READING: Acts 3:1-5:42
The officials threatened the disciples not to preach in the name of Jesus anymore, but they preached anyway; they almost could not help themselves from telling the good news. Rather than cower in fear, they prayed for increasing boldness and proclaimed the Word even more forcefully. The jealous high priest had them arrested and imprisoned, but the angel of the Lord miraculously freed them from their jail cells—and the apostles went straight back to the temple and began teaching again.
Then, watch what they did after the leaders called them in, flogged them, and ordered them again not to preach: “they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be treated shamefully on behalf of the Name.Every day in the temple, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah” (Acts 4:41-42). Nothing, including persecution, could stop them.
Even untrained, uneducated men on fire for Jesus can make an eternal difference in the power of the Holy Spirit!
PERSONAL REFLECTION: How does your life exhibit Holy Spirit courage?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, give me the boldness of the disciples today, regardless of the cost of obedience.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Acts 6:1-8:1