SCRIPTURE:
5 The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. 7 They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,
‘The stone that you builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.’
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
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.
Acts 4:5-13
OBSERVATION:
Have you ever looked at someone making a difference for God and wondered “how are they so bold?” A pastor preaching a powerful sermon. A worship leader singing with genuine conviction. A leader unafraid to go against the status quo and take a stand for God. Perhaps your wonder even increased when you know these people were not always that way. What changed? How did they become so bold and effective for the Kingdom? The answer––and the ability to see it in our lives––is available for every person, no matter how shy, shaky, or timid they may be.
In Acts 4, God had just used the apostle Peter to heal the lame man at the Gate called Beautiful and preach a powerful message that led thousands of people to Christ. And because he did, the high priests imprisoned him and plotted against him in hopes that Peter would back down, be afraid, and stop preaching the Gospel. After all, he was the very one who denied Jesus three times in one day because he was so afraid of what might happen to him. Surely, he’d do the same in this case too, right?
Wrong. Because this Peter was different. There was something in him that changed. And because of this one thing that changed, Peter didn’t back down; he doubled down. When the Sanhedrin threatens him, Peter boldly stands up for God, courageously calls out the unrighteousness of the Sanhedrin to their faces, and takes the opportunity to preach the Gospel to everyone in attendance. No longer did the consequences matter. No longer was he afraid. He was different.
So what was this difference? How did this man go from being afraid to associate with Jesus to boldly risking his life for Him in just 50 days?
Look closely at verse 8: “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…”
What was the difference in Peter? The Holy Spirit.
And the difference the Holy Spirit made in Peter was so great that even Peter’s enemies could see it. “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” (Acts 4:13a NLT).
The Holy Spirit is the key to boldness. He was what made all the difference.
APPLICATION:
No matter how shy, timid, or uncertain you may feel, the same boldness that changed Peter is available to you—for boldness does not come from within; it comes from Who you welcome in.
Just 10 days before Peter stood up to the Sanhedrin, the Holy Spirit—the manifest presence and power of God—was given to all believers. On this day, which became known as the Day of Pentecost, all people from then on were given the chance to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And it is the Holy Spirit that transforms timid, fearful people into bold witnesses of the Gospel.
If you want to be filled with boldness, all you need to do is ask Him to fill you with His Spirit. That’s what the early church did. As they prayed in Acts 4:29-30 NLT, “29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And what happened in response? “30 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31 NLT).
Do you want to be bold for God? If so, just ask Him.
As Jesus says in Matthew 7:9-11 NLT, “9 You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” Ask God for His Spirit. Ask Him for boldness. And don’t feel bad in doing so––for these are prayers that He wants you to pray.
God designed you to be bold. He did it with Peter––now let Him do it with you.
PRAYER:
God,
Thank You for Your presence. Father, just like you did with Peter, I desire to be filled with boldness. I desire to be transformed by Your Spirit. I desire to be used by You so that none shall perish. So Holy Spirit, fill me with Your presence. Pour Your Spirit into me to overflowing. Change my heart, transform my heart, and fill me with Your power. Let Your glory fall down. I love You, Lord. Thank You for loving me.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
