In Acts 4, we find Peter and John in a bit of trouble. They had just healed a lame beggar, which led to Peter preaching about Jesus in the Temple Square. The priests of the temple and the Sadducees were greatly annoyed because Peter was proclaiming that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead and they did not believe this to be true. They arrested both Peter and John and took them into custody.
The following day, they were called to testify before the Jewish high court.
Acts 4:13 says, “Now when they (the Jewish high court) 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.”
Peter and John displayed Spirit-inspired courage and confidence to speak in front of the supreme court of the land, in the face of great threat and danger. What set them apart? It was not their nobility. They were common men. It was also not their ability to effectively debate theology, not their advanced training, nor their impressive public platform. What set them apart was the fact that they had been with JESUS himself. They spent three years following him, listening to him teach, hearing him pray, watching his interactions with people and how he handled confrontation and conflict. They personally KNEW Him and they spoke with boldness and confidence from a place of intimate relationship.
I pray that God gives this kind of boldness and courage to the Body of Christ for such a time as this. The world is tired of lip service, of our opinions, of our platforms. What will astonish is when they recognize – by our words, by our actions and by our lifestyle – that WE HAVE BEEN WITH JESUS.
By: Kristine Morgan
~ Christ Fellowship