Acts 4:13-18
And while watching the boldness of speech of Peter and John
and after grasping that they are illiterate men and laymen, they were amazed
and they were discerning them that they were with Jesus. And while seeing the man with them – having
sat the one having been healed – they were having nothing to speak
against. And after ordering them to
depart outside the Sanhedrin they were meeting together with one another while
saying, “What should we do to these men?
Since for in one case a sign has become known and apparent through them
to all the ones who inhabit Jerusalem and we are not powerful enough to deny
it. But in order that not upon many it
should be spread abroad into the people we should threaten them to no longer
call out upon this name to any men. And
after calling them out they commanded them altogether to not emit speech in
teaching upon the name of Jesus.
Thoughts for Today:
First Thought:
I love the fact that the Bible goes to such lengths to talk
about Peter and John as simple and uneducated people. The Bible’s point is quite clear with this
respect. What is important is not Peter
and John’s training. What is important
is the filling of the Holy Spirit that they received. This is still true today.
If we believe that the filling of the Holy Spirit (sometimes
called the indwelling of the Holy Spirit) is actually what is important, what
does that do to most of the excuses we lift up for not being bold about our
faith and belief in Christ?
Second Thought:
The Jewish leaders cannot argue with the fact that the lame
man stood in their presence and they are afraid of what will come of their
reputation among the crowds should they try to deny this miracle.
What does this tell us about why the public dynamic of our
ministry is so important? What does the
public dynamic of our ministry do for us that private ministry cannot
accomplish?
Third Thought:
The Sanhedrin threatens Peter and John to no longer teach
about Jesus.
If you were told never to teach about Jesus publically, how
would you respond? What if you were told
that if you were caught teaching about Jesus it might just cost you your life?
Passage for Tomorrow: Acts 4:19-22
2 comments:
The coolest thing is that they don't listen to the Jewish leaders. And I love how the Jewish leaders can't deny the ex-lame man they seemed kind of stumped. It amazing to me though how they still deny Jesus...I guess they liked their political power?
Truer words have never been spoken. It is amazing what people will not follow Jesus for.
I suppose they still thought Jesus was a con man or that this was all some hoax. I mean, at some level I can't completely fault them because if someone came to me and said "Jesus isn't the full answer, God has given out a new new revelation" ... well, I doubt I would listen to them. {See Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons as an example of this dynamic.}
But then again ... I have Jesus and I believe that's all I need. They have the Law and believed that's all they need, too. Well, as you say, they have the Law and their power...
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