In Acts 3 we see where Peter and John are going
to pray and are stopped by a lame beggar, and in the name of Jesus they heal
him. This amazed the others going to pray who had seen this beggar for years,
probably sitting in the same spot. People quickly gathered to see this miracle,
and Peter immediately began to preach the Gospel to them. This drew the
attention of the Sadducees, who were none too happy (to the point of jealousy),
and they had Peter and John arrested.
The next day when the High Priest’s inquired by
what “power” they had healed the beggar, Peter answered them boldly. Now mind
you this is same Peter who had denied Jesus three times, who could not even
stand up to the little servant girl who had pointed him out as being with
Jesus. (Luke 22:56) And it gives witness to the power of the Holy Spirit that
can change a person when Peter says to the High Priests(Acts 4:8): (And if I may take some artistic
license and read this as I think Peter may have said it), “Rulers of the people
and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a
crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to
all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you
crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you
well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has
become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one
else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must
be saved.”
And notice the reference to Psalm 118 that the Sadducees and High Priests
would have no doubt picked up on.
“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it. Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord,
we pray, give us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God, and he has
made his light to shine upon us.”
The Sadducees are basically dumbfounded at the miracle and the boldness
of Peter and not knowing what to do, they tell Peter and John to not speak in
the name of Jesus anymore, to which Peter and John respond that they have no
choice but to do so. So the Sadducees again warn them to knock it off or else
and then let them go.
As soon as they return to their friends they pray and give thanks, and
again quote a Psalm 2:1-2 of David, “said by the Holy Spirit” Acts 4:25
“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain? The
kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’— “
The chapter concludes with Acts
4:31
“And when they had prayed, the
place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled
with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”
As noted in “The Complete
Summary of the New Testament” by Keith Brooks the summary conclusion to Acts
Chapter 4
“The more resolute are Christ’s
servants to witness of Him, the more spiteful will be the agents of Satan—therefore,
let Satan’s agents be ever so spiteful, Christ’s witnesses must be resolute,
for the Holy Spirit may be counted upon to enable them to do their part.
Persecution gives wings to the truth.”
In terms of prayer I think this
gives witness that we must call upon the Holy Spirit to give us the boldness to
proclaim His name, especially in the times of persecution, because we are not
strong enough. But if we rely upon the Holy Spirit to guide our actions, our
words, and our prayers we can be sure that while persecution will come, we can
be faithful witnesses to Him.
So this morning we pray, come
Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and our minds, that we will be faithful witnesses
in our deeds, words, and thoughts in the name of Jesus, Amen.
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