Acts 4:13-22
This is the First time that the apostles had to face the very people who were directly responsible for the crucifixion. Imagine that for a moment, these people killed their leader and the apostles all scattered and denied the Lord yet here they are facing them down again. These are the Rulers of the Jews. There had the power and their position and authority to do pretty much anything they wanted to these apostles.
Peter and John had boldness and power because they possessed Jesus Christ (and He them) that bravery and ability did not come from anything else. It wasn’t innate or learned. That confidence was not based on past accomplishments
Have you ever known the truth or the right thing to do but not had the power or the courage to do what was right?
Peter and John had boldness and power which came from two sources 1. Time with Jesus 2. The Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the living Word of God
Spirit is the power of God
4:13 – You will have boldness
Worldly men rely on worldly means to bolster their confidence: experience, education, natural ability
God supplies boldness through his Holy Spirit
Proverbs 28:1 ESV
The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints– 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. – Eph 6:18-20 NKJV
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. – 2Ti 1:7 NKJV
29 “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 “by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. – Act 4:29-31 NKJV
People will marvel
8 Now when the multitudes saw [it], they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men. – Mat 9:8 NKJV
15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?” – Jhn 7:15 NKJV
7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? – Act 2:7 NKJV
4:14– No one can speak against you
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men– – 1Pe 2:15 NKJV
17 And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him. – Luk 13:17 NKJV
4:15 – People will talk about you
22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” – Luk 4:22 NKJV
4:16 – Miracles will be evident
17 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 “they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” – Mar 16:17-18 NKJV
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater [works] than these he will do, because I go to My Father. – Jhn 14:12 NKJV
4:17 – The Gospel will spread
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added [to them]. … 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. – Act 2:41, 47 NKJV
4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. – Act 4:4 NKJV
7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. – Act 6:7 NKJV
31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. – Act 9:31 NKJV
4:18 – You will be threatened
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do [to me], and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” – 1Ki 19:1-2 NKJV
14 They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul. – Act 23:14 NKJV
4:19 & 20 – You won’t shut up
9 Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But [His word] was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding [it] back, And I could not. – Jer 20:9 NKJV
3 My heart was hot within me; While I was musing, the fire burned. [Then] I spoke with my tongue: – Psa 39:3 NKJV
4:21 & 22 – God will be glorified
26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!” – Luk 5:26 NKJV
12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by [your] good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. – 1Pe 2:12 NKJV
16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. – Mat 5:16 NKJV
