No Other Authority

The Christian Community Comes Alive
Seeds of New Growth

Praying for One Another

Acts 4:13-22 The Message

^13-14 They couldn’t take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that?
^15-17 They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over: “What can we do with these men? By now it’s known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that. But so that it doesn’t go any further, let’s silence them with threats so they won’t dare to use Jesus’ name ever again with anyone.”
^18-20 They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.”

^21-22 The religious leaders renewed their threats, but then released them. They couldn’t come up with a charge that would stick, that would keep them in jail. The people wouldn’t have stood for it—they were all praising God over what had happened. The man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.

 

For Reflection 

The common society can not stand up to the Kingdom of God.  As much as the common people try to undermine, distort, and persecute those who work for the Kingdom, they will not succeed -- not if believers live their faith.

Pray

for those who are persecuted for living their faith.  Pray for those who lack the courage and the foresight to accept obedience to the Holy Spirit which abides in them.  Pray for the courage to live in Jesus name.