The Single Greatest Gift:
Enabled to Speak – Part 1

Scripture Reading:  Acts 4:23-31

Key Verse: Acts 4:29

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

Peter and John had gotten themselves in trouble, not by committing a crime, but by speaking about the great gift of salvation.  They had been preaching and teaching about Jesus.  I love how these two were perceived by the crowd they were talking to.  In Acts 4:13 we are told that the crowd recognized that Peter and John were men of courage.  When the crowd realized that they were “unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”  Spending time with Jesus is always the key to our effectiveness with people.

            The Sanhedrin was the power group of the early church and this group did not like the preaching of Peter and John.  They had the legal power to throw them in jail and they did.  After they threatened them with more punishment if they continued to teach about Jesus, the Sanhedrin released Peter and John.  These two brave Christ followers returned to their own people and reported all that had happened to them.  With the renewed threats of violence if they continued to talk about Jesus, this little group went to prayer.  What amazes me after reading their prayer is that they did not pray for protection or that their persecutors would go away, they prayed for boldness to speak the Word of God freely!

            Tomorrow we will look more at this prayer, but let’s praise God today for the model that these “ordinary” men are to us!

Father, I do thank you that Peter and John modeled the courage I can have as you empower me to serve you!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.