“Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me (John 15:20–21).”
This Sunday in Acts we will see these words of Jesus to his disciples come to pass. In the wake of the healing of the lame man, the apostles continue to teach and proclaim resurrection hope through Jesus of Nazareth and the religious leaders are stirred to anger. As Peter and John are brought before the council to answer for themselves, we do not see the same men who scattered and denied Jesus when he was arrested. We see them testify with spirit-filled boldness about all that they had seen and heard.
After being threatened and released, they gathered to pray.
“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:29–31).
We will face our own threats for speaking about Jesus like they did. “A servant is not greater than our master” will be true for us, too. It may not look like it did for Peter in John, but it will come if we stand for Jesus. There is encouragement for us in Acts 4.
Darin Earley will be preaching Acts 4:5-31 this Sunday and Kenny Clark will be leading our sung worship. Would you take some time this week to read the passage and pray for each as they prepare? The Lord wants to fill us with the same courage and boldness as will see in Acts 4. So let’s pray as the early church did.
See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!
SONG OF THE WEEK