Unashamed
Acts 4 begins with this “Now as they spoke to the people”
Peter, and John are preaching in the street. The religious leaders didn’t like it. The bible says “they were greatly disturbed that they taught people in Jesus’ name.”
Now the story goes on then Peter and John were arrested, and thrown in jail over this. They had just healed a man in front of everybody in the name of Jesus, and were arrested for it. They next day the entire council was there to figure out their next course of action. They conferred, and came to the conclusion that they can’t keep them in jail, they can’t really do anything because the council, and everyone else witnessed the miracle that had taken place so they threatened them.
Which is really all they could do.
The threat was this in verse 17 “but so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on the speak to no man in the name (Jesus)”
The way Peter and John answered is textbook Romans 1:16 “Unashamed”
V.19 “ But Peter and John answered and said Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge, V20 For we cannot BUT speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
What Boldness! What Courage! What assurance in the soul saving, miracle working, powerful name of Jesus did these men have to be completely unashamed of the name of Jesus.
They stood in the face of the religious giants, and said “you judge” basically in todays terms they said “I’m going to continue doing what I’m doing because I know without the shadow of doubt that I’m following the will of the Lord.
How are you being bold for Christ? Are you praying with boldness? Are you sparking up conversations about Christ? Are you leading your family in the faith?
Acts 4:11-12 This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there any salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
That name is Jesus.
If you’re a Christian, and claim to follow Him, why are you ashamed of His name? The silent majority is real, and its time to open our mouths, and not shut up. We don’t need any more quiet Christians. I’m a Reformed Baptist, there is enough of that in my church. We need men who are ready to shout it out. Men who are ready to train the young men to start living courageously, earlier in life than they did.
Are you ready to be that man? A man truly unashamed of the Gospel of Christ? A man who when faced with threats of imprisonment, or death because of your faith will say “ we cannot but speak” the Name of Jesus