Acts | Chapter 4 : vimarsana.com
Acts | Chapter 4
On this Monday, October 4th, we examine the 4th chapter of the Book of Acts. For a printable version, click HERE.
Read Acts Chapter 4
What stands out to you as you read this chapter?
Are there any words or phrases that you feel are key ideas in this chapter?
What other features do you wish you knew more about (culture, religion, customs, etc.) in order to help you understand this chapter?
How do you think this chapter fits in the larger story of Acts and the Bible as a whole?
ACT OUT: How does the Holy Spirit want to use this text in your life, for others or for yourself? Would you know how to be bold if the good deeds and message you tried to share with others resulted in your arrest? After a night in jail, Peter, an “ordinary (man) with no special training in the Scriptures” (Acts 4:13), amazed the ruling council with his bold witness to the name of Jesus as the power by which he and John had healed the lame man at the Temple gate (Acts 3:1-10). That exclusive claim, that there is “no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12) was enough for Peter and John to receive a “cease and desist” order (Acts 4:17-18). It could have been worse. After all, Jesus promised his followers they would be persecuted for his sake (Matthew 10:16-20). And they were being ques\oned by some of the same leaders who had put their leader, Jesus, to death just weeks earlier.
Peter and John knew something the high priest and council didn’t know. The promise of persecu\on comes with a greater promise, the promised Holy Spirit, so that under fire, their response would be “the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Matthew 10:20). That s where Peter got his boldness! The believers in Jerusalem knew by that same Spirit the same one who had spoken through King David more than 900 years before this event that Psalm 2:2 was being fulfilled in their midst. “The rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah” (Acts 4:26). With those promises ringing in their ears and the power of the Spirit, the believers wouldn’t stop speaking, preaching, and praying for miraculous demonstrations of God’s wonders.
We who believe in Jesus and hold to his name by faith have the same Spirit! He is our source of bold witness, just as he was for Peter and John.
Prayer: Sovereign Lord, I want to be a bold witness of your saving power in my life! Open my mouth to speak to people in the name of Jesus, even when I stand before judging hearts or accusing lips. Father, give me the power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name! Amen
Read Acts Chapter 4
What stands out to you as you read this chapter?
Are there any words or phrases that you feel are key ideas in this chapter?
What other features do you wish you knew more about (culture, religion, customs, etc.) in order to help you understand this chapter?
How do you think this chapter fits in the larger story of Acts and the Bible as a whole?
ACT OUT: How does the Holy Spirit want to use this text in your life, for others or for yourself? Would you know how to be bold if the good deeds and message you tried to share with others resulted in your arrest? After a night in jail, Peter, an “ordinary (man) with no special training in the Scriptures” (Acts 4:13), amazed the ruling council with his bold witness to the name of Jesus as the power by which he and John had healed the lame man at the Temple gate (Acts 3:1-10). That exclusive claim, that there is “no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12) was enough for Peter and John to receive a “cease and desist” order (Acts 4:17-18). It could have been worse. After all, Jesus promised his followers they would be persecuted for his sake (Matthew 10:16-20). And they were being ques\oned by some of the same leaders who had put their leader, Jesus, to death just weeks earlier.
Peter and John knew something the high priest and council didn’t know. The promise of persecu\on comes with a greater promise, the promised Holy Spirit, so that under fire, their response would be “the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Matthew 10:20). That s where Peter got his boldness! The believers in Jerusalem knew by that same Spirit the same one who had spoken through King David more than 900 years before this event that Psalm 2:2 was being fulfilled in their midst. “The rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah” (Acts 4:26). With those promises ringing in their ears and the power of the Spirit, the believers wouldn’t stop speaking, preaching, and praying for miraculous demonstrations of God’s wonders.
We who believe in Jesus and hold to his name by faith have the same Spirit! He is our source of bold witness, just as he was for Peter and John.
Prayer: Sovereign Lord, I want to be a bold witness of your saving power in my life! Open my mouth to speak to people in the name of Jesus, even when I stand before judging hearts or accusing lips. Father, give me the power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name! Amen
Related Keywords
Jerusalem, Israel General, Israel, King David, , Acts Chapter, Holy Spirit,