Faith Under Fire or Faith is Fire: The Boldness of Believers

Bible Passage: Acts 4:13-22 ESV
13 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. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

Astonishing Audacity from Jesus

Acts 4:13-14 ESV (Connect 14 and 22)
13 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. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.

Peter and John’s boldness amazed the Sanhedrin, how? Because they were considered uneducated and common men!

The difference maker is Jesus! They recognized that they had been with Jesus!
This authentic boldness & courage are rooted not in human capability but in a profound encounter with Jesus.

What does this mean? The more time you spend with Him, the more you conform to Him.
Where you spend the majority of your time reveals what you have been aligning yourself with and identifies who you are.

What happened here is their identity was revealed by who they had been with… Jesus!

You can be confident in their witness, knowing that, like Peter and John, their strength and witness come from their time with Jesus. How do those around you identify you? Can others see the influence of Jesus on your lives?

Council’s Conflicted Conundrum

Acts 4:15-17 ESV
15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”

What God will do with the steadfastness of your faith is reveal a work that none could deny. The enemy will have those against you speaking in secret about how to stop you from witnessing.

The amazing thing is that the very means by which they threaten you will be the catalyst for how God will promote you. Be bold with your witness, even though they threaten you with what they will do.

Steadfast faith provokes opposition, but also opens doors of opportunity for even more witnessing. Be Bold!

Their warnings, threats, and persecution only served to advance the spread of the witness they were trying to stop. ONLY GOD! What the enemy meant for evil, God is working it out for your good.

Fearless Faithful Obedience

Acts 4:18-20 ESV
18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

People may oppose you for your experiences with the Lord; speak anyway.

Peter and John’s refusal to stop speaking about what they have seen and heard from God demonstrates that steadfastness in faith serves as a powerful example of prioritizing obedience to God over compliance with human mandates.

Their unwavering commitment to share the gospel speaks volumes about their deep conviction. I want to inspire you to uphold your testimony with the same boldness as Peter and John, valuing God’s command above all.

Miraculous Manifestation of Jesus

Acts 4:21-21 ESV
21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

Visible demonstrations of faith can silence critics and affirm Christ’s presence.

The miraculous healing that testifies to the power of Jesus’ name leaves the council unable to deny its impact.

The council is astonished at their boldness despite their lack of formal religious education. This passage challenges the status quo and illustrates how faith in Jesus empowers believers to stand firm in their convictions, even when faced with severe opposition and potential consequences.

This is a clear example of how the early church faced persecution without fear.