Having Been With Jesus - Acts 4:1-31
Do you desire to share the gospel more boldly? On Sunday, Pastor Michael preached on Acts 4:1-31 and told us that the secret to being bold for Jesus is to be with Jesus.
Following the healing of the lame man, Peter and John were arrested for preaching the gospel — though a great many heard the word and believed. The next day, the two were brought before a council that included rulers, elders, scribes, and all those of the high-priestly family. Peter and John might have felt tempted to shrink back in front of this group, but the Holy Spirit gave the two courage to speak boldly. Peter attested that it was by Jesus Christ — whom they crucified and God raised from the dead — that the lame man had been healed, and he declared that there is salvation in no one else.
Acts 4:13 describes the council’s response:
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” (ESV)
The council was stunned. They didn’t know what to do. They desired to prevent the apostles from speaking any more about Jesus, but they couldn’t deny the miracle that had been performed, and many were praising God because of it. They charged the two not to speak in the name of Jesus, but the apostles would not acquiesce. They said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (see Acts 4:19–20, ESV). Unable to punish them, the council threatened them more, but ultimately released them. After this, Peter and John gathered with other believers, told them of what had happened, and prayed with them for boldness. The Lord answered their prayer, evidenced by verse 31 (ESV):
“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”
As Michael pointed out, when we share the gospel, we can expect to find both hunger and opposition. Though the pluralistic society around us might say otherwise, we know and are blessed to be able to proclaim the truth that salvation is through Christ alone. There is no other way.
As we seek to be bold, though, let’s remember what the council realized about Peter and John. They recognized that they had been with Jesus. As Michael said, “Boldness for Jesus flows from being with Jesus.”
As we seek to tell others of Christ, it’s important that we know Him personally. By His grace, God has blessed us with opportunities for us to grow in our knowledge of Him — opportunities such as reading His word, seeking Him in prayer, and worshipping Him with other believers. Let’s be people who treasure Christ through these spiritual disciplines, and prayerfully rely on the Holy Spirit for boldness to share the gospel.
Resources:
3 Misconceptions about Christian Growth - Thabiti Anyabwile
I Love Jesus Christ - John Piper
Reflection Questions:
How does knowing Jesus relate to boldly sharing the gospel?
What is one spiritual discipline you desire to grow in?
What steps can you take to grow in that discipline this week?