Saturday after the Tenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on August 19, 2023 by under
Scripture: Acts 4:13-20 (NKJV)
4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”
18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach 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 listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
Devotion
In today’s reading we see that the reaction of the religious leaders to Peter and John was the same as it was toward Jesus. The miracle they performed was undeniable, and would surely draw more people to them. Therefore, the council’s conclusion was to silence the messengers, and the apostles were implored to be silent. But Peter and John put the matter back on them: “But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’”
Do we feel the same compulsion to share God’s Word to a lost world? Whether we are witnessing laypeople or preaching pastors, we have a message that has changed our own lives, both now and forever. How can we then withhold sharing and proclaiming that saving Word? As another has wisely said: “We’re just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” God grant us the same burning desire we’ve heard about this week from Jeremiah, Jesus, Paul, and Peter.
Prayer: O God, Who declarest Thine Almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of Thy grace, that we, running the way of Thy commandments, may obtain Thy gracious promises, and be made partakers of Thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
