ACTS 4

PETER AND JOHN SPEAK WITH BOLDNESS BEFORE THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS

While Peter and John are sharing the message of Jesus’ resurrection, the religious leaders become annoyed by their preaching. Peter and John are taken into custody until the following day. Before their arrest, many people responded to their teaching, increasing the number of Jesus’ followers to around five thousand.

When questioned by the high priest and religious council, Peter responds with boldness, claiming their abilities to heal came from the authority of Jesus, who was killed and rose from the dead. Peter states that although Jesus was rejected, He has become the cornerstone of faith and the only source of salvation. The leaders are astonished by the confidence in which they speak, considering they are uneducated, common men.

Realizing they have no reason to imprison Peter and John, the council sends them away. Talking amongst themselves, the council wants to extinguish the teaching of Jesus, so that it will not spread any further. The council threatens Peter and John and tells them to keep quiet about Jesus, but they refuse and continue to proclaim what they have seen and heard from Jesus.

After Peter and John are released, they tell their friends what happened among the religious leaders. When they hear of Peter and John’s faithfulness and bravery, they pray together. Quoting the words of David in Psalm 2:1-2, they ask why the rulers and leaders rage against God and His people. The people pray that God will carry out His plans and provide the disciples with boldness and strength. As they pray, they are filled with the Holy Spirit and continue to speak the Word of God with boldness.

The believers are of one heart and soul, unified as followers of Jesus. They are filled with grace and provide abundantly for one another. Many of them, including a man named Barnabas, sell their land as a means to provide financially for the disciples.

Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”