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drive the people away from the church; it drove them to it. The religious leaders did not keep
their threats a secret, but made them known to all who were present. Church met each day,
and immediately after leaving the Sanhedrin, Peter and John go directly to church.

BELIEVERS IN ONE ACCORD (24-33)

In response to the report of persecution, the believers lift their voice to God in unity and
release the outcome of the threats against them to the Lord. They acknowledge the guarantee
of their deliverance is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They then pray for boldness to speak the
Word of God and for signs and wonders to follow the preaching of the Word.

RESPONSE TO RELIGIOUS OPPOSITION

Act 4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said,
Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

And when they (the congregation) heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord,
and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made (designed) heaven, and earth, and the sea, and
all that in them is:

The report of persecution causes the entire congregation to turn their voice to God. They do
not become despondent, but instead worship God and put Him in remembrance of His Word.

They remind God the entire universe and earth are made after His own design. God designed
the universe, Jesus created it (Colossians 1:16-17). If God had a plan for the earth, He must
have a design and plan for His church.

If the earth can cope with opposition in nature, surely God has designed a plan for the church
to cope with opposition from religion. If the earth can overcome the curse, so can the church.
Even the wicked judges who have just threatened Peter and John are created by God. If God
created them, He can also handle them.

4:24 One Voice, POWER OF UNITY. The third and fourth chapter of Acts relate the story
of the first major crisis faced by the early church. Peter and John were imprisoned and
then warned by the Jewish leaders to never again mention the name of Jesus. Instead of
fleeing for their lives or separating from their brothers and sisters, they went
immediately to the church and “reported all the chief priests and elders had said to
them” (verse 23). The members of the body of Christ responded together by raising
their voices to God in prayer “with one accord.” This is a vivid example of the kind of
spiritual unity that results in the lives of those who are “filled with the Holy Spirit” and
who “walk in the spirit.”

Act 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the
people imagine vain things?