They were unschooled, ordinary men, . . . and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13
Neither Orville nor Wilbur Wright had a pilot’s license. Neither had gone to college. They were bicycle mechanics with a dream and the courage to try to fly. On December 17, 1903, they took turns piloting their Wright Flyer on four separate flights. The longest lasted only a minute, but it changed our world forever.
Neither Peter nor John had a preaching license. Neither had gone to seminary. They were fishermen who, filled with the Spirit of Jesus, courageously proclaimed the good news: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
The Wright brothers’ neighbors didn’t immediately appreciate their accomplishment. Their hometown newspaper didn’t believe their story, and said that even if true, the flights were too brief to be significant. It took several more years of flying and refining their planes before the public recognized what they had truly done.
The religious leaders didn’t like Peter and John, and they ordered them to stop telling others about Jesus. Peter said, No way. “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (v. 20).
You may not be on the approved list. Perhaps you’re scorned by those who are. No matter. If you have the Spirit of Jesus, you’re free to live boldly for Him!
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
INSIGHT
- What task or person causes you to feel inadequate?
- How might you rely on the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to step into that challenge today?
Boldness or courage (two translations of the same Greek word) is portrayed in Acts as a quality of Spirit-filled believers in Jesus. In chapter 4, Peter is described as “filled with the Holy Spirit” (v. 8) and the religious leaders were astonished with Peter and John’s “courage” (v. 13). In response to the leaders’ threats (vv. 21, 23), the apostles met with believers and prayed for God to “enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness” (v. 29). In answer, “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (v. 31).
PRAYER
Dear Jesus, I’m Yours. Use me in whatever way You want. In Your name, I pray. Amen!!
Read: ACTS 4:12-22 (NIV) | Bible in a Year: JOB 36-37; ACTS 15:22-41
