:28front of a servant girl now he's turning
27:31in front of the sanhedrins and rulers
27:32and powers and preaching about jesus
27:35christ boldly without any fear
27:38we ourselves will be trembled we will be
27:41trembling to see this power and courage
27:45if you really see the scene in front of
27:47you you will be shocked verse 13 be read
27:50like this now when they saw the boldness
27:54even the sanhedrin got shocked
27:57the whole rulers all the people were
27:58sitting there they were shocked
28:01that is why it is written when they saw
28:03the boldness of peter
28:10that they were uneducated and ordinary
28:16and recognized them as companions of
28:19jesus what is the speciality of these
28:21people they are only companions of jesus
28:24just a companion of jesus they had the
28:28be a combining of jesus you have the
28:32you will have the boldness you will have
28:34the courage to tell the truth on the
28:38even if you are uneducated and good for
28:40nothing and if you are ordinary people
28:43if you are a companion of jesus
28:46people will amaze at you
28:48we will they will be shocked to see the
28:50boldness and courage you have
28:56my dear brothers and sisters we will
28:58continue this bible study tomorrow