Opening: Have you even found yourself becoming the center of
attention of law enforcement? Maybe it was with a trooper along the side of the
road. Maybe it was in the sheriff’s office. Maybe it was in a cell. How do you
react when the authorities become interested in you?
Scripture: Read Acts 4:1-12.
Insights:
- Uh oh! Busted! Peter and John are arrested by some of the same people that arrested, tried, and asked for the sentence of crucifixion for Jesus just a few short months ago. Compare the names of the individuals and groups with those from Matthew 26:57-60, Luke 26:66, and John 18:12-14.
- Look back to the last time Luke told us how many were in the church. Now he says there are 5,000 men. One can only guess how many women and children there might be. (The residents of Jerusalem at this time were estimated to be 80,000.)
- Peter challenges the religious authorities of jailing him and John for doing a good deed and healing the lame man. He may have been thinking about this very incident when he wrote 1 Peter 3:14.
Life Questions:
- Have you ever suffered for doing the right thing? Maybe instead of cheating on your taxes, you were honest and had to pay? Maybe you stood beside and supported someone at school or work who was alone against the crowd?
- The Bible makes some strong and emphatic claims about a singular path to God through Jesus, as Peter does in verse 12. Look up other passages: John 3:15-16; 6:68; 14:6; Romans 5:1-2; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Hebrews 10:19-20. Are you counting on anything other than Jesus (good deeds, church membership, family heritage) to get you to heaven? Should you be? What should you do about it?
Prayer Focus: That when we are challenged for our faith, we
will be strong.
