Christian Leadership: Learning from Peter’s life as a role of leader (3)
The challenges or oppositions in
Peter’s life
Blessing is always followed closely by
testing. Soon after Peter’s address (Acts 3), Following the miracle, the first
opposition to the gospel was experienced.
The conflict outside the foes
i) Suffering for truth (Acts 4:1-7): The opposition came in two grounds- i)
teaching the people (the apostles being unauthorized and unofficial), ii)
proclaiming the resurrection, and associating it with Jesus (Sadducees did not
accept resurrection at all). The apostles were imprisoned, yet many those who
heard the word believed. They were in
trial, the high priests asked the power and authority of the apostles.
ii) Testimony to the truth (4:8-12): The
secret of the only effective witness was ‘filled with the Holy Ghost’. The
glorious messages given was the power of Christ (v.9, 10), the glory of Christ
(v.11), and the salvation of Christ (v.12). Peter courageously said let it be
known to you… by the name of Jesus Christ whom, you crucified this man stands
before you.
iii) Impression of the truth (4:13-18):
The priests were astonished (v.13) because of their boldness, and because of
their association with Jesus. They were perplexed because of the fact they have
seen. They decided to silence the apostles, it was ineffectual policy.
iv) Contention for the truth (4:19-22):
Peter boldly claimed that God must be put and kept first, Peter exhibited clear
testimony to Jesus by word, by life. He explained God was real, Christ was
precious and the spirit was powerful.
Before the Council (Acts 5:12-16)
Through the hands of apostles many
signs and wonders were done among the people, believers were increasingly added
to the Lord, they brought the sick out into the streets also, laid them on beds
and couches, that basically the shadow of Peter passing by could fall on some
of them. The priest were indignant and force them to put in prison. Evidently
the priests were impressed by the miraculous deliverance from prison. The
apostles were brought before the council and were charge with; i) disobedience
and ii) bringing the death of Jesus on them. Peter thus meets these by; i) claiming to obey God rather than them, ii)
charging the guilt of Jesus’ death on them.
The internal problem in the infant church (Acts 6:1-4)
In Acts 5 the issue are the
difficulty of persecution and the problem of dishonesty in the Church. In Acts
6 the internal matters are the ethnic issues. There are always a tricky problem
in a community that is open to all types of people. The people group does, be
that as it may, work through what is what is going on.
The issue is that Hellenist widows
are not being also focused on as the Hebrew widows in the Jerusalem people
group (v.1). It is not the problem the twelve should divert themselves to
treat. They should not give up their primary role, to preach about Jesus (v.2).
The decision is that those who raised the problem should provide qualified
people to solve it so that the apostles can stay on task (v.3-4). Seven men are
selected to address the problem (v.5-6).
The solution of this led to another persecution, culminating in the
death of Stephen and dispersion of the Church of Jerusalem.
Another Church problem concerning the relation of Gentiles to Christianity
(Acts 10:1-11)
As for the Jews, they had been
taught throughout their history that Gentiles were unclean. They had nothing to
do with Gentiles. If a Jew even accidentally bushed against a Gentile, he would
immediately go home, burn the clothes he was wearing, and take a ceremonial
bath. Jews did not talk to Gentiles. They did not care about Gentiles. They had
no hope for Gentiles. In Acts 10, God is going to utilize Peter to carry salvation
to the Gentiles. God prepare him and teaches Peter through a dream (10:10-16)
that the old dichotomy between clean and unclean has been broken. This then
leads Peter to the home of an uncircumcised Gentile, the most serious social
taboo for the Jew, and subsequent events force Peter to admit Gentiles into the
Church without the necessity of Jewish proselyte requirements.
Peter learnt the purpose of God in
breaking down temporary barriers and bringing in eternal blessings. In
extending the Church and thereby realizing his master’s anticipations.
The conflict with the state (persecution by
Herod Agrippa) Acts 12:1-4
This was a fresh difficulty for the
church. After serious cases had been met, now comes a conflict with the state
and in connection with it Peter, as one of the leader.
The Policy of Herod Agrippa was to
favor the Jews, and with this object he set himself to persecute the Christians.
Herod struck at the leaders, thereby intending to deal a mortal blow to the
church. James, the son of Zebedee, was first killed. He was the first of the
twelve to suffer martyrdom. To please the Jews further, Herod apprehended
Peter. After the Passover he too should be killed. Religious scuples alone
prevented this murder being committed at once. Herod ordered four soldiers to
chained Peter to make sure he wouldn’t escape. He was kept in prison. But
prayed earnestly. Peter peacefully sleep between two soldiers, bound with two
chains. And the Angel of the Lord came upon him, his chains fell off from his
hands. The Lord delivered him out of the hand of Herod.
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