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.
Reflection
The only chance that the enemies of Christ have at defeating the young church is to get them to “speak no more to anyone in this name” (Acts 4:17; cf. 5:40). Indeed, silencing the church would render it ineffective, since God’s method for growing the church is the Spirit-empowered testimony about Jesus. As the book of Acts makes clear, the mission to make disciples (Matt. 28:18–20) occurs only through men and women who share the news about Christ’s life, death for sinners, and resurrection (cf. Acts 1:8; 2:40–41; 4:1–4; 6:7; 8:12; 10:42–48; 14:21; 16:30–34; 18:8). The proclamation of the gospel is what creates and sustains the church of Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 2:1-10a
2: But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,
Reflection
Peter draws a contrast between the reliability of God’s Word (2 Pet. 1:16–20) and the harmful seduction of false teaching. God promises that he will not allow false teachers to go unpunished: “Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep” (2:3). God is just, and he will ensure that those who use lies about God to exploit others (v. 3) will be brought to justice.
God’s justice will also result in “rescue” (v. 9) for believers, because their sins were already punished at the cross of Christ. These two promises—God will punish the wicked, and God will rescue the godly —are an encouragement to live God-honoring, hopeful lives even amid trials and false accusations (v. 3; cf. Col. 2:4), and to remain firm in the faith when the tempting winds of deceit begin to blow.
Psalm 145:21
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Christians cannot be silent about the gospel of Jesus. Pray for those who are being severely persecuted for their faith today, asking God to strengthen them to continue testifying to Christ. Ask God to use their witness powerfully for the advancement of the gospel and the salvation of the lost.