February 06, 2023 | Be On Mission
Peter & John are Jailed for a Day
Scripture: Acts 4:1-4 (NIV)
1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
Devotional
In Acts 3, Peter and John healed a crippled man in the name of Jesus, then turned to the onlookers and proclaimed salvation in the name of Jesus. Here in Acts 4, the religious authorities who had schemed so carefully to have Jesus crucified “were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.” Who can blame them? Jesus just wouldn’t go away!
So, for their labors, Peter and John were thrown in jail. Just days into the beginning of the Christian movement, the two de facto leaders were tossed in the slammer. During their time of training, Jesus had said to them, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Matthew 10:16-20). Already they were living out these prophetic words!
Despite their best efforts, the religious authorities could not stop the Christian movement from spreading like wildfire. Almost overnight the followers of Jesus grew from one hundred twenty (Acts 1:15) to three thousand (Acts 2:41) to five thousand (Acts 4:4). Why do you think Christianity was growing in such a challenging environment? What would it take to see that kind of exponential growth in your community today?
Take some time right now to pray for the gospel of Jesus Christ to advance in your neighborhood, city, nation, and world. Also, pray for people who are persecuted for their faith. Ask the Lord to give you courage to share the good news of Jesus with others!
Poem
Two Responses
Acts 4: 1-2, 4
When the Spirit comes or prophet speaks,
A believer shares or a vision peeks,
Will you be disturbed? Will you turn away?
Will you hate the source? Will you rue the day?
Or will you choose to listen, lean?
Respond with joy? Faith intervene?
Allow your life to be made new;
A recreated God-led you?
The responses to these blessed times
Your future sure will redefine
And set a course you can’t retrace
Be stuck or walk in vibrant grace.
