Peter and John were commissioned to preach this gospel of the kingdom and to be witnesses of what they had experienced in their relationship with Jesus Christ. But this was threatening to the religious authority who questioned them in Acts 4:7 “and they made them stand in their midst and began to ask, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” but they weren’t interested in an answer and after talking among themselves, in Acts 4:18 “called them back and commanded them not to speak or to teach at all in the name of Jesus”. Peter and John went to the church and they prayed in Acts 4:24 “they lifted their voices with one mind to God”. We also may find ourselves facing opposition, but God has also given us this message. Then, Peter and John were thrown in prison in Acts 5:19–20 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple courts and proclaim to the people all the words of this life.” and there they went, right back to the temple courts, and they continued to “proclaim to the people all the words of this life”.
There Is No Other Name Under Heaven By Which We Must Be Saved
We Are Not Able To Refrain From Speaking
Acts 4:15–22
The leaders of Israel, the Sanhedrin, wanted to stop this message but God has been confirming the word of the apostles with miracles they could not deny in
Acts 4:16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For that a remarkable sign has taken place through them is evident to all those who live in Jerusalem, and we are not able to deny it!
So, they decide to forbid them from speaking the name of Jesus in
Acts 4:17–18 But in order that it may not spread much further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more in this name to anyone at all.” 18 And they called them back and commanded them not to speak or to teach at all in the name of Jesus.
But Peter and John refuse because they have the word of God that they have been commissioned to preach in
Acts 4:19–20 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, you decide! 20 For we are not able to refrain from speaking about the things that we have seen and heard.”
Extend Your Hand To Heal
Acts 4:23–31
Peter and John returned to the church, “their own people” with a report of what had happened in
Acts 4:23 And when they were released, they went to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
and the whole congregation called out together “with one mind to God” in
Acts 4:24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices with one mind to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all the things in them,
but they don’t pray randomly, instead, they pray quoting the words of David from Psalm 2:1-2 in
Acts 4:25–26 the one who said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, your servant, ‘Why do the nations rage, and the peoples conspire in vain? The kings of the earth stood opposed, and the rulers assembled together at the same place, against the Lord and against his Christ.’
and then they name their current opposition in
Acts 4:27–28 For in truth both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed, 28 to do all that your hand and plan had predestined to take place.
and finally, they ask the Lord to intervene on their behalf in
Acts 4:29–30 And now, Lord, concern yourself with their threats and grant your slaves to speak your message with all boldness, 30 as you extend your hand to heal and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
and the Lord responded as the place is shaken and again, “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” and instead of stopping, they “began to speak the word of God with boldness” in Acts 4:31.
Those Who Believed Were One Heart and Soul
Acts 4:32–37
How Is It That You Have Contrived This Deed
Acts 5:1–11
Many Signs And Wonders Were Being Performed
Proclaim To The People All The Words Of This Life
Acts 5:17–26
Again, the high priest and leaders had Peter and John put in prison in
Acts 5:17–18 Now the high priest rose up and all those who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18 And they laid hands on the apostles and put them in the public prison.
We also know that even though we say in our judicial system that people are innocent until proven guilty, the public reaction to imprisonment is often an assumption that they must have done something wrong, something bad, to be imprisoned and this kind of character assassination was exactly what these leaders wanted to accomplish. But God had a different plan so in
Acts 5:19–20 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple courts and proclaim to the people all the words of this life.”
Peter and John were commissioned to preach. They had a message and if they had any doubt about what they were doing, the Lord removed it by sending his messenger that told them, “Go and stand in the temple courts”. That is exactly what they did in
Acts 5:21a And when they heard this, they entered at daybreak into the temple courts and began teaching.
When the leaders of Israel sent for them they couldn’t find them in the prison and it created great confusion in
Acts 5:23 saying, “We found the prison locked with all security and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”
until someone came and reported that they were back preaching again in the temple courts in
Acts 5:25 But someone came and reported to them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple courts and teaching the people!”
Study Verses
- Acts 4:15–22 We Are Not Able To Refrain From Speaking
- Acts 4:23–31 Extend Your Hand To Heal
- Acts 5:17–26 Proclaim To The People All The Words Of This Life
Today’s Reading
- Acts 4:5-37
- Acts 5:1-26