In this chapter we see how politics corrupt. Politics hasn't changed much from the past. Rather than rejoicing in a miracle, the religious leaders arrested Peter and John. Pressured by the people and unable to justifiably charge them with anything, the leaders threatened them to stop preaching in Jesus' name. But the disciples declared they would follow God rather than man. The leaders continued their threats but eventually let them go. Upon release, they gathered with their people and prayed to the Lord for courage in spreading his message. Verse 31 says "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."
It is unfortunate that often in the face of power, good is declared evil, simply because it doesn't fit into the desired narrative. Peter and John did something good. They completely changed a man's life. But because they did so in the name of Jesus, rather than the temple, the miracle was condemned by those in power. This is one of many reasons why the opinions of a society may be popular but not morally correct. There is always someone in the background trying to control the narrative. Peter and John were threatened, not because they did something wrong, but because they refused to be controlled. More accurately, their fear of God was greater than their fear of man. Their faith also. They chose to place their faith in Jesus, whom they had witnessed, rather than corrupt governance. It perhaps wasn't the route they had hoped for. Previously some of the disciples had expressed disappointment in Jesus for not entering the political scene. Though that is understandable from a mortal perspective, the goal of Jesus was eternal salvation and not political freedom. It must have been a hard decision, to go against the leaders of their own people, but even in this situation they turned their eyes to God. And God answered them. The gift of the holy spirit is not just about tongues and healing, and the various other supernatural signs and wonders often talked about. The gift of the holy spirit is deeper than that. The greatest gift that the spirit offers is the presence of God, offered both tangibly and intangibly. The spirit moves us, or in this case, shakes us. The spirit gives us courage to be bold in our belief. It's almost like God's support system. No matter what, there is someone in our corner.
I grew up hearing many sermons about revival. I'm not going to lie, the topic sometimes makes my eyes roll. Perhaps it's because I feel we've collectively fallen away from our origins. Unlike the disciples who literally walked with Jesus, we've never met Jesus as a person. We've met him through teaching, through letters, through worship, but quite frankly, that's not the same. To me, Jesus is sometimes something like a penpal, because that's the closest thing I can relate him to. But the early church is different, and in it we see revival in its purest form. Their faith is so great that everything is communal. The individual disappears amongst the needs of the group. It is the absence of selfishness. Honestly, it's something I struggle to understand. But one thing I do know, the early church was a reflection of Christ's beauty.
Author Notes
Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
4 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest's family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is
"the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone."
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name."
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
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 Godâ??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.
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