CHAPTER 4
Persecution Begins
After healing a lame man at the temple and preaching to the Jews about the power via Jesus’ resurrection, they are arrested and brought before the elders. They question their teachings and the source of their power.
“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…Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” v.10,12
Astounded, the elders let Peter and John go with a warning: “to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
Peter challenges them, asking if they believe it better to disobey man or God. The rest of the believers, upon hearing Peter and John’s report of all that had happened, petitioned to God in prayer for boldness and miracles.
Let’s Talk About It
Unshakable Faith
The world is inconsistent yet will try to define you. God’s plan and promises will prevail, trust your identity in Christ, and instead, YOU can shake the world! “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” v.31
Expecting Adversity
In the face of persecution, the Holy Spirit filled believers prayed for boldness and for God to work miracles through them. It doesn’t mention them praying for protection. The New Testament speaks a lot about suffering for Christ, how is it that we spend so much time praying against it?
