v1 When we speak truth out for God, we can expect resistance, in that area, from:
1) The religious (priests)
2) The authorities (temple guard)
3) The misguided (the Sadducees)
v4 “But many of those who heard the word came to believe…” Encouragement to keep on keeping on. Dont worry about what happens to you. If they put their hands on you and throw you in jail, so be it. Many came to believe.
v12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
v13 The elders saw in John & Peter:
1) Confidence
2) That they were uneducated and untrained
3) That they had been with Jesus
v14 The physical evidence of the healed man left them with no reply to what John and Peter were saying to them. God will give the power. He will do the work. We preach Him – He does the rest. The release of God’s power makes it so much easier to fulfill the great commission. We need not try to do this in our own strenght. Rather, we should pray for increase in the manifestation of God’s power in and through us. Bless God.
v19-20 “But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen or heard.”
v22 Why is it relevant that it be made known that the man was over 40 years on whom this miracle had taken place? God put that in there for a reason. Lord, what is the reason?
v26 “The kings of the earth took their stand.” We can expect those in authority to take a strong position against Jesus. It is prophesied by even David.
v29-30 “And now, Lord take note of their threats, and grant that Your bondservants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”
v31 “And WHEN they had PRAYED, the place where they had gathered together WAS SHAKEN, and they were ALL FILLED with the HOLY SPIRIT and begun to SPEAK the WORD OF GOD with BOLDNESS.”
They acted against the rulers of the land first. The proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus, then they went to God and prayed for boldness to speak the Word. They acted first and prayed for it second. And, the Spirit came upon them. Can you imagine the place shaking? Lord, I want that kind of power released. Break down the flesh so that I can get some of that.
v33 “And with great power the Apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus…”
They were testifying to the resurrection. There was a release of ABUNDANT GRACE.
Barnabas = “Son of Enouragement”