Acts 4: 1While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3They seized Peter and John, and because it was already evening, they put them in custody until the next day. 4But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. 5The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priest’s family. 7They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed, 10then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’a 12Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” The Name Forbidden 13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in response. 15So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrinb and then conferred together. 16“What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it. 17But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no more in this name.” 18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.19But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. 20For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened. 22For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. The Believers’ Prayer (Psalm 2:1-12) 23On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant,c our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’d 27For this is indeed the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed. 28They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen. 29And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness, 30as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” 31After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Contagious Boldness:
· As we do our best to not become infected with the corona virus, the holy Spirit works in completely opposite ways.
Words of caution
· Boldness doesn’t equal rudeness
True Boldness
· Boldness to continue speaking about what they have seen and heard, regardless of what is going on around them.
· Just got out of prison? Great we want boldness like that too!
Thought questions:
· Have you given in to timidity in your conversations? Tough time sharing your convictions and faith?
· Have you given into selfishness? Do you find you are unconcerned for others and their salvation?
· Have you trained yourself to stay quiet about all that you have seen and heard?
Activity
· Take some time and write out a personal prayer for boldness