Acts 4:13-14
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.”
Peter and John had been causing quite a stir with their message of Jesus, the risen messiah, and many were coming to faith. But not all who heard them were fans. The priests and captain of the temple were livid as many of their followers became convinced that Jesus was the Son of God. Peter and John were thrown in prison for the religious counsel to deal with. I imagine that as these two fishermen turned evangelists were brought into the presence of the Sanhedrin the next day the strategy was to intimidate, put them in their place and send them off to lick their wounds. The Sanhedrin after all, were the authority on all things spiritual. They were the educated, but as Peter began to speak, they realized that they were the ones being schooled.
This passage isn’t a lesson in the evils of education. I’m a firm believer that we should study to show ourselves approved, and I have educators in my immediate and extended family. But there is something about learning through experience that you can’t get from a lecture or a classroom.
I was blessed with a great education, but nothing made it’s mark in my preparedness and confidence in ministry like actually doing ministry. The first times, the mistakes, the conflicts and the victories were all learning experiences that gave me a boldness to lean in to my calling, not because of my own abilities, but because of His. God continues to show up and work in and through our faithfulness. So when we are faithful and God does what only He can do – what are you going to say against that?
- Spend some time reflecting on times that you have experienced God’s goodness and transforming power in your life. How can you leverage that to act with boldness this week for the sake of the Gospel?
Highlight – what words or phrases jump out at you
Explain – what does the passage mean?
Apply – how does the passage intersect with your life today?
Respond – how is God leading you to respond?
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Today's reading - Acts 4:13-14. "The first times, the mistakes, the conflicts and the victories were all learning experiences that gave me a boldness to lean in to my calling, not because of my own abilities, but because of His."