Luke the physician wrote how Peter and John were arrested for speaking to the people in the temple about the resurrection of the dead. They answered the “religious leaders” and were released after being threatened not to speak or teach in Jesus' name. Afterward, “they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, you are God, which have made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is. Who by the mouth of your servant David has said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against your holy child Jesus, whom you have anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever your hand and your counsel determined before to be done”, and in chapter four and verse twenty-nine of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter and John's own company prayed, “Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto your servants, that with all boldness they may speak your word” where we read:
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto your servants,
that with all boldness they may speak your word,
The verse begins, “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto your servants, ...” Luke began with the words, “and now, Lord” which means “and at this time and moreover, One to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, and the title given to God the Messiah”, “behold their threatenings” which means “look at, observe, notice and discern their, the religious leaders', menacing, promised peril and endangerment”: “and grant unto your servants” or “and bestow, furnish and supply to your, God the Heavenly Father's bondman, man of servile condition and attendants” the following ability. Luke shared how Peter, John and their own company asked God the Heavenly Father to observe the religious leader's “threats of promised peril”, and they desired that He “give” them as His “servants” the following ability.
The verse goes on to say, “... that with all boldness they may speak your word,” Luke continued with the words, “that with all boldness” which means “so having every and the whole amount of freedom of speaking, unreservedness in speech, openly, frankly and without concealment or ambiguity” “they may speak your word” or “they, God the Heavenly Father's servants, might utter, declare and proclaim your, God the Heavenly Father's, speech, sayings, decrees, mandates and orders”. Luke shared how Peter, John and their own company desired to have God the Heavenly Father grant them to “speak” His “declarations, decrees and mandates” without reservation and in an open and frank manner.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn about the desire and request of Peter, John and their family and friends who were believers in Jesus. They wanted to share God's “gospel” or “good news” of Jesus Christ without any reservation or regard for the “threats” the religious leaders pronounced upon them. Most people would be inclined to submit to the authorities since their lives or livelihoods might be in jeopardy for speaking about Jesus, but these people appealed to the ultimate authority, God the Heavenly Father, to empower them to speak in an unreserved and bold manner. This resolve is not only commendable, but also to be desired by anyone who has given their heart and life to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Let all who read these words surrender to Jesus and ask Him for “boldness” to share the declarations of His “gospel”.
Next time Luke shares how Peter, John and their own company pray that God would reveal Himself, “by stretching forth your hand to heal”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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