Bible In A Year | Read: Act 4
1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. 5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Acts 4:1-7
Overview of Chapter
The attention Peter and John are getting from the people also attracts the attention of the religious leaders. Persecution of the new church now begins. The leaders are surprised Peter and John are not intimidated by their authority and superior education, but Peter and John are relying on God’s power and don’t need to be fearful. The persecution also causes the church to draw even closer together. They begin helping each other in self-sacrificing ways.
Our faith in God should lead to a lack of fear. We can boldly stand up to those who may seem to have superior power or intellect. We can also take the risk of being generous because we know God will care for us in the future.
Thoughts on the verses
In this chapter, Peter and John find themselves arrested and standing before officials of the highest Jewish court in the land. They had angered the religious leaders by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ: his death, burial, and resurrection. And, they had healed a man who had been crippled from birth. Now they were being asked, “By what power and in whose name have you done this?” (v 7b).
Action Steps
Bible: What is God showing me? What am I going to do about it?
Bless: Serve one person through word, action, or gift today.
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