Theological Commentary: Click Here
In Acts 4 we
get to see the downside of being a part of God’s hand at work. The religious leaders arrest Peter and
John. They don’t like it that someone
else is displaying power. They really
don’t like the fact that they had just killed Jesus and yet people are still
doing works in His name. Quite often
when we are doing the work of the Lord we will be ridiculed, scorned, and
rejected by the world and its people.
That’s reality.
Check out
Peter in this story. Facing arrest, Peter
speaks boldly. He doesn’t try to save face.
If he is going to go down, he speaks boldly. Jesus announces Jesus’ name
as the source of the power. Remember,
these are the people who just convicted Jesus to be crucified. Peter goes into hostile territory and
proclaims his faith with expert skill and a distinct lack of fear.
The result
of this is that the religious leaders are amazed. They can’t believe that Peter and John –
these uneducated fisherman with no religious training – are capable of
impressing them. The religious leaders
also have a bit of fear of the people in them because Jesus did so many
miracles and Peter and John are now claiming His name as power. Peer and John are released. They are threatened, but they are released
unharmed.
There is
another result of Peter’s boldness. Their
fellow believers are emboldened. They
even ask God for even more boldness.
When we step out in God, we make it easier for others to step out,
too. We also make it easier to step out
ourselves.
Finally, we
see that the disciples continue to live in peace and community with the other
believers. How can this possible
continue? It continues because the
people are focused upon God. The people
are not focused on themselves and their own greatness. They are focused on God’s greatness and His
amazing power. When we are truly focused
on God, we can live at peace with one another.
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