Greetings Brethren,
Today's reading is chapter 4.
I am very excited about the events listed here in this chapter. The sermon of Peter and John that started in chapter 3 was interrupted by the religious leaders. Why? The priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees were offended that these "commoners" were teaching the people even thou they were not recognized rabbis, and worst - they were using the death of Jesus to preach about the resurrection of the dead with the Sadducees did not believe. Acts 23:8, "For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both."
Consider with me the overreach that these leaders exhibited:
Despite this assault and imprisonment, we are told that "many of them (the crowd) who heard the word believed" and that the crowd consisted of approximately 5000 men. Isn't this revival? But how did this revival happen? It started with two surrendered servants of Jesus who were going to prayer, and at the gate were gifted with an opportunity to minister to a "certain man." They had no cash to minister to his temporal need, but they had what this poor soul needed - Jesus.
Brethren, we have what this sin-sicked world needs and we must not be afraid to share it.
Brethren, we must be very careful that we don't become so busy that we miss divine opportunities. The ember that will start a revival oftentimes doesn't look like much. We must maximize every opportunity for the Kingdom. I have seen believers who had opportunities to minister to a wide cross-section of unbelievers forget God and the His Cause when the wordly media came to do an interview.
The next day a meeting was called in Jerusalem. The rulers, religious leaders, religious scholars, Annas the Chief Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander—everybody who was anybody was there. They were the supposedly crème de la crème of Jewish leadership. The agenda had one main item in the form of a question for Peter and John, "By what power or by what name have ye done this?" Think about it, this was a big stage and if these Apostles were ever going to be intimidated by men it would be at this moment because of the rank of the attendees. I am very excited at this juncture because these two supposedly uneducated men waxed bold in the company of these leaders and spake under the unction of the Holy Ghost. "9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (The disciples took to school these rabbis, taking them to Psalm 118:22 ("The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner) that they were well familiarly with and declared that Jesus Christ is the Chief corner stone.
Look at the audacity of these two preachers of righteousness. "12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." This verse which is often quoted by all of us is absolutely powerful but what makes it more impacting to me is the occasion on which it was declared. I see Peter and John looking straight in the eyes of these well-learned religious leaders and using some absolute terms like "in any other" and "none other name under heaven" to describe the centrality of where or through whom alone salvation comes.
Verse 13 says, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. The Greek words say that Peter and John were "unlettered" men and "commoners." They were uneducated in the technical rabbinical teachings. They were commoners in that they possessed no official positions or special abilities within these religious sects. However, they could help but observe that these men "had been with Jesus." Here me, studying is very important for the believer but nothing can be more important than being with Jesus! When we have spent time with Jesus there will be an overflow of the anointing that will be resident on us. Our articulating of divine truth will be impacting and transforming.
These elders could not resist nor intimidate these men, neither could they refute the notable miracle that had happened. So they resorted to using "their power" to threaten Peter and John to teach no more in Jesus' Name. Peter and John then pointedly told them that they will never stop preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
They never flinched!
They never gave second thought!
They were committed to Jesus Christ and His great Cause!
Peter and John later returned to their company and reported what had transpired after which they held a grand prayer meeting. They did not pray for protection from the authority. They pray for boldness to keep on preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They prayed for more miracles, and more opportunities to proclaim Jesus Christ to their world. After prayer, there was a great physical shaking and they were "all filled with the Holy Ghost" again and went preaching the word of God with boldness.
Our world needs men and women who are truly sold out to Jesus Christ and His dear Cause. Christians who will stand in boldness and preach the undiluted truth of Jesus Christ despite opposition.
Away with the celebrity "Christian" practitioners of our day.
Let us stand like Peter and John in these dark times and preach the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, cost it what it will!
Maranatha!