We Cannot Stop Speaking About What We Have Seen and Heard [Acts 4]

7When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?" 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and elders of the people, 9if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well,10let 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 this name this man stands here before you in good health.


13Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.14And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.


18And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard. 21When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened;


23When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

 24And when they heard this, 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,

 25who 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?
    26'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND,
         AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER
         AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.'

 27"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, 28to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. 29"And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus. 31And 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.


 

Are you as amazed as I am at the change in Peter and John?  These events happened within two months of the Jesus' death and resurrection, not years later (after they had had a chance to lick their wounds and grow in wisdom).  The power of the Holy Spirit  gave them boldness to speak the truth even to the spiritual leaders.  When they threatened Peter and John and told not to speak in Jesus' name, they boldly said, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."

When Peter and John were released they reported to the other followers of Jesus what had happened and they lifted their voices together in praise to God.  If you have been a part of an Establishing God's Peace class you will recognize the key ingredients in the way they prayed.  The main portion of the prayer was praise to God ("O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM"). They prayed scripture. (The All caps indicate quotes from the Old Testament.)  They acknowledged their weakness and asked for grace to speak God's word with confidence ("Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence"). They acknowledged that everything they did was God doing the ("You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.") Grace was reflected in their lives as "they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness."

 

 

God we praise you for sending Your Spirit and for the power that is available for Your people. It is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.  It is Your power that gives boldness and confidence to the timid and the rash.  Grant us, through Your Spirit, that we would be filled with boldness to speak Your word to those around us.

Verna McCrillis, 4/18/2009