Boldness

“The man was over 40 years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.” [1]

“Many of those who heard the word [that Peter and John preached] believed; and the number of the men [who believed] came to be about 5,000.” [2]

While Peter and John were still speaking...

Priests, The captain of the temple and Sadducees

Came upon them.

They were extremely disturbed that they [Peter and John] instructed the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

They laid their hands on them and put them in custody until the next day. [3]

The next day, Peter, and John, are standing before...

Rulers, Elders, Scribes, Annas the high priest, Caiaphas [father-in-law of Annas], John and Alexander [4]

They are standing before the same guys who moved the people in Jerusalem, in one short week, to turn from cheering Jesus to jeering Jesus... to crucifying Jesus. [5]

They ask Peter and John by what power or by what name they healed the 40-year-old man with disabilities. [6]

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, responds, “...By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. [Jesus] is the ‘stone, which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved [than the Name of Jesus].” [7]

The leaders threatened Peter and John. They command them to stop propagating the Name of Jesus. They let Peter and John go. [8]

Peter and John report to their fellow Christians what happened. A prayer meeting begins. The place where they are meeting shakes. They are filled with the Holy Spirit. They continue to speak God’s Word with boldness. [9]

Christians are united. They share with one another. With great power the witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus continues. Great grace was upon them all. No one lacks anything. [10]

“Dear Heavenly Father, You see how some leaders seek to silence the Good News of Your Son Jesus Christ. Please help us by filling us with the Holy Spirit, and bestowing on us great grace, and meeting all our needs, so that the messaging of Your message continues with boldness. In Jesus’ Name, we pray, Amen.”

[1] Acts 4:22
[2] Acts 4:4
[3] Acts 4:2-3
[4] Acts 4:5-6
[5] Matthew 26:3, 57, John 18:13-14, 28
[6] Acts 4:6-7
[7] Acts 4:10-12
[8] Acts 4:17-21
[9] Acts 4:23-31
[10] Acts 4:32-35