The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie
So, we come to another opportunity to study and discuss the Book Of Acts together. If you have missed any of our previous discussions you can find them here
http://wp.me/P39vIx-Gh – House On Fire Page
Now here is our discussion for the day:
We are beginning Acts chapter 4.
While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. 2 These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. 3 They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. 4 But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of believers now totaled about 5,000 men, not counting women and children. Acts 4:1-4 NLT
The disciples were arrested by the Sadducees for preaching the resurrection. It is interesting to note that the disciples were not breaking any Roman law, but the Jews were acting on what amounted to current “anti-terrorism” legislation. The Romans forbade anything that could cause riots and the Jews of that day took advantage of the rioting laws to squelch anything they saw as troublesome to their doctrines. The disciples were frequently arrested for disturbing the peace or to stop them from “inciting a riot.”
The doctrinal issue the Sadducees and Pharisees are struggling with is found in Acts 4:5-12
The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. 7 They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene,[a]the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,
‘The stone that you builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.’[b]
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
The claim of course is that not only did Jesus die and rise from the dead but that He is the messiah.
For our discussion today let’s take a look back at Acts 1:6 and then a second glance at Acts 4:5-12
So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
Tell me how did Peter’s view of the Kingdom of God and his work in it change between ascension day and his arrest by the Sadducees? (Acts 1:6)
Lillie-Put 
Peter’s view of the Kingdom of God and his work in it changed because of the Holy Spirit. I know for myself I found it hard to understand the bible until I received and even more understanding came with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. So when Peter spoke to the Sadducees the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit were extremely evident to all who heard him speak.
This is true Deb and I had not thought of the change in Peter’s view of the Holy Spirit. He certainly had great revelation of the third person of the Trinity between Ascension Day and this day in the temple. Do you find this Peter more other focused than the Peter of Ascension Day?
I’m not sure if Peter was more focused than the day of Ascension. I think his focus shifted from being in constant prayer for the Holy Spirit to come to being about his Father’s business and spreading the Good News.
I agree with you. I think before his baptism in the Holy Spirit he was focused on Jesus coming to set up His kingdom on Earth and rescue Israel. After that baptism He saw the coming of Jesus to set up His kingdom differently. Instead of just wanting it to happen Peter understood there were souls to be preached to and there was work to be done because that day was drawing closer. He saw the souls of those who persecuted him for what they were and rather than wanting to be rescued from them he began to desire to see them rescued from themselves.