And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes,6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked,"By what power or by what name have you done this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.11 This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,16 saying,"What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name." 18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.19 But Peter and John answered and said to them,"Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
NKJV
I want to pull a few thoughts out of this text that I heard in a message last week for your meditation.
What can we learn from Peter and John on how to faithfully proclaim the Gospel?
I. The Empowerment for sharing the Gospel.
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,
The word of God specifically notes before Peter shares with boldness that there was a significant factor contributing to His ability to share; He was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus told His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until you are endued with Power from on High.
Acts 1:8 "And you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses"
Witnessing is dependent upon the filling and empowering of the Holy Spirit. Are you filled with the Holy Spirit today? Could that be the reason for your inability to share your faith?
Peter certainly struggled to Testify of Christ before he was filled with the Holy Spirit. As a matter of fact he was so weak and afraid in His flesh that He denied that he even knew Him. Let this be a reminder of our need for the filling of the Holy Spirit each moment for the purpose of sharing Christ with the world.
II. The Evidence for Sharing the Gospel.
If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
In this passage the healing of a lame man gave evidence to the power of Christ and set the stage for Peter and John to bear witness that Jesus was the Risen Christ.
Question: What evidence is on display in our lives and in our churches today that give us the opportunity to share the testimony of Christ?
- The scripture speaks that we give evidence of the power of the Gospel and the risen Christ through the power of God in our lives producing love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodnees, faithfulness, and self-control.
- The scripture teaches that men will see our good works and glorify our Father who is in Heaven. What evidence would be found in your life, in your family, in your church, that would give you an opportunity to let it be known to all, that what you see is the result of the power of Jesus Christ.
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
The text says that the hearers marveled at the way Peter and John gave witness because they were uneducated and untrained men. Then without knowing the referenced where the source of their testimony came from..."they had been with Jesus"
In this verse we see that it is not instruction that you need to share Jesus with others, but Intimacy.
It is not more education that is necessary for us to be effective in sharing Jesus with others, it is more experience with the Lord Jesus.
This goes all the way back to the invitation Jesus gave some young fishermen on the shore of Galilee.
"Follow ME and I will make you to become fishers of men"
- Are you filled with the Holy Spirit today? If not, Why? Eph. 5:18 "Be being filled with the Spirit"
- Is there evidence of God at work in your life that will afford you the opportunity to share with others what Jesus has done in your life?
- Do you have a story to tell others because you have been with Jesus? All anyone needs in order to share Jesus is a personal experience that comes from a personal walk with Him.
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