Spiritual Boldness
Who is the first person who comes to mind when you think about boldness? I think of many people: Daniel, Elijah, the Apostles, Stephen, the early Christian martyrs… Then there are the recent heroes of the faith: Corrie Ten Boon, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, David Livingstone, Dwight L. Moody, Billy Graham… What do they all have in common? They were all willing to do whatever it took to stand for God – even death. And some did die because of their faith – Stephen, most of the Apostles, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer to name just a few. They also had deep convictions and a passion for truth and righteousness instead of capitulating to societal norms. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Corrie Ten Boon and her family are examples of this. Instead of taking the easy way and just going along with the Nazi’s, they stood against it. It is so easy to give in and just go with the flow. But it is in the struggle that we learn how to walk with God and be bold.
Vs 1-4 Now as they were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them, because they were provoked that they were teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection from the dead, using Jesus as the example. So they seized them and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening. But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about 5,000.
Here we continue to the story from chapter 3. The lame man has been healed and has been last seen dancing and leaping his way into the temple gates. People have come from all over the temple area to see what was going on and have heard the gospel message from Peter and John. Now they are being confronted by the priests, the commander of the temple police and the Sadducees (who do not believe in the resurrection). Acts 4 says they were provoked by Peter and John’s teaching. The Greek word for provoked is diaponeomai, which means to be annoyed. They did not believe in the resurrection and certainly did not want to be reminded of Jesus who had also confronted them with their wrong belief. So, they decided to put a stop to it by having them arrested. It didn’t matter, for the truth of the gospel had found it’s way into the hearts of about 5000 men who were in the temple that day. There was a hunger for truth and righteousness and the message of Jesus was what they needed to hear.
Vs 5-12 – The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John and Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family. After they had Peter and John stand before them, they asked the question: “By what power or in what name have you done this?” Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders: If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man by what means he was healed let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead by Him this man is standing here before you healthy. This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people, and we must be saved by it.”
The next day Peter and John were brought out to an assembly of the Sanhedrin, the supreme council and tribunal of the Jews at that time. This was obviously a power move meant to intimidate them. It was very much like testifying in front of today’s congress or parliament. Their first question: “By what power or in what name have you done this?” In many ways, this is a legitimate question. They were, after all, the guardians of the Jewish faith. They wanted to make sure that what was being taught on the temple mount was correct and according to Scripture. So here they are – the high and mighty Sanhedrin with all their learning and ability – looking down (literally) on Peter and John – simple fisherman who just happened to have been the disciples of the Messiah. It would have been so easy for Peter and John to have succumbed to the intimidation. They had just spent a night in prison and they were certainly not assured of getting out of this without capitulating to the powers that be. But, they do not take the easy way out. Instead they stand boldly in front of the Sanhedrin and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Not only that, but they are able to correctly quote Scripture. Why is this so astounding? We find out in the next verses.
Vs 13-22 When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus. And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in response. After they had ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves, saying, ”What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign, evident to all who live in Jerusalem, has been done through them, and we cannot deny it! However, so this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.” So they called for them and ordered them not to preach or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them, because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done; for this sign of healing had been performed on a man over 40 years old.
The Sanhedrin are astounded at the fact that these uneducated, untrained (by their standards) men could not only be bold, but learned as well. They also saw the man who was healed standing fully healed right in front of them. They couldn’t counter Peter and John’s claims. They had probably seen this lame man over the years begging in front of the gate. Perhaps they had even given him some money. Yet, here he was, a witness to what had happened in the name of Jesus Christ and they had no response.
Now comes the most interesting part of this story. Here they are with full knowledge of Scripture. They are educated and trained. They are teachers of the law and prophets. They have been confronted by men who are uneducated and untrained with Scriptural evidence and a miracle that can’t be denied. Here is what they say: ”What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign, evident to all who live in Jerusalem, has been done through them, and we cannot deny it! However, so this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.” The sign was obvious! They couldn’t deny it, yet they still do not want to grasp the truth. Let me reiterate that – they didn’t want to believe it. They chose not to believe it. They were so blinded by their own bias and view of truth they couldn’t and didn’t want to see what was so evident right in front of them. Instead of receiving the truth, they were threatened by it and so, they try to have it hushed up. They try to make it go away.
But Peter and John refuse. Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Basically they turned it right back on them – should we listen to you instead of God? You decide which is the best course. Once again, the mighty Sanhedrin had nothing to say. They, who had tried to intimidate these “lowly” fisherman, ended up capitulating. There was nothing left for them to do except to threaten them some more before letting them go.
Vs 23-31 After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they all raised their voices to God and said, “Master, You are the One who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them. You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David Your servant: Why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot futile things? The kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against His Messiah. “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God’s message with boldness.
After they are released they go directly back to report to “their own people”. The response to their story is a raising of their voices to God. In one accord they began to praise and pray. They gave God all the credit for the opportunity they had to speak truth. They understood that God had spoken through them. They were not afraid, but emboldened by the experience. They knew God would speak through them and they would be able to speak the message of Christ boldly. In fact, their prayer was not one of “thank you for rescuing us” or “thank you for making sure we’re ok”. No, it was help us speak with more boldness in spite of their threats. There was no backing down. There was no being careful. It was forge ahead in boldness knowing God will be with us. They recognized they were living in a day when Psalm 2 was happening. They had just witnessed the religious leaders of the day deny the obvious work of God.
We also live in a day when Psalm 2 is happening. Many around us rebel and plot. God’s word said it will be in vain. Many rulers and powers that be conspire against the living God, but God’s word reminds us that He is able to take them down. The church today must recognize that and act on it. Instead, I believe we have become too careful with our message. We don’t want to offend. We think our relationship with God is too personal. Subtlety, without meaning to, I believe the church has perpetuated that idea by calling it a personal relationship with God. I have heard it said by many that the reason believers don’t share the gospel with those around them is because their relationship with God is their own business or a personal matter. This passage absolutely dismantles that idea. Our relationship with God is to be shouted from the roof tops! We are to pray for boldness to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to look for opportunities wherever we are. There are many God ordained moments that I believe many of us, me included, miss because we are not paying attention. On one hand, we want revival and an awakening in this world, on the other hand we are not down on our knees praying for boldness.
When I look at the lives of those I see as my spiritual heroes, there is always prayer going on. Daniel went to the lion’s den because he prayed to God. The early apostles spent a lot of time in prayer – this passage is just one example. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a man of prayer. Every great revival and awakening in history was birthed because of believers on their knees praying. As we continue through the book of Acts, we will see many bold acts. We will come into contact with many men and women who were faithful in prayer. We will see God’s Word spread throughout the known world because the early believers were actively looking for God’s ordained opportunities to share in boldness. And, if it is our desire for God to do a work in this world right now, we must step out in boldness as well.
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