persecution and miracles - the cost and reward of obedience

Acts 3     Healing the Lame Beggar

 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. ² And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. ⁴ But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” ⁵ And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” ⁷ And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. ⁸ With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God...

Acts 4    Peter and John Arrested

 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, ² being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand...

Threat and Release

¹³ Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. ¹⁴ And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. ¹⁵ But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, ¹⁶ saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.” ¹⁸ And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ 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; ²⁰ for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

For the sake of time and space I skipped some of the related text from today's readings in the One Year Bible chronological readings. If you have time you can read the entire text. You can find the one year bible online site on the links page of this site.

The text opens with Peter and John being addressed by a lame man who was asking for alms (money). This was a common and acceptable practice in that time as there was no provision from the government or other charitable organizations. What we see in Peter and John's response to the man shows us the importance of walking in the Spirit. Peter recognized the true need of this man, an encounter with Jesus. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Peter speaks. It's interesting that Peter doesn't speak to the present condition, asking God to heal and strengthen the man's legs. Peter sees the man through God's eyes, already healed and whole and commands him to walk. That's what a miracle is, calling forth the realities of heaven here to earth. That's why we need to walk in the Spirit, so that we can see things as God sees them and respond as He leads. 

Not surprisingly, this miracle catches a lot of people's attention in the crowd around the temple. Peter takes the opportunity to bring forth the gospel message of salvation and deliverence through Jesus Christ the risen Lord. This is an example of what Jesus promised in Mark 16, 

 ¹⁵ And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. ¹⁷ These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” ¹⁹ So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰ And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.

That's the main purpose of God in bringing forth miracles, signs and wonders. It is to confirm the word, the gospel message to the world. Certainly God loves people and does not want us/them to struggle, but His first priority is changing our eternal condition not our present condition. 

There can be a cost in obedience to God. Peter and John were arrested for their obedience. The text tells us 5000 souls were added. That was a fair price in the minds of Peter and John. We all need to be prepared to pay a price for obedience to God. Jesus warned us in John 15,

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you;...        It's not a question of if there will be persecution, only when and what.

I take a lot of motivation and encouragment from vs 13 of the text in Acts 4.

 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.

Isn't that what we all desire, that when people see us they would recognize that we have been with Jesus. That's where our ability to see things from God's perspective comes from, an abiding and dwelling relationship with Jesus, the risen Christ. When we remain in Him we are in tune with God's will and empowered by His Spirit. Signs and wonders will follow to confirm His word. 

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit thank You for the promises and encouragment we have in Your word. Help me today to be with You, abiding, dwelling and walking in Your presence and in Your power. I am willing to count the cost and pay the price of obedience to You. That price is nothing compared to the price You paid for me. Give me an awareness today to see things as You see them. To walk according to Your will and call forth here on earth the realities of heaven.   Amen