As we continued our epic journey through ACTS, we saw in the fourth chapter that Peter and John had been arrested and held overnight as was the custom of the people. (Remember Jesus’ trial was illegally held at night). They appeared before the Sanhedrin, which included the same high priests that had been instrumental in the plot to kill Jesus a couple of months earlier (Annas and Caiaphis.) They asked them:”“…By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. (Acts 4:7-10) They heard the boldness in Peter’s speech and were astonished that uneducated fisherman could speak like this, and realized they had been with JESUS!
The Sanhedrin wanted to stop them from declaring the Name of Jesus, but could find no basis to charge them, so they threatened them and told them not to teach or speak at all in the name of Jesus! Peter told them that it was up to God and not them if he should continue to proclaim the name of Jesus. The Sanhedrin really could do nothing about it because the crowd was praising and glorifying the Lord for the miracle of the healing of the man who was lame for more than 40 years. Then when news got out about Peter and John’s release, they gathered together to thank the Lord and glorify him, and to ask God for boldness so that they could proclaim His Word boldly. As the church, that should be our prayer that we can proclaim God’s Word boldly.
God’s Word had gone forth and His power revealed, the church continued to add numbers, with 5000 more believers. They had had everything together in common. People rallied together to support the first church, they would sell their houses and possessions and lay the proceeds at the apostles feet.
NEXT WEEK-ACTS 5
Come Be Part! We look forward to fellowshipping with you at Set Free Church of the High Desert.
