In Acts 3, the apostle Peter preaches the gospel to a large audience in a place called “Solomon’s Portico.” There are many people there, which attracts the attention of many politically powerful families, who make Peter and John answer questions before the Jewish Council in Acts 4. One of the foremost reactions we see from the council is shock and awe at Peter and John’s boldness in preaching about Jesus Christ, a message they knew would be extremely unpopular with the council. Acts 4:13 tells us, “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.”
Notice the impact that they have on the people they are talking to: because of their boldness in talking to this council of highly educated, social elite Jewish officials, these men can easily recognize that they had been with Jesus. We are likely familiar with the experience of being around someone so much that you start to act or talk like them, or have some of their mannerisms. This type of influence, except even more bold and obvious, is the type of impact we see from these apostles having been with Jesus. Think about all that they had “heard and seen” by this point: being called from being fishermen, innumerable miracles and parables, and then the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus! All of these factors should give any believer boldness, but especially so for Peter and John who were able to be there and experience those events. Clearly, being with Jesus changed their lives, and their words and actions showed this. Seeing the apostles preach with this boldness would have been inspirational to the disciples around them, and we see their desire for continued boldness, combined with the same desire in Peter and John, as they pray together in Acts 4:24-30:
“Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’—for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
Think about this: in Acts 5, the apostles are arrested. In Acts 7, Stephen is martyred for preaching the gospel. In Acts 8, we are told Saul (who later became the apostle Paul) was “ravaging” the church. Christians have been persecuted since the beginning of the church in Acts 2, and there will be people who hate Christianity as long as time continues. However, the Christians here are inspired by the boldness they had been witness to and want the Lord to grant them boldness as well to continue to obey Him and preach His Word. Being a Christian is difficult and unpopular in many ways, but we see in the example of the apostles, Jesus Himself, and others throughout history that God is always with His people, even when they are being persecuted. He demands boldness, but He also gives us boldness though His Word, His love, and the examples He has given us.
Notice also how the disciples pray with a clear view of God’s sovereignty, status, and control. They have no fear about Him being defeated, and they are confident in the power of the gospel. They are relying on their Sovereign Lord and King, not only to “look on the threats,” but to “grant [His] servants” the strength to continue their work, despite the worsening persecution. They also do not view the persecution as an attack against themselves, but against God Himself. It is incredible to see how they are focused on the good news of Christ spreading, rather than being concerned with their own safety and welfare.
When we pray, do we pray for our lives to be easier and more comfortable, or do we pray for the boldness to endure whatever this world throws our way? While it is not wrong to ask God to change our circumstances, sometimes rather than a different situation, we should pray like the disciples did in Acts 4: “Lord, you are Sovereign, and we are your servants! Help us serve well.”
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