So on biblegateway, Acts 4:23-31 is given the title of Praying for Boldness. After having reviewed the previous passage I’m wondering why? The men, Peter and John, had already been bold in how they spoke to the council and answered them. So let’s give this passage a look see and discern why huh?
Acts 4:23-31
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’—
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
So Peter and John were told not to say anything and were released by the council. Their first action was to simply return to their friends. Can’t blame them. They’d have known that their friends would be worried about them and would need an update. They told their companions what was done and said.
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
The response to this report was praise! God was good. No harm happened to Peter and John. They were questioned but not beaten. They were threatened but not imprisoned, they were released. You can’t expect much better eh?
24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God
Praise for who God is, the futility of those who would work against him, and here we have it. A prayer for continued boldness on their part!
Breaking down their Prayer
Recognition of who God is
- sovereign Lord
- Creator of heaven and earth and everything in the world
- one who knows the future
and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’—
Cause you see, those quoted verses came from Psalm 2 and were spoken by David. What was true in David’s time remains relevant to the time at hand. The Holy Spirit was David’s guide then. I love how the friends of Peter and John could see the futility of folks plotting against God. It didn’t work in the past (in David’s time) and it won’t work now. They have FULL confidence in God in this.
After all they saw how the city was aligned against Jesus, the leadership as well as the Jews and Gentiles. And despite all that God’s preordained plans still came to fruition.
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
They come to their ask Praying for Boldness
So now we come to their request of God. God, you see their threats. They are real. We know your plans will out in the end, but it’s scary. So let us, your servants, continue to speak your truth boldly. That as you act and move that we are able to tell folks what is what.
29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
God heard them. He made the place they were in shake. He filled them with the Holy Spirit. They were emboldened, speaking the truth of God’s word.
31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
You know what!?!?! I need to see God more clearly again. To have that strong confidence in him that I know that regardless of what happens it’s going to be okay. That confidence will let me speak his truth to those around me. Sometimes I wonder what happened to me over the years. Got to complacent in some ways, wasn’t challenged enough to really live out my faith maybe?
But I live in the now, not the past. God is working at rebuilding me and that’s a good thing. I can hold to what I know and let him build the rest.
What about YOU?
Do you have a strong confidence in God? Are you able to be bold in sharing his word? Can you see clearly how God has worked in the past fulfilling his plans? Does that help you see the future with him more clearly?
Follow Along
If you are interested in the rest of the series you will find them here eh?
- Acts 1:1-5
- Acts 1:6-11
- Acts 1:12-26
- Acts 2:1-13
- Acts 2:14-41
- Acts 2:42-47
- Acts 3:1-10
- Acts 3:11-16
- Acts 3:17-26
- Acts 4:1-4
- Acts 4:5-12
- Acts 4: 13-22
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