Read the Word:
Acts 4:13-31
Meditate on the Word:
I had someone recently comment that, because I attended seminary, I should know a lot of Bible because it had been “drilled into me”. I can understand the perception, but truthfully, seminary is not a big three-year long Sword Drill (anyone remember those?). It would be much more accurate to say that seminary taught me how to “receive the word with eagerness and examine the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11). I was taught the skills necessary to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Perhaps was was most shocking about the boldness of Peter and John, particularly to the Sanhedrin, was that they were operating in obvious power of the Holy Spirit without the formal Scriptural education that they had all had. How could these unlearned fishermen possibly have power from God? They hadn’t spent years under the teachings of famous Rabbis! Yet, they could perform miracles proving that God was with them and they could teach with boldness. It was truly amazing.
So often, it is tempting to shy away from spiritual conversations fearing that we do not know enough. This is very common among believers. Truth be told, even pastors can find themselves feeling that we do not know what we should. But the fact is that we, who have the Holy Spirit, same as Peter and John, should have the boldness to have the conversation anyway. The Holy Spirit worked powerfully through these fishermen. He can also work powerfully through us as well!
Pray the Word:
Join with the Apostles in this prayer from verse 29, “Grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness.”
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