Bold Witness in the Face of Opposition
Acts of Healing, Bold preaching, and Obedience in the face of Persecution
Book of Acts - Week 2
Hills Global Church July 3 2025
Text: Acts chapters 3–5
Theme: Acts of Healing, Bold preaching, and Obedience in the face of Persecution
Focus: The Early Church members were emboldened by the Holy Spirit to commit to courageous acts of healing, teaching, and persevering in defiance of the local council, religious leaders, political powers, and priests.
Key Verses: Acts 3:4-6, Acts 4:11-13, Acts 5:29, Acts 5:41-42
In acts 3 through 5 Peter and John are constantly being told not to proclaim Jesus name, not to conduct healings and were persecuted and imprisoned because they continued to preach and specifically teach the resurrection Power of Jesus — they were being filled with the Holy Spirit and helping others do the same.
The early church disciples were emboldened by the Holy Spirit to continue these acts in defiance of the council, religious leaders, political powers, and priests.
Now, almost 2 millennia later we are still facing the same challenge.
Do we speak up & take action in opposition to the Religious Systems and the Governmental Establishments that are lacking of the Teachings of Jesus or do we shrink back in fear of losing our influence, or our friends, or even the approval of strangers online?
Acts of Healing
Chapter 3 opens up with a very specific story of a lame man and His healing. This is someone whom all knew because he was laid out in a very visible place. Some scholars believe this would have been a very ornate gate, something that pointed to the grandeur and splendor of the Temple. This lame man who was begging at the entrance would certainly be a stark contrast and be very obvious. It was this mans custom to be carried to the entrance of the temple in a place with a lot of foot traffic to ask for a handout somtihing that could potentially help his eat or offer as a help to those who carried him.
When Peter and John observed the lame man, he called out asking for help, and the disciples response was this:
Acts 3:4-6
[4] And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” [5] And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. [6] But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
Peter and John were acutely aware of this mans needs and could clearly see what was wrong.
They didn't need a deep dive into His situation, they didn't need to see documents to establish he was actually in need, they didn't require a third person audit to establish whether or not this man had already been given to by someone else.
They just acted, in obedience to God and saw to meet his need.
Their response to the question of money was that they had no silver or gold, but what is awesome here is they gave what they DID have; what “they had” was the power of a living Jesus and access to His healing power which in reality is what the man needed — he needed HEALING.
There are people all around this neighborhood, and across this city and county and state that need saving, they need healing, and they need the gift of the Holy Spirit. They need what We’ve been given
Those of us who have it are like Peter and John, we are observing the needs all around us and it is up to us whether or not we stop and help. Not in our own power or with our limited resources but in HIS power and with HIS resources.
The needs around us are not that hidden, they are not invisible, some are very obvious, some are right in our face or on our news feeds and we scroll past, walk past, or look the other way when faced with the needs, but Jesus wants us to Respond.
Not just for those in need, not just for our own salvation, but for the world to see and to be amazed and turn towards HIM.
James 5:20
[20] let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Acts 3:9-10
[9] And all the people saw him (the lame man) walking and praising God, [10] and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms(charity). And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Bold Preaching
Peter and John were preaching and healing because this is what they knew and what they saw Jesus do.
They were not completing their own agenda, or competing with others, they were completing the Great Commission - they were being obedient to what they perceived God was asking of them.
Sometimes we build our lives based on our upbringing, our education, and our experiences but it is lacking. We want more but we cant seem to let go of the addictions or the habits, or the control that seems to be holding us back.
We go through the motions. We show up at church. We say yes to giving when it finally feels like i have enough to spare. We make plans for the future as if all we need is muscle and hustle to make it happen.
We can not wait until we have it altogether before we obey and follow Jesus,
we need to follow and obey Jesus SO we can get it together
But when we build without Jesus, we are destined to
fall,
fail,
and flounder,
Acts 4:11-12
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.”
We need to preach, teach, and model the truth so that our lives will be fulfilled and effective in HIM — There are no other plans, get rich schemes, paid mentorships, or worldly blueprints by which we can achieve fullness of our salvation except through HIM. .
Preaching the Good News is not about eloquence or being seen as perfect. It's about obedience, it's about the Boldness that comes, not from our performance, but from abiding in HIS presence.
People will respond to what they perceive in the Spirit and what they see modeled out not simply what is talked about.
Preaching is: Proclaiming, announcing, or heralding the message of God's salvation through Jesus Christ—His life, death, resurrection, and the invitation to repentance, forgiveness, and eternal life.
Acts 4:13
[13] 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.
They recognized that the disciples had been WITH Jesus and it was evident and obvious. The world needs to see that we are different.
Their proclamation was simple:
Acts 3:19-20
[19] Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, [20] that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,
Acts 3:26
[26] God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
We can not keep doing the things of the world and expect heaven in the results
Ephesians 4:11-12
[11] And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, [12] to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
As we follow Jesus and do what he did, His Holy Spirit works in us to equip and prepare us to do this work — If we try to do it in our own strength or our own might, we will fail.
Acts 4:31
[31] And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
His Spirit in us should make us unrecognizable to the people who want us to stay the same.
Sometimes it is those closest to us that want us to stay the same and to not develop further. The religious leaders of this time and the priests and politicians didn't want to lose their influence or power they had over an ‘uneducated’, ‘uninformed’ and ‘ineffectual’ people.
This Apathy towards Christ propped up the perceived need for the structures and establishments of the empire.
When the people were ‘in need’ it kept the power imbalance in place, but when people started to hear the stories of the disciples, and see people being healed they believed in a higher power than the government or even the church — they believed in the Power of Jesus and His Holy Spirit and it changed them, changed their habits and caused them do radical things
Acts 4:34-35
[34] There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold [35] and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
In chapter 5 there is a unique story that we’re told about Ananias and His wife, Sapphira. They had a property that they had sold in order to give to the church, and it says only a portion was reserved and ultimately given to the church.
Peter rebukes Ananias, saying this property and proceeds was at his disposal and yet he lied to God in the amount that he had committed to give. Then his wife, Sapphira, comes in and they ask her the same about the property and her answer is in line with her husbands.
Peter again, reproves, by uncovering that the husband and wife had agreed together to keep what had been promised to God. Both are struck dead and Both are buried on the spot.
In Acts 5 verse 11 it says; [11] And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
I know plenty of people who have made agreements before the Lord and in front of men about what they plan to give to the Lord or what tithe they will commit to the Church.
They will say, ‘one day’ when we have ‘such and such’ we will give then.
The truth is; money, blessings, and resources don't change people, they expose them.
If you are generous when you have little, you will be generous when you have a lot. If you are stingy with little, you will be stingy with a lot.
I’ve witnessed people dying in one way or another when they become closed off to what God is asking them to give. They die to their dreams, their marriages die, their children end up choosing death and destruction.
Please hear me: this was not because they lied to MEN it was because they lied to and dishonored GOD. When the thing they prayed about ‘comes true’ they immediately forget who answered that prayer.
When the job comes in, when the tax return comes back, when the insurance money is more than was needed, they forget what they promised or what they prayed before.
We must do better!
Acts 5:29
[29] But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men”.
These disciples were up against more than you and I can imagine. Threats of imprisonment and fear of death.
Maybe you have a mounting situation or problem or even a person in your life that you are unsure of how to respond. You're not sure if you will make it through.
Many of us have overcome addictions, and divorce, and loss of jobs, houses, and family members — and it hurts, and sometimes it feels as if we cant breathe much less keep going.
I’m not here to try and minimize or compare what we all are experiencing to what the early church fathers and mothers experienced instead,
We do need to see that God is for us and He is with us and if God be for us who or what can stand against us?
Acts 5:41-42
[41] Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. [42] And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
After giving it all and being threatened, imprsioned, publicly shamed, and beaten — Peter and John and the other early church members continued their work in the ‘temple’ and from ‘house to house’ — they did not cease the preaching that Christ is Jesus!
Luke 4:18-19
[18] “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, [19] to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Jesus is quoting and reading from scripture the words from Isaiah 61 here and in Luke 4:21 He says,
[21] And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
He has already done the hard work. Our part is to follow His example.