Sermon - Who Holds the Power? | Joe Upton - Acts 4:1-21

Sermon Series: Witnesses for ChristSermon Title: Who Holds the Power?Bible Passage: Acts 4:1–21Preacher: Joe UptonDate & Time: Sunday, 25 January 2026 | 9:30amIn Acts 4, the joyful witness of the early church collides head-on with opposition and authority. Peter and John are arrested, questioned, and warned by the very powers that once condemned Jesus. Yet the real question beneath the tension is this: who truly holds the power?In Acts 4, we will see that although religious and political leaders appear to control the situation, the authority of God cannot be silenced. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter boldly proclaims the gospel: Jesus Christ—crucified by human hands and raised by God—is the cornerstone, and salvation is found in no one else. The risen Jesus stands at the centre of their courage, their message, and their hope.This passage reminds us that the gospel often provokes resistance because it challenges false sources of power and security. Human authority can threaten, intimidate, and restrain—but it cannot forgive sins, raise the dead, or change hearts. Only Jesus has that power. The same Lord rejected by the leaders is the One God has exalted, offering salvation and new life to all who trust in Him.This sermon will encourage us to consider where we place our confidence. Like the apostles, we are called to obey God rather than people, to speak what we have seen and heard, and to trust that the power of the gospel is greater than any opposition we may face.