We Are His Witnesses
By the time we come to the fifth chapter of Acts, we already have seen how God has enabled this small band of men to begin fulfilling what He had told them in Acts 1:8 “8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
In chapter 2 of the book of Acts, Peter and the apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, preach, and 3000 receive Christ as their Savior.
In chapter 3, an amazing thing happens: a lame beggar is healed. By the beginning of Acts chapter 4, we discover that five thousand more receive Christ as their Savior.
In Acts chapter 5, the apostles are imprisoned for a second time (the first is recorded in Acts 4:3). On this occasion, the Lord sends an angel to release them and commands them to go, stand, and speak in the Temple to the people (Acts 5:19-20). I like the phrase in verse 20, that they were released to preach “…the words of this life.” When the court officers go to bring the prisoners to the high priest and the high council, they find them not there. Where were they?
Verse 25 tells us in Acts 5, “25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.”
Can you imagine such a thing? Released marvelously from prison, they venture at the Lord’s command through the messenger of an angel and go into the Temple to preach the gospel. The officers quickly brought the apostles without violence into the presence of the very court that had rejected Christ. They begin to lecture these faithful witnesses. Notice our text beginning in verse 28.
Acts 5:28–32 “28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”
Would you make note of the expression in verse 32, the first part of the verse, “And we are his witnesses of these things…”
The word ‘witness’ brings much to our minds. We may think of the act of testifying in a court of law. To protect some witnesses, there is a real program called the United States Federal Witness Protection Program (WPP). Some may have thought that this is something out of the movies. But there is a program designed to “relocate and protect a witness of a federal government or a state government in an official proceeding concerning organized crime or other serious offences.” (Wikipedia) In some extreme cases, some folks end up under a lifetime protective status due to the nature of the witness and the crimes involved. “As of 2020, approximately 19,000 witnesses and family members have been protected.” (Ibid.)
Now, I imagine those who are engaged in that program for life wish they did not have to be branded as witnesses for life. But the fact remains that they are witnesses. My friend, I want to drive home the following point that is emphasized, I believe, in this passage.
The apostles declare in verse 32, “And we are witnesses his witnesses of these things…”
These words are familiar because we find them also in Luke 24. Notice what the Lord Jesus Christ states in Luke 24, beginning with verse 46.
Luke 24:46-49 “46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
These words are almost the same as what we find in Acts 5. What is the difference between the two? The difference is in who is speaking them.
The Lord Jesus Christ told the disciples, “Ye are witnesses of these things.” They were to be witnesses of the life, death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what the Lord tells them in verses 46-47. They would deliver the gospel message beginning at Jerusalem. But before they could go, they were commanded to tarry in Jerusalem and wait to be endued with power — the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Now, notice once again verse 32 of Acts 5.
Acts 5:32 “32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”
In Luke 24, the Lord tells them they are witnesses. In Acts 5, Peter and the apostles state that we are his witnesses.
There are a great many people, my friend, who are witnesses but do not personally recognize that they are witnesses. They accept that the Lord has sent them to preach the gospel. They understand that by the new birth, the Bible says they hold this treasure in their earthen vessel, but they may never get to the point where they embrace the truth that they are witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ. My friend let me give you 3 points very quickly concerning this statement in verse 32.
We need:
1. The Realization of the Many who are witnesses.
Would you make note of the word “we” at the head of verse 32? “We” are his witnesses.
Of course, Peter and the apostles are referring to their own company, the Christians they knew then. But my friend, as we read these words today, some 2000 years later, do you realize that you and I are also part of the “we”?
Can I encourage you today? The Lord has many witnesses. In fact, not only are there many Christians in the world today, but many take seriously the responsibility of witnessing for the Lord Jesus Christ.
Not only do we need to realize the many who are witnesses, but secondly,
2. The Realization of the Fact that we are a witness.
The fact is that we are witnesses. Not only are we witnesses, but we are his witnesses. Peter and the apostles stated the truth not as if someone were telling them so but as a truth that they claimed and possessed for themselves. There are cults today that, in their very name, claim to be witnesses (Isaiah 43:10). What drives their efforts is a false gospel. But they believe, some no doubt in sincerity, that they are witnesses.
My friend, when you come to understand that you are a witness, you realize that witnessing is not just a Saturday event; it is who you are.
There is a false perception that a Christian is a Christian based on what they do. A Christian is a Christian based on who they are. If you are not a child of God, no amount of Christian behavior will make you a Christian. If you have received Christ and are part of the family of God, you are a witness (noun), whether you witness (verb) or not.
As I read this passage of Scripture, I see that the apostles and these early Christians understood being a witness was not just something they did; it was who they were.
Not only do we have the realization of the many and the realization of the fact, but lastly, would you notice with me the realization of the presence and power of God?
When someone realizes they are a witness (noun), they will witness (verb) not just on Saturday during the designated outreach times but every day. When you realize you are a witness, you take your responsibility as a witness seriously. Listen, my friend, would you testify in court if you witnessed some life-changing event that has impacted the lives of people? We are witnesses of the life-changing message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Lastly, we must recognize:
3. The Realization of the Presence and Power of God with witnesses.
Notice as we read this verse one last time.
Acts 5:32 “32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”
We often forget that we have God’s presence and power. We also forget that the Holy Spirit testifies of the Lord Jesus Christ. “So manifest and decided was the presence of God attending them, that ‘they’ could not doubt that what they said was true” (Albert Barnes)
The Bible says in John 15:26, “26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:”
The word translated as ‘testify’ in John 15:26 is the verb form of the word ‘witness’ we find in Acts 5. The presence and power of God is with us my friend as we testify of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:9 tells us, “9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”
This week, we should all consider this simple truth: We Are Witnesses.