TRANSFORMING TIMID
Opening Prayer
‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening’ (1 Samuel 3:9).
Read Acts 4:1–12
Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
4 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’[a]
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Footnotes
- Acts 4:11 Psalm 118:22
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Are you timid about sharing your faith?Wow! The guy who was too timid to admit to a lowly servant girl that he was an acquaintance of Jesus (Luke 22:57) could now stand before the rulers of the people and tell them about Him (10). Actually, Peter did more than tell them about Jesus. He spoke with clarity and boldness about the source of the power that healed the lame man (7). He told them that they had been the ones responsible for crucifying Jesus, but God had raised Him from the dead (10), and that salvation comes through Jesus alone (11, 12).
A ‘cornerstone’ was the first stone that was laid in a foundation, hence it is the most important and the one that supports the position and alignment of all the other stones. In other words, everything depends on the cornerstone. Exclusive truth claims can upset many people today, but Peter gives us a great example of fearlessness and clarity.
The clue to what transformed Peter from knee-knocking to ruler-shaking is in verse 8: ‘filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Nothing apart from God’s power could have effected such change, particularly in such a short space of time. God promises His Spirit to all those who seek Him (Acts 2:17). He has more for you, too, if you will seek Him.
Apply
The gift of the Holy Spirit is not just for your benefit. He gives power to be Christ’s witness. Seek the empowerment of God’s Spirit today, not only for yourself, but also so that you can share God’s truth.
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, help me to trust in You as the Chief Cornerstone, and in You alone. Transform me by the power of Your Spirit.
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