What we have seen and heard
In my previous blog I spoke about how Peter and John were used by God to perform a miraculous healing of a well known man sitting at the gate Beautiful in Jerusalem. The book of acts goes on to tell the reaction of the Sadducees and other religious leaders. It states,
“The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.
They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.
But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.
Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family.
They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!
If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
He is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.
So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.
“What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it.
But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.
For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.” Acts 4:1-22
In this incident a man who had obviously been sick for a long time, a man that was forty years old. Was healed and God received the glory for the healing.
Still the religious leaders of the day who had opposed Jesus, arrested Peter and John. Having done so they couldn’t figure what to do with them. After all it was a good deed. A man was healed.
Their solution was to tell Peter and John to shut up and not tell people about Jesus. Something they would not do. Peter and John replying to religious leaders saying,
‘But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.
For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19,20.
What happened to Peter and John is happening to believers in Christ around the world today. Men and women who are proclaiming the word of God, men and women who are doing good works in the name of Jesus, are being imprisoned for what they are doing. Some are even dying.
These men and women and indeed believers in Christ all over the world however truly believe what Peter and John did was right. They can and do say to anyone who would tell them to be silent about Christ the same words the two apostles said,
“Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.
For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard”
Matthew’s gospel record Jesus speaking to his disciple saying,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
It is a message believers in Christ will continue to proclaim no matter the circumstances, for it is the single most important message mankind needs to receive.
Please think about it.
In my previous blog I spoke about how Peter and John were used by God to perform a miraculous healing of a well known man sitting at the gate Beautiful in Jerusalem. The book of acts goes on to tell the reaction of the Sadducees and other religious leaders. It states,
“The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.
They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.
But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.
Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family.
They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!
If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
He is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.
So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.
“What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it.
But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.
For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.” Acts 4:1-22
In this incident a man who had obviously been sick for a long time, a man that was forty years old. Was healed and God received the glory for the healing.
Still the religious leaders of the day who had opposed Jesus, arrested Peter and John. Having done so they couldn’t figure what to do with them. After all it was a good deed. A man was healed.
Their solution was to tell Peter and John to shut up and not tell people about Jesus. Something they would not do. Peter and John replying to religious leaders saying,
‘But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.
For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19,20.
What happened to Peter and John is happening to believers in Christ around the world today. Men and women who are proclaiming the word of God, men and women who are doing good works in the name of Jesus, are being imprisoned for what they are doing. Some are even dying.
These men and women and indeed believers in Christ all over the world however truly believe what Peter and John did was right. They can and do say to anyone who would tell them to be silent about Christ the same words the two apostles said,
“Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.
For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard”
Matthew’s gospel record Jesus speaking to his disciple saying,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.
It is a message believers in Christ will continue to proclaim no matter the circumstances, for it is the single most important message mankind needs to receive.
Please think about it.
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