In Acts 4, we read where Peter and John are arrested because of their preaching Jesus to the crowds who were assembled in the temple complex. They lock them up in prison overnight, yet the Bible says that upwards of 5,000 people believed the message of the gospel and were saved. The next day, the chief priests begin to question them and ask them about their authority. Peter uses it as an opportunity to magnify the name of Jesus and preach the gospel yet again. He says in verse 12, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." The gospel is an exclusive message that exalts Christ alone as the Savior of the world.
What I find interesting is how the Jewish leaders respond to Peter and John's message and the way that they communicated it. Verse 13 says, "When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus." When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, they recognized that they had been with Jesus. It is absolutely amazing what the Lord Jesus does in the life of a person. Earlier in his life, Peter had cowered down before the fire of a little servant girl and had denied Jesus. Now, he is staring down the entire religious establishment and is boldly preaching the gospel, even risking his own life. The risen Christ supplies His servants with boldness!
Somewhere in the course of the day, you are going to need boldness as a believer. It may come as an opportunity to share Jesus with someone you work with. It may be an opportunity for you to stand up for truth and righteousness. It may be a problem that needs to be addressed with a family member or a friend. Whatever the opportunity may be, you stand in need of the empowering and anointing of the Holy Spirit, much like Peter and John here in this passage. Ask the Lord for boldness today, and watch and see how He might use your faithful witness!
I have been studying the book of Acts and it is amazing how the Holy Spirit empowered these men. Another verse that caught my eye was 5:41-42 and how they were rejoicing in the suffering of being questioned and flogged by the leaders. I wonder how I would react to such treatment for standing up for the name of Jesus. We dont see it first hand, but persecution is here. NAMB members will tell you real quick how it is when they are witnessing at Mardis Gras, New York, Chicago or other areas of the US. People spit on them, hit them and throw things at them. Here in the bible belt, in the comfort of our home, we dont see it as much. But persecution exists here in our country pretty strong. How will we react? :) Thank you.
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