Luke the physician wrote how Peter spoke to the people who gathered together after lame man at the temple was healed, and many “which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have you done this?”, and in chapter four and verse eight of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter, “filled with the Holy Ghost” began to answer them where we read:
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
The verse begins, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, ...” Luke began with the words, “then Peter” which means “at that time, therefore, wherefore and on this account Peter whose name means a little rock or stone”, “filled with the Holy Ghost” which means “furnished, supplied, imbued and influenced with the sacred, pure, morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit who is coequal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son”, “said unto them” or “uttered, declared and proclaimed to the religious leaders” the following words. Luke shared how “Peter” who was “filled” with God's “Holy Spirit” spoke the following words to the religious leaders.
The verse continues, “... You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, ...” Luke added the words, “you rulers of the people” or “you chiefs, princes and leaders belonging to the people both men and women”, “and elders of Israel” which means “and overseers, forefathers and senior ones of the Jews who were members of the great council or Sanhedrin belonging to the Jewish nation and people of Israel which means he shall be a prince of God”. Luke shared how Peter addressed the “leaders” of the “people” and the “elders” belonging to “Israel”.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter” began to answer the “religious leader” who seized them. He had the power and ability to do so through God's Holy Spirit, and we shall see the “boldness” he expressed when he speaks to them. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they surrender their life to Him, He will forgive their sins, grant them everlasting life and fill them with His Holy Spirit so they may bear witness of Him. Let all who consider this “power to speak” within “Peter” yield themselves Jesus who is the “Savior and Lord” of the world.
Next time Luke shares how Peter says, “if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man”, 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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