Acts 4:23-31 The Believers Pray for Boldness

What will Peter and John do after being threatened and released? Will they pout? Will they plot? Will they play? None of the above! They reported what happened to their friends - better translation is to their own, referring to other believers and they PRAYED. Complaining about the situation was not going to make it better. Trying to exact revenge was not going to make it better. Ignoring the situation and going back to business as usual was not going to help either.

What did they pray about? They could have complained to God in their prayer, but they didn't. They could have asked God to rain fire and brimstone upon the priests and Pharisees, but they didn't. They could have prayed for a hiding place, but they did not. Instead, their prayer acknowledged God as the Sovereign Creator of all things as an opening. Then they acknowledged that God had spoken through David, referring to Psalm 2, explaining that the Gentiles, peoples, rulers, and kings would come against the Christ. After quoting the Scripture, they acknowledged its fulfillment in their day through the Gentiles, Israel, Pontius Pilate, and Herod. Again, this prayer shows that predestination and human responsibility are completely compatible with one another.

What did they pray about? They asked God to look upon their threats. It is an expression to bring something to his attention. Given the threats, they asked: "grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with boldness." Awesome! In the midst of opposition, they viewed their circumstances in light of the Scriptures and asked for what they needed most. Considering that the mission was already clearly stated by Jesus before his ascension: Make disciples wherever you go or be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, there is no question that the greatest need is boldness to speak the word given the threats.

The focus of my prayer in similar circumstances would've been on protection. For God to protect me from the threats, but I don't think I would've asked for boldness to do exactly what the leaders prohibited me to do. This is evidence that my prayer life is too self-centered. I need to be more Christ-centered, more Kingdom-centered. I have to realize that I am called to be a witness upon this earth and nothing should deter me from being one. A true disciple follows Jesus no matter the circumstances. A true disciple makes kingdom business the priority of his life.

Their prayer also acknowledged that God would continue to work among them with healings, signs and wonders through the name of Jesus. Evidence that God listened to this prayer was that immediately, the place was shaken, they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and in the long term, they continued to speak the word with boldness. The results are in the hands of God!

Father, fill me with your Spirit and grant me boldness to speak your word in season and out of season. May I be a Christ-centered disciple. May my business be your kingdom above all other things. Amen.

Acts 3:11-26 Peter Speaks in Solomon's Portico

People were astounded by the healing of the lame beggar and they gathered around Peter and John. Peter addressed the crowd to let them know that the miracle was not performed by their power or piety, but by Jesus Christ who resurrected from the dead. Peter accuses them of his death because they delivered him to Pilate and declares the miracle a work of his hand by faith in his name. Faith requires an object. It cannot be faith for the sake of believing something. For it to be genuine faith, it must be in Jesus. Jesus is the object of our faith, trust, and obedience.

Christianity boils down to who I believe Jesus to be. Is he the son of a carpenter and a good man? Is he a prophet with powers to heal? Is he a peaceful martyr willing to give his life to appease the political powers of the day? Is he a political figure who promised better days? Is he a prophet willing to denounce the Scribes and Pharisees? Is he a wise teacher who understands the Law like no one else? All these things may be true, but they don't make him the object of my faith. Peter calls him the Holy and Righteous One, the Author of Life, the resurrected and glorified Son of God. Do I believe this?

Peter explains that God foretold by the mouth of the prophets Christ's suffering and death. But the crowd's ignorance is no excuse - they stand guilty! He calls them to repentance so that they may receive forgiveness, refreshment, and the future restoration of all things. God is sovereign because he foretold what needed to take place, but human responsibility is not excused at all. Repentance is the remedy for such a rebellion. I can't forget that the reason Christ came into the world was to offer himself as a sacrifice for my sins. His death is upon me as much as it is upon the Romans and Jews of the day. God is sovereign, but I must repent!

Peter points out that this Jesus is the one Moses, and Samuel and all the prophets spoke about. He particularly reminds the people of the covenant God cut with Abraham with the promise: "In your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed." Jesus is that offspring and God began to bless the families of the earth by sending Jesus to the Jews first, and then the rest of the world. The blessing, Peter explains, is turning you from your wickedness. My wickedness is my desire to live my life my way turning my back on God and his ways. God calls me to repentance so that I may turn to him and live by his commands.

Father, enable me to make your Son the object of my faith. May I never hide behind your sovereignty as an excuse to evade my responsibility. Give me a repentant heart and a strong belief in your word spoken by the prophets.

Acts 2:14-41 Peter's Sermon at Pentecost

Peter takes the lead to explain what is going on. It is not that the people are drunk! It is the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy (Joel2:28-32) right before their eyes. Joel spoke of the pouring out of the Spirit upon all flesh with evident manifestations of prophecy, visions, and dreams. The second part of his prophecy speaks of the day of judgment with wonders in the heavens and signs on the earth. Some of these are: blood, fire, vapor of smoke, the sun turning into darkness and the moon turning into blood. These are all literary devices to express the coming of the day of the Lord, or Judgment Day. The Spirit is here! I am living the end times!

Then, Peter presents Jesus as the man God delivered up according to his plan and foreknowledge. At the same time, he accuses the crowd for crucifying and killing him. Many books have been written about the reconciliation between God's sovereignty and Human responsibility. The Scriptures teach both. Whatever philosophical system we devise to explain the interaction of these two perspectives cannot lose sight that both need to be upheld. My God is sovereign! From the little sparrow to the hairs on my head, he has dominion over it all. I am responsible! God will hold me accountable for my thoughts, words, and actions.

Now he turns to the Psalms (16:8-11) to prove that Jesus' resurrection was prophesied by David and links the pouring of the Spirit with the resurrection and ascension of the Lord. Finally, he states that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. The title of Lord implies that Jesus has power, authority, and influence over his people. The title of Christ identifies him as the promised one to Israel, the Messiah, the King to come, the Savior. I have to come to grips with who Jesus is in my life. Is he my Lord? Is he my Savior?

The people's response to Peter's sermon was that they were cut to the heart. It was devastating! It hit them really hard. Now what? What to do? Peter points the way with repentance and baptism so they can enjoy the promised Holy Spirit. It pains my soul to see many people today in our churches without making a commitment to the Lord through baptism. I will never forget my baptism. Mom and Dad did not like it. My friends then, told me I was crazy. Baptism is the confession to the world that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. The message continues to be the same: Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the promised Holy Spirit.

Father, thank you for giving your Son Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of my soul. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to fill me and guide me day by day. May I keep Christ as the center of my life to live in the fullness of your promise all the days of my life. Amen