Boldness and Sacrificial Living in our Witness

Acts 4:23-37

Prayer for Boldness

23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

'Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?

26 The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the LORD and against His Christ.'

27 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Sharing in All Things

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Peter addressed the crowd of disciples who around them on their return from jail after they were beaten and threatened not to speak the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ amid the expected opposition that we find written in Psalm 2:1-2 concerning the rage of the world against God nd His Anointed Messiah.  Nothing is unexpected in God’s eyes.  Absolutely nothing.  These all gave God the glory for fulfilling the scriptures of this vain opposition and plotting of the world raging against the truth but unable to stop the word and work of the Creator God in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.  He who made the entire universe was not and is not intimidated nor stopped from His purposes by the likes of any mortal man as was demonstrated when He went willingly to die on the cross of the Law’s curse and willingly by His own power raised Himself from a dead body to a forever-living one that appeared sealed and guarded by mortal Romans.  Though all the rulers of the world were to gather together against Him, they have no power to do anything to stop God’s plan of redemption and judgment of all men and women who ever lived or ever shall walk on this earth.  He is sovereign over us all and His will shall be done (Matthew 6:10) here as it is in the heavens where He dwells (Isaiah 37:16, Luke 19:38) in glory and omnipotence (Revelation 19:1).  The very seemingly successful capture, torture, and killing of Jesus was orchestrated by God Himself to sacrifice His Son in place of Isaac (Genesis 12: ) and not by the Roman authorities nor the Jewish religious leaders set to keep power for themselves when threatened by the Lord Jesus Christ who put Himself in their hands the whole time to accomplish all these things (Luke 9:31), including His own death.  The disciples had this mindset and in that power of absolute hope by faith asked the Lord for boldness in speech and power to do miraculous deeds to prove they were under His authority to continue His work in building the church of Jesus Christ and not of man.  After they prayed, God filled them out with the Spirit already present in them to control and empower their words with boldness to hold back nothing of the truth of the gospel of salvation in Christ alone and in no other name under heaven (Acts 4:12).  This led to a oneness of fellowship where they shared what they had with those who had less that there be and equality of needs (Exodus 16:18, 2 Corinthians 8:13-15) and none went wanting.  Everything they had was the Lord’s anyway, and so they all shared His provision.  These actions and prayers led to a powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus as they pooled their resources to meet each other’s needs to the glory of God and witness of changed lives by the words of this life (Acts 5:20) which they lived and boldly proclaimed, holding nothing back.  May we likewise pray for boldness and sacrificial living in our own witness.