Reading
SAA Notes
Peter’s sermons are good guides to the Apostolic understanding of the Old Testament and the relationship of the Old to the New Testament. Reading the Bible should give courage to persevere.
SJA Notes
* God Above, please show us what it means to follow You today from Your word.
“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,”
Here are those who turned the world upside down, humans following their Saviour King, pointing those around them to that King. Our King. Jesus.
We see here in this passage Peter and John wrestling with the church leadership, who saw their power-based crumbling quickly in the light of TRUE religion that comes from a life saved through and found in Christ.
Peter’s prayer at the end of the passage echoes what we read David saying in Psalm 37, the big picture of those who plot against God’s people,
“The wicked plots against the righteous and gashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.”
Peter and John did not fight back against the threats from the church leaders, but instead, continued to walk obediently under God’s hand.
“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,”
What mattered for them to do?
To continue to speak God’s word with all boldness!
That is a cry and an exhortation to us today.
Are we continuing to speak God’s word with all boldness?
* Sovereign God,
You laugh at the wicked, even though for us they might seem great and powerful.
You establish our steps when we delight in Your way.
Please uphold us Lord, grant that we might continue to point people to You, preaching Your word in thought, word and deed – In season and out of season, with fervour and boldness!
Amen.