Acts 4
by Philip Layton
The number of believers greatly increases
Discussion Questions
- The number of male believers was already 5,000 (v 4).
- Is it any wonder that Peter and John were arrested by those who had hoped Jesus’ death would be the end?
- The apostles’ faithfulness to the gospel and boldness in preaching brought them hardship, but reason to thank God too.
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Going Deeper from 'Words of Life'
No one is able to put a stop to the truth of the Lord, when it is being revealed by the Holy Spirit. When God’s people are trusting in God, and speaking the truth in his name, nothing can stop this. Whether people hearing the message choose to believe it or not is another matter. But the truth of God can never be covered up.
Here, in this passage, Peter and John were before the Sanhedrin. The authorities were desperately trying to stop their preaching. But the two disciples responded with these words:
‘Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God’ (v. 19).
It took courage to tell out the truth. But they could do it, for they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They lived the truth, and would not compromise it, nor cover it up. They dared to risk their lives for it. This was and is a great paradigm shift for all believers. Even when opposition came, they refused to give in:
‘Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved’ (v. 12).
Throughout the ages the Holy Spirit has encouraged and inspired believers to testify about the truth of the gospel of Christ to all people. Those saved are because of the Spirit’s work in their lives. It is because of people who dare to speak the truth.
Today, with the world getting more and more secular, many people do not believe in God. They do not understand salvation; yet God still calls out to them, wanting to fill them with his Holy Spirit. Do we dare to speak the truth of God with others?
Prayer
Holy Spirit, enable me to speak for God, testifying to his truth – until the end of time.
That’s the Spirit!
Beverly Ivany
Tags: Acts