God made a way for sins to be forgiven through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Seeking opportunities to proclaim that gospel should be what is on every Christian’s mind every day. For Peter this was true–even when he was hauled before the very group that had condemned Jesus.
I. Acts 3:6-26. For Peter, every encounter was an opportunity to serve in Jesus’ name. So, when he saw a lame beggar, he healed him. And, every interaction was an opportunity to tell the good news. So, when an astonished crowd gathered, Peter proclaimed Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, telling the crowd to repent!
Is this us? Or, do we allow the petty power the world wields to stop us from serving in Jesus’ name and proclaiming that which might offend?
II. Acts 4:1-18. This didn’t set too well with those in worldly power, who seized him and made it sound like he had done something wrong. Not to be shaken by how the world framed what he had done, Peter rightly describes their actions as calling him to account for showing compassion. Then, he tells them the gospel!
Shrinking back, we even say things like “we’re not allowed …” or justify to ourselves that our audience wouldn’t be receptive to the gospel anyway.
III. Acts 4:19-21. Peter wasn’t motivated by the worlds threats, tactics, or persecutions. He never reasoned that the Council couldn’t act because the people were all praising God! Because he knew Godly power, he didn’t care what the world might do to him–only about lost souls who needed to hear the good news!
For us to adopt this perspective, we need to be transformed (Ephesians 4:20-24) and to die to sin and self (Romans 6:5-8) to know our salvation.
How frustrating it must have been to be the world in the 1st century and discover that threats and persecutions no longer worked on Christians who used everything the world had the power to do as an opportunity for the gospel and continued to serve in Jesus’ name (Acts 5:40-42)! How can we similarly frustrate the world around us today?