Acts 4:1-22
Today's Passage: Acts 4:1-22
Are you willing to stand up for truth? What if it meant being persecuted? Feeling awkward? Making people uncomfortable?
There are no stats to back this up, but I would say the #1 reason why we don’t share the Gospel or stand up for truth is because of our fear of man. I also say this knowing the fear of man has hindered me in sharing the Gospel or standing for truth.
In our passage today, Peter and John are preaching to the people. The religious leaders are annoyed that people are listening to them, and so they arrest them (without any charge). Although they are now in prison and being questioned for healing a man (Acts 3:1-10), that is not going to stop them from being bold to speak the truth. Peter explicitly shares the Gospel (v. 8-12) and reminds the religious authorities of two things: the religious leaders crucified Jesus (v. 10) and salvation is found in Jesus alone (v. 12). Peter called out their sin, and also spoke the truth to them even when they disagreed with him.
After this, the religious leaders see Peter and John as uneducated men (v. 13) and wonder how they communicate so well. They decide to tell Peter and John to stop speaking about Jesus (v. 15-17), and Peter and John respond by saying that they are only speaking the truth (v. 20).
I am astonished at their faith. I am astonished at their willingness to speak the truth.
So what would have happened if Peter and John were not bold to preach the truth? Well, 5,000
people would have missed an opportunity to know Jesus (v. 4). How many people every day miss out on hearing about the good news of Jesus because we are afraid of what they might say to us or about us to someone else?
I am praying for each of us that we would be bold in our faith! We would stand out for the name of Jesus. We wouldn’t waiver from the truth because it is uncomfortable, but that we would be confident in who God is and what He has called us to.
Who do you need to share with today?
Written By: Brice Stockton
Are you willing to stand up for truth? What if it meant being persecuted? Feeling awkward? Making people uncomfortable?
There are no stats to back this up, but I would say the #1 reason why we don’t share the Gospel or stand up for truth is because of our fear of man. I also say this knowing the fear of man has hindered me in sharing the Gospel or standing for truth.
In our passage today, Peter and John are preaching to the people. The religious leaders are annoyed that people are listening to them, and so they arrest them (without any charge). Although they are now in prison and being questioned for healing a man (Acts 3:1-10), that is not going to stop them from being bold to speak the truth. Peter explicitly shares the Gospel (v. 8-12) and reminds the religious authorities of two things: the religious leaders crucified Jesus (v. 10) and salvation is found in Jesus alone (v. 12). Peter called out their sin, and also spoke the truth to them even when they disagreed with him.
After this, the religious leaders see Peter and John as uneducated men (v. 13) and wonder how they communicate so well. They decide to tell Peter and John to stop speaking about Jesus (v. 15-17), and Peter and John respond by saying that they are only speaking the truth (v. 20).
I am astonished at their faith. I am astonished at their willingness to speak the truth.
So what would have happened if Peter and John were not bold to preach the truth? Well, 5,000
people would have missed an opportunity to know Jesus (v. 4). How many people every day miss out on hearing about the good news of Jesus because we are afraid of what they might say to us or about us to someone else?
I am praying for each of us that we would be bold in our faith! We would stand out for the name of Jesus. We wouldn’t waiver from the truth because it is uncomfortable, but that we would be confident in who God is and what He has called us to.
Who do you need to share with today?
Written By: Brice Stockton
No Comments