Bold Faith Under Pressure

Peter and John boldly declare Jesus before the Sanhedrin, demonstrating that God’s Word surpasses human authority. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they refuse to stop speaking about what they’ve witnessed, showing unwavering faith despite opposition and threats.

[Scripture]

[13] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. [14] But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. [15] But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, [16] saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. [17] But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” (Acts 4:13-17, ESV)

[18] So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. [19] But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, [20] for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” [21] And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. [22] For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old. (Acts 4:18-22, ESV)

[Daily Word]

Those who misunderstood Peter’s preaching as having disrupted the temple and those who had come to offer sacrifices had Peter and John arrested on the charge of proclaiming that resurrection was found in Jesus. The following day, they were brought before the Sanhedrin for questioning: [7] And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” (Acts 4:7, ESV)

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter then began to speak boldly. He explained that what they had done for the sick man was a “good deed,” and he went on to describe God’s plan in particular—emphasizing that the man had been healed because God had granted salvation. That is, in verse 10,[10] let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. (Acts 4:10, ESV)

In verse 11, Peter quotes Psalm 118:22, saying “The stone that was rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.” Jesus had been the “stone rejected” by the leaders, but through the resurrection He became the “cornerstone.” Therefore, God has purposed that no one can be saved apart from Jesus.

The Sadducees are astonished.

They had assumed that Jesus’ disciples were unlearned men who did not know the Law—yet that assumption proved wrong. And the fact that the man who had been lame from birth was standing right beside the two apostles was evidence they could not deny, even with their own eyes. Unable to refute the miracle, the members of the Sanhedrin could find nothing to say against the apostles. (14) It was as though the words Jesus had spoken in (Luke 21:15) had been fulfilled: “I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.”

Having nothing to say, the members of the Sanhedrin ordered the apostles to leave the council chamber and began to deliberate among themselves. Rather than acknowledging the miracle itself, they resolved to prevent the apostles from spreading their teaching any further. Verses 17–18: “But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name. So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.”

The Sadducees, who made up the majority of the Sanhedrin, once again sought to put Jesus’ followers to death for political reasons. Those who were sympathetic to Rome considered it politically dangerous that the disciples were continuing to teach in the name of Jesus — a man they had already executed — as it meant people were following someone who had been condemned as a criminal.

Yet Peter and John answered them with these words: verse 19, [19] But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, (Acts 4:19, ESV) In other words, obedience to God was far more important than obeying the commands of the Sanhedrin.

In the end, the Sanhedrin could not punish Peter and John any further, because of the people who had witnessed the miracle of healing. In particular, Luke refers once more in verse 22 to the man who had been made to walk as a[22] For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old. (Acts 4:22, ESV). It was an event in which the power of Jesus was manifested through His disciples.

Our priorities before God must be firmly established.

Just as Peter and John were convinced that it was right to obey God’s word rather than the word of men, we too must know how to do what is most right and pleasing to God in our own lives. The Jewish leaders, in particular, refused to accept the truth even though they knew they could not deny it. Instead, they used their authority to try to silence the disciples. This reveals that their priorities were fundamentally misplaced.

A person who stands before God is honest with themselves. It is the person who is genuine before God who is able to live by faith.

The boldness of Peter, the power of the Holy Spirit, resistance to authority, bearing witness in the name of Jesus, and the integrity of faith

Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com