Today's Passage: Acts 4
The chapter begins in the middle of the story! Peter and John are addressing the people who have just witnessed Peter heal a man in his forties that had been lame since birth (Acts 3) and right in the middle of their speech we read:
“As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of
the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the
people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until
the next day, for it was already evening.” Acts
4:1-3
The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead, which
may be why they decided to cut off their speech right then and put them in jail
until morning. But even then, they had been too late for the passage goes on to
add, “many of those who had heard the message believed; and
the number of the men came to be about five thousand.” (4:4)
Just imagine what that night must have been like for John and Peter,
for the last time the Jewish council had met together it was to hear a case concerning
Jesus, and had agreed to have Jesus crucified. I wonder if John and Peter were
thinking they would be next come morning.
But if they were, it didn’t
prevent them from speaking out boldly the next day! Notice,
"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and
elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how
this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that
by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised
from the dead—by his name this man stands here before you in good health. He is
the stone
which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name
under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:9-12
Whoa! He’s no longer the Peter who denied Jesus thrice on the last
night of His life. Can you remember the last time you spoke out about Jesus?
How do you feel about sharing the good news? Bold, like Peter, reluctant or
somewhere in between the two.
Chapter four is an awesome example of the Holy Spirit’s power
operating in us! Notice how the believers “filled with the Holy Spirit”
responded to the threats made to them should they persist in proclaiming Jesus’
name:
“...they lifted their voices to God with one accord and
said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all
that is in them, who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your
servant, said,
‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
And the peoples devise futile things?
‘The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy
servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the
Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose
predestined to occur. And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your
bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders
take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they had
gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled
with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness!” Acts 4:24-31 (emphasis mine)
I wondered if our churches would respond the same way today. Even
still, the most amazing passage of chapter four to me is the description of the
New Testament church in verses 32-35,
“And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them
claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the
apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon
them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners
of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be
distributed to each as any had need.” (Emphasis mine)
They were one in heart and soul which when I studied these words further
I discovered it meant, they were one in “intellect” and “emotion”. Over five
thousand brand new believers shared everything in common. The Holy Spirit not
only caused them to be bold in proclaiming the gospel, but in their actions as
well, for they boldly shared all they had with other believers trusting God to
care for them all.
That is amazing to me,
but that’s God! Nothing is too hard, or impossible for Him, if He is permitted
to reign over His people.
Blessings,
sue
