Acts 4:13-22

Brave and Bold

Peter and John were just ordinary labourers. They weren't well schooled nor were they avid old testament scholars. Which is what surprised the jewish leaders when they spoke so bravely about God. They were bold in the face of potentially losing their families, their friends, their job, and even their lives. Despite all those fears they continued to fight for God. But this was no ordinary fight. Peter and John were not aggressive or violent. They were polite, up-front, and clear.

No matter the cost

Peter and John were adamant that they would continue to follow Jesus, no matter the cost. Following Jesus comes with a simple directive: to share the gospel with everyone. Whilst God tells us to obey the authorities we live under, if they are ordering you to stop following God and His commands, then you must resist.

Growing in boldness

The boldness that Peter and John had was not their own. They had grown in boldness by spending time with Jesus and spending time in prayer. This was (and still is) the hallmark of a Christian. When you are facing oppositition, don't pray for God to remove it, but spend time in His Word and in prayer and ask for the boldness to push through it, preaching Him all the while.