The miracle and witness to Jesus caused such a stir that the religious leaders had Peter and John jailed. Do the threats and jailing shut them up? No way.
At the first possible moment the duo continue their witness to Jesus. And in the midst of this hostile crowd they do not temper the message one bit.
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. Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (8-12)
Direct and clear, Peter does not mince words.
I pondered what allowed him to be so fearless? It is not simply that he knew facts. Knowing facts, even knowing the person Jesus, doesn’t guarantee relentless boldness and courage under fire. After all, this same man caved under the scrutiny of a maid on the night Jesus was arrested.
I could come up with only two reasons.
First, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke makes this clear. So far at each juncture where Peter witnesses to Jesus, Luke expressly says he was filled with the Spirit. And according to Jesus in Acts 1:8 the filling of the Spirit, no matter the attending manifestations, is given so that believers have power to witness. Peter is living proof of this in Acts.
Second, Peter was sold out to the mandate to tell everyone from
The recognition came… “Bill, that’s what I want from all My followers.”
God fills us… we offer our lives to the cause. This is the formula for the Christian faith.
Think about it…
O God, use me… embolden me… for the sake of the message. Amen.
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