The physician Luke 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? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole. Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”, and in chapter four and verse thirteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how the religious leaders, “saw the boldness of Peter and John” where we read:
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
The verse begins, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled;” Luke began with the words, “now when they saw” which means “moreover at the time and moment the religious leaders and people of Israel observed, notice and discerned” “the boldness” which means “the freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech and open, frank, without concealment, ambiguity or circumlocution and confidence” “of Peter and John” which refers to “Peter whose name means a little rock or stone and John whose name means Jehovah is a gracious giver”, “and perceived” or “and lay hold of, attained, seized and took possession of the idea” “that they were unlearned” which means “that Peter and John were illiterate, unlettered and without learning” “and ignorant men” or “and private, common and uneducated male human beings”, “they marveled” which means “the religious leaders and people of Israel wondered and admired”. Luke shared how the “religious leaders and people of Israel” “wondered and admired” “Peter and John” because they observed the “freedom and unreserved speaking” from these “ignorant and illiterate” men.
The verse goes on to say, “and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” Luke continued with the words, “and they took knowledge of them” or “and the religious leaders and people of Israel became acquainted with and knew thoroughly about Peter and John”, “that they had been with Jesus” which means “that they, Peter and John, were with Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”. Luke shared how the religious leaders and people of Israel “acknowledge and knew” that “Peter and John” accompanied and were alongside “Jesus” in His ministry.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “religious leaders” and people of Israel observed “Peter and John's” bold speaking though they thought they were “ignorant and illiterate”. They also knew “Peter and John” were involved with “Jesus” in His ministry which far different from their awareness of them when they were hiding after “Jesus” death. “Peter and John” were filled with God's Holy Spirit, and they were “boldly” testifying about Jesus. Anyone who yields their life to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. They will also be filled with His Spirit to live as His “witnesses” in the world. Those who are wise will observe the “boldness” of “Peter and John” and submit themselves to Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how the religious leaders, “beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it”, 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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