ACTS of the Apostles

Wednesday, April 27

ACTS of the Apostles

Learning How to be Daring and Dynamic

Read Acts 4:1-22

Focus Verses: Acts 4:10-12

“Let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Our passage today continues the story of the lame man's miraculous healing. Peter and John proclaimed that it was Jesus' power that healed him. They also boldly taught about Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. Five thousand believed their words as truth! This teaching landed Peter and John in jail for the night, and now they were being questioned by the elders and the scribes.

The Jewish leaders, although they rejected Peter and John's words, marveled at how they were conducting themselves. Scripture says, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus" (v 13). When I read this verse, two things came to mind:

1. When it comes to theology classes, I'm an "uneducated commoner" just like Peter and John.

2. In spite of this, would people in my world "recognize that I have been with Jesus"?

The more we spend time with our Savior, the more we know him personally, and the more we want to be like him... in our world. And just like Peter and John, his Spirit gives us the power to love others well and to speak truth boldly! When the elders charged them to not talk of Jesus, they said, "We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard" (v.20).

Oh, to be like Peter and John--may the unhindered praise of Jesus be on our tongues!

Dear Lord,

Thank you for these first apostles who are teaching us how to live in the Spirit. Put your words in our hearts as we spend time with you each day so that when we encounter someone who needs encouragement, we are ready to speak life and hope to them. Make us bold for the sake of your name. Amen.