The Court's Decision - 4:13-22

Acts 4:13-22

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.” 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.

The court was astonished, by the boldness of Peter and John, specifically because they were uneducated, common men. The word 'uneducated' is the Greek word, agrammatoi, which basically points to the fact that they had received no proper training in Rabbinic theology, not that they were stupid. The Greek word for common here is the word 'idiotai' which means lay-men or non-professionals. But then it says, they 'remembered' or 'recognized' that these men had been with Jesus who was also agrammatioi and a idiotai. However, they could not deny what they saw before thier eyes seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition, nor could they deny what they were seeing.

The Council was in confusion because on one hand, a notable sign has been performed through them and not only did they know it, but it was evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem so they couldn't deny it. Yet on the other hand they had to so that it wouldn't spread any further among the people they warned them to speak no more to anyone in this name, lest their culture, way of life, and authority begin to be called into question and they loose power. So, because they could find nothing wrong with what they did, by law, they simply threatened them and commanded them not to speak of this Jesus anymore, but Peter responded by saying, "...we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard..."

I'm left with four convictions, that this morning become my prayer for my life. I am convicted and confronted by my own cowardice - why is it so hard for me to talk about that which I believe in so deeply? Why do I have such a human fear rather than a holy reverent fear of God? Why do a fear human rejection so badly? Maybe that's you, and if so, may the following four points be the prayers and truths we long to become evident in our lives:

1. ...they recognized that they had been with Jesus... What would this even look like to live a life in which people recognized that we have been with Jesus? How different would my life be? Would my compassion be off the charts? Would my compromise and idolatry be non-existent? I think we have to go straight to relationship rather than perfection. The reason the religious elite knew thew had been with Jesus is due to their relationship with him. I think we have listen to what Jesus says to the Father: (1) We must, intentionally be about the work God gives us, at the expense of security, popularity, and acceptance, as Jesus was. (2) We must be students of His word so that we can more fully grasp and more fully be molded into his image and character. (3) We must be engaged on mission in the world. IF we don't do this, we gain nothing but information. I believe this step, on a practical level is like working out. I naturally have little muscle tone, I am weak, and flabby. Spiritually I am afraid, complacent, and have contempt for those who don't know Christ, but when I engage on mission, I am infused with courage, willingness, and compassion for those who don't know Christ. (4) We must be committed to community. Though Jesus was God, and needed know one, as an example he lived out his life, his mission, and his relationship with the Father in community. Creation happened out of a dance of love between the Father, Son, and Spirit... This is not just some hodge-podge, four step plan I have come up with, this is literally Jesus' prayer for us out of John 17, and why does he pray it, so that we will be recognized as being from and with Jesus so that others may come to know him!
2. ...for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard... I believe this a result of the first one; my prayer for you and for me is that we would be so gripped and compelled by the gospel of Jesus, at a heart level, that we can't help but infusing all of our language, our conversation, our actions, our relationships, and our services with it. That our drive for the gospel would be stronger than our fear of rejection, of appearing stupid, and acceptance, but like Paul it will literally drive us!
3. ...finding no way to punish them... The very world that was against them still found them blameless. In a world in which Christianity has taken such a hit for our hypocrisy, public failures, and judgment may we be compelled to be lives that stand with blameless character, people who really show signs of being filled with God's spirit. We have taken this to two different extremes. (1) we become such fanatics that the world is thrilled that they are not like us, and rightly ostracize us due to our lack of any intelligence, normalcy, or relevance. (2) The other extreme is that we become so much like the world and so different from Jesus that we hope to attract them to him. That's about as stupid as it gets, that would not be unlike me going on my first date with Sarah and acting like a bull-headed, abusive jerk, in hopes to attract her to me. We must be like Jesus, live, act, and speak according to the father, which will annoy and irritate people, but at the same time live life with such service, mission, and mercy that they can't help but taking notice.
4. ...the people...were praising God for what had happened...the above three points, will result in people who are saved from their self and slavery to darkness, to a life in love with Christ!