Acts Chapter 4: 1-10 (NIV)
The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
Acts Chapter 4: Verses 13-20 (NIV)
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
What a difference in Peter! Only a few weeks previously whilst he was in the courtyard of the very same people, he’d denied even knowing Jesus. And now he was boldly preaching to them. Before he had been too afraid of the consequences of being associated with Jesus. Now, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, and aware of what Jesus had done for him, Peter was even prepared to go to prison – the threats no longer bothered him. He now courageously faced the very thing he’d been afraid of.
We can’t always get the victory over our fears in our own strength, after all we are only human. We should never underestimate the difference that the Holy Spirit can make in our lives, so that we too, like Peter, can boldly share our faith when the circumstances arise. The Holy Spirit can also help us to stand firm in circumstances that we may previously have run away from.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit help me to be sensitive to your leading. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.