Scripture: Acts 4:23–37
The Believers Pray
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
“‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.’
27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Observation:
After Peter and John returned to the other believers and reported what the Chief Priest and the elders had said to them, the believers began to pray, reflecting on how the Sovereign Lord had used Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentils, and the people of Israel to accomplish what God had preordained to happen. They then asked God to give them a boldness to speak the Lord’s word with great boldness. “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4:31)
Application:
Through baptism, we have also received the gift of God’s Holy Spirit. Thus, we possess all that is necessary to speak with confidence about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We have His Word, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit, who brings to our remembrance all that Jesus taught His disciples. We are fully equipped to speak the Lord’s words in boldness.
Prayer:
Dear Lord God, grant us, through the guidance of Your Spirit, the strength and wisdom to share our faith with our families, our communities, our workplaces, and wherever we may go, so that others may come to know Your love and grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.