Peter’s second gospel presentation, which was precipitated by a miraculous healing, caused a great stirring among those who heard it. Their message also “greatly disturbed” the religious leaders, the ones whose hearts were closed and had crucified Jesus.
As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.Acts 4:1-2 (NASB)
The Sadducees were a sect that did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, and the Pharisees did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. The common people, however, did not have the same biases against truth and were more able to believe the good news that Jesus rose from the dead.
Jesus told his followers that he would cause division.
The truth always causes division because there are those who steadfastly resist and persecute it.
“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ Matthew 10:34-36 (NLT)
Jesus is a king…the King. His kingdom is real and is opposed by the forces of evil in the world.
People will come down on one side or the other when his lordship is announced. Those who appear not to care, the ones Jesus called “lukewarm,” are opposed to the kingdom as much as those who persecute the truth. Both groups refuse to acknowledge and serve the king. We should not be surprised when we encounter hostility when we preach the gospel. In fact, we should expect it. If we properly present the gospel, we will stir things up, not because we are trying to cause trouble, but because our message is authoritative and calls people to surrender to the King. Some will respond as God wishes. Others will be hostile. At least the hostile ones are not lukewarm.
