Acts Chapter 4

“5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”


After Peter and John healed the lame man that sat in front of the temple, they soon found themselves in jail and standing before the rulers and the priest of the land. They were on trial for the healing and they were being asked where they received the power to heal the sick.


Peter was able to stand before the rulers and the answer the questions with the boldness of the Holy Spirit. Saying:


“10 let it be known to all of you 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 is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.  12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”


This demonstrates the boldness that Peter was given through the Holy Spirit to speak up against the annoyance of the pharisees and the temple rules. Peter demonstrates that it is through Jesus that we are saved and offer salvation for our sins.


Peter reminds the rulers that they sent Jesus to death because they were afraid of the concept that Jesus could overthrow their authority over the church. Peter also reminds them that since Jesus was resurrected from the dead. That means that through our faith in Jesus, we are also offered a new life in Jesus.


“29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 


This indicates that the leaders of the temple and the community felt threatened by the influence of Jesus’ disciples. The pharisees and the other leaders tried to quiet the influence of the disciples by threatening them and and trying to force them to remain quiet.


The disciples gathered together after the trail of Peter and John and they prayed for strength and boldness to face the trials that will soon come from the community around them.




In this chapter we learn:

• The world may not like the influence that we have will have on community.
• The Holy Spirit will strengthen us and guide us as we are “put under trial” for our faith.
• When we are facing the trials of the world, our first response should be to turn to God and pray over the situation at hand.
• When we build an influence for Jesus we should do so boldly. ​