Act 4:29-31 “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
Peter and John had just stood before the high priest and the council. They had been warned to never speak in the name of Jesus again. Peter left them with a response that was not to their liking. He told them to judge whether it was better for he and John to obey God or to obey them.
When they returned to their brethren and reported all that had transpired, they began to pray together. The verses above are the conclusion of that prayer. This company of believers did not advise Peter and John to go hide. Neither did they doubt the ability of their Lord to bless them in the face of adversity.
As they poured out their hearts to Him, they asked that He take note of this menace they were faced with. Even though we understand that He is everywhere present, we find ourselves needing to confess to Him our situation. We do this, not to acquaint Him with the need, but rather to clarify to ourselves. It helps us to realize we can ask of Him great things because He is the Great God.
Their hearts were obviously fixed on the cause of Christ, for instead of asking for protection they asked for boldness to preach His word. Even though they had just been threatened by an authority they had been taught to revere all their lives, they were steadfastly determined to speak the word of God. They asked Him to show His hand in performing healing to those who heard His word. There are examples throughout the New Testament that prove God heard.
We also have examples in our own lives of miraculous healings. Sometimes these healings are of physical maladies and sometimes they are of broken hearts or fear of this world. Whichever the case, God still manifests today that there are things that He alone still does in the lives of His praying, believing children. These things make us bold in speaking of the goodness of God.
There have always been those who want to be publicly recognized for their perceived exalted position. These men and women were not asking to be exalted. It was not their desire to become famous or feared. Instead, they asked God to do signs and wonders in the name of His holy child, Jesus.
As believers today, it should still be our great desire to see Jesus exalted as God’s holy child. When we pray for God to bless us, it should ultimately be to give what we have in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, whether it be silver and gold or a word of encouragement. As we seek Him from the depths of our souls (and not just with our lips), we should expect our place to be shaken.
This is what we, as believers, desire in our hearts. We want to see the Holy Ghost fill up men and women to bear testimony of the love, mercy, grace, and truth of God in Jesus Christ. It is not for any fame or fortune on our part. Rather, we seek to live in a way that proclaims His majesty with our every breath.
May we pray together diligently for the Lord to grant unto His servants to speak boldly His truth!
