Today’s Bible Verse

“But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Acts 4:17-18 (NKJV)

Unrestrained Boldness

The council on the “Sanhedrin” was composed of 71 or 72 persons and was entrusted with the principal affairs of the nation. It was a body of vast influence and power, and they supposed that their command might be sufficient enough to restrain ignorant, untrained, and unschooled disciples from speaking about Jesus.  The fact that the disciples had fled on a former occasion, and that Peter had denied his Saviour, caused them to believe that they would be terrified by their threats, and deterred from preaching publicly in the name of Jesus.  

The threat was that they should not teach or preach the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead or any other doctrine of the Gospel, in the name of Jesus, to any man (Jew or Gentile), or perform any miracle in his name, or call upon his name and make use of it for the healing of any person, or doing any miraculous work.

The threats weren’t about the validity of the death of Christ, about facts about the burial of Christ, nor about the truth of the resurrection of Christ.  They never challenged it or said it was false, untrue, or misinformation.  They just threatened them to stop preaching about Jesus.  Stop spreading the news about Jesus.  Stop teaching about Jesus. 

But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20 NKJV).  They were operating in unrestrained boldness.

Many may not be in a room being physically threatened like Peter & John, but they have given in to the threats.  Life pressures are overwhelming where mentioning Jesus isn’t an option.  Too busy making money and no time to talk about Jesus, they get well adjusted to the culture.  Some have gotten themselves so entwined with worldly pursuits that they don’t want to lose friends when they mention Jesus.  Life has become so complicated for some that the responsibility of mentioning Jesus is too burdensome. Thank God the true disciples weren’t like that and operated in unrestrained boldness.  (Pastor Fika Esau)

Change My Story

The disciples had an unswerving commitment to the Lord because of the Power of the Holy Spirit.  The threat against them was not effectual. On the next occasion, which occurred soon after, they added beating to their threats to deter them from preaching in the name of Jesus (Acts 5:40).  It didn’t stop them because the power of the Holy Spirit sustained them, and they continued to preach Jesus, teach Jesus, and heal in Jesus’ Name. This was their prayer we can all learn from:

“So now, Lord, listen to their threats to harm us. Empower us, as your servants, to speak the word of God freely and courageously. Stretch out your hand of power through us to heal, and to move in signs and wonders by the name of your holy Son, Jesus!” As they prayed the earth shook beneath them, causing the building they were in to tremble. Each one of them was filled with the Holy Spirit, and they proclaimed the word of God with unrestrained boldness” (Acts 4:29-31 TPT).

Today’s Declaration

Lord, fill me with the fire of the Holy Spirit. The fire of the Holy Spirit gives me unrestrained boldness to talk about Jesus, boldness to teach about Jesus, boldness to pray in the Name of Jesus, boldness to heal people in the Name of Jesus.  Thank You, Lord, I have unrestrained boldness to always preach Jesus.

Today’s Bible Reading

• Old Testament: 1 Kings 9-10; Psalms 119:41-48
• New Testament: Luke 2:1-20; Ephesians 3:14-21