Friday Devo
Scripture:
Acts 4:13
13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
Commentary:
4:13 Boldness (Gk. parrēsia) is an important word in Acts which depicts Spirit-inspired courage and confidence to speak in spite of any danger or threat. It also occurs at 2:29; 4:29, 31; 28:31; cf. 2 Cor. 3:12. Uneducated and common (“nonprofessional”) men like Peter and John were not expected to speak so confidently before the supreme court of the land. The two words do not mean that they were illiterate or unintelligent but rather that they had not gone through the advanced training of the rabbinic schools. they had been with Jesus. It is impossible to imagine how much the disciples would have learned from spending three years in close association with the Son of God living on earth, listening to him teach, hearing him pray, and watching him interact with the most difficult challenges. They knew Jesus, and in knowing him they knew much more than all the learned scribes of the Sanhedrin.
Questions:
- The religious leaders were in awe at the boldness of Peter and John, and they also recognized them as those who had been with Jesus. Could the Sadducees have been thinking there could be a connection there? These men were with Jesus, now they speak with a different authority and boldness. After all, what greater evidence of Jesus being Savior than a changed life? When people around you look at your life, is it obvious to them that you have been with Jesus?
- The Big Idea on Sunday was that boldness is the courage to SPEAK up when fear tells me to SHUT up. Do you have the faith and convictions, like Peter and John, that can stand up in the face of persecution? Or to culture or friends or family? Are you feeling certain levels of persecution for your faith in your life right now? If not, could your life be a little too in line with culture? What is God asking of you?
Prayer Topics:
- That Jesus would shine through your life.
- That you would stand counter-cultural.
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