Session 8: The Encounter

Session Overview

Creedal Statement

Coming soon.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - Acts 3:1–4:31
• Scripture Memory - Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 2 Corinthians 3:12
• Catechism - Q: What does Jesus’ power give us to bear witness? A: Boldness.

Introduction

And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.

Our power in drawing men to Christ, springs chiefly from the fulness of our personal joy in Him, and the nearness of our personal communion with Him. The countenance that reflects most of Christ, and shines most with his love and grace, is most fitted to attract the gaze of a careless, giddy world, and win their restless souls from the fascinations of creature-love and creature beauty. A ministry of power must be the fruit of a holy, peaceful, loving intimacy with the Lord.

The gospel message announces the power of Christ to bring radical and lasting transformation to people and the world. None other than Jesus has the power to forgive sin, cleanse shame, pardon guilt, heal brokenness, free the enslaved, and restore the fallen. As the messianic deliverer God prophesied to send to save his people, Jesus came to the world as a fulfillment of God’s promise to emancipate people from their bondage and burden to sin. There is no condition too severe, no sin too grave, no shame too deep that Jesus cannot touch with his healing power. In fact, having no strength to remedy their own condition, sinners are totally dependent upon God’s saving work through Jesus. When people encounter Christ’s power and surrender their lives to his saving grace, their changed lives become a convincing testimony of the good news that salvation can be found in Christ.

In short, Jesus is the exclusive means of salvation. So effective is Jesus’ saving power that God wants his people to share this essential message with the whole world. Unless people come to follow Jesus in faith, they cannot escape their broken and sinful condition. Even though Jesus offers salvation from sin and escape from judgment, people still oppose him and his people. Because many will resist, reject, or object to this message, God arms his people with boldness, endurance, and conviction as they share the gospel with others. The same power that saves ruined sinners empowers God’s people to bear witness in harsh and hostile contexts.

In Acts 3:1–4:31, Peter and John healed a lame man who daily begged for alms at the gate of the temple. People were amazed that a man who had been lame for forty years could suddenly walk and leap about. Addressing the amazed crowd, Peter credited Jesus’ power for this miraculous healing and shared the gospel message with his listeners, many of whom came to believe in Jesus. As Jesus had forewarned, Jewish religious leaders were annoyed by what Peter and John were teaching the people. Therefore, the Jewish authorities arrested Peter and John and questioned them the next day. Showing great conviction and boldness, Peter and John told the authorities that they had healed the lame man in the powerful name of Jesus. The courageous apostles refused to yield to the leaders’ intimidation when they demanded that they no longer speak about Jesus. Because these rulers had no legitimate charge against Peter and John, they released them. Gaining their freedom, Peter and John returned to the other believers and gave a report to them of all that had happened. The believers prayed together for God’s strength. God, after shaking the place where the believers were gathered, gave them more boldness to continue to speak the word to others.

This biblical narrative establishes believers and churches on the foundations of gospel witness. It demonstrates the role of miracles in validating gospel proclamation. In Peter’s speech, this narrative also records a succinct summary of the gospel message. Peter and John inspire us today to endure suffering, witness boldly, and speak with conviction, even before powerful authorities. At the end of this story, the collective group of Christians lifting their voices to God highlights prayer as vital in our Christian work. As we study this passage, may we allow God to form us, both as individuals and as churches, into prayerful, bold, and clear witnesses of Jesus, whose power has the incomparable ability to bring healing, forgiveness, and restoration to broken lives.

Biblical Interpretation: Hearing the Word

Study the Text: The Bible is God’s inspired word to his people. Christian disciples mature in the faith when they are grounded in God’s word. In this movement, you will study the basic details of the biblical text.

Observation Questions

Read (or listen to) the whole passage of Scripture. Discuss the questions below for each section of the story. Pay attention to the details of the text to recall what the passage is saying. Use the focus verses to guide your conversation.

Storycraft

Retell the story in your own words, recounting the overall flow of the narrative, the main segments of the story, and the major developments that take place.

Narrative Elements

Story Retell

Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Plot

Explore the Text: God’s word is his trustworthy and sufficient revelation to his people. We grow as Christ’s disciples by rooting our lives in God’s unchanging truth. In this movement, you will explore vital teachings of this biblical passage.

Discussion Questions

Summarize the biblical story. As a community, discuss the following questions. Be attentive to the truths taught in this text. Use the commentary on the next pages to uncover core principles this passage teaches about the Christian faith.

Biblical Commentary

Use this commentary to help you understand the meaning of the text. Refer to the infographic on the next page to think through how narratives work.

Passage Introduction

Key Idea

Jesus’ followers are to bear witness to Jesus’ healing and saving power with boldness, endurance, and conviction.

Passage Overview

The same Jesus who powerfully saves, heals, and restores is the one who empowers God’s people toward bold and faithful witness in the world. Jesus can miraculously heal the sick and turn the cured into joyful testaments to God’s power. Christ’s followers speak about Jesus to individuals, astonished crowds, or smaller private gatherings. As they encounter those who oppose Christ, faithful disciples can endure arrest and threats with courage and endurance. Uneducated and untrained apostles can speak with conviction before ruling authorities. Normal Christians can plead with God for power and boldness to continue their witnessing work. Certainly, to encounter Christ is to encounter a powerful Savior who also emboldens his people for the work of witness. Disciples believe that they act in God’s power and strength and not their own. As this narrative shows, prayer is a key activity that can resource God’s people with boldness, conviction, and endurance. Read the commentary to illuminate the biblical text and discern key principles of God’s guidance and empowerment for gospel witness.

Passage Outline

A Force to Reckon With

To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.

The most important human factor in effective evangelism is prayer. Every great awakening in the history of the Church from the time of the Apostles until today has been the result of prayer. There have been great awakenings without much preaching, and there have been great awakenings with absolutely no organization, but there has never been a true awakening without much prayer.

Introduction

God does not send us to tell others about Jesus in our own strength. He fully outfits his people with the power, strength, and encouragement needed to be faithful witnesses. Even under the harshest situations, God’s power sustains and mobilizes God’s people to boldly testify about Jesus to others. Part of this enablement comes from the fact that Christians witness the saving power they have experienced in their own lives. Knowing that they are weak on their own, believers need to be continually sustained by God’s ongoing power. A faithful commitment to prayer is a means to remain connected to God as the vital fountainhead of all evangelistic effort.

In this regard, the biblical narrative of Acts 3:1–4:31 offers a helpful and needed instruction to disciples and churches. The miraculous healing at the temple gate and Peter’s public response teach us about the relationship between miracles and gospel proclamation. The recorded speeches give clarity on the essential gospel message. As we see Peter and John perform persistent preaching in the face of opposition, believers consider the invitation to be bold witnesses of Christ in their own time and society. The prayerful gathering of believers challenges us to make prayer a core part of our evangelistic practice.

For young disciples and emerging churches, this narrative can establish God’s people in sure foundations of gospel witness. For believing communities where evangelism has waned, this passage can address fears, expose hesitations, and confront disobedience related to this most important responsibility. For Christians facing hostile opposition, Peter and John can serve as inspiring models of faithful endurance as they continue to boldly proclaim the gospel. Whatever situation a church currently finds itself in, this narrative provides crucial instruction toward helping a faith community bear bold testimony of the gospel in the power of Jesus’ name.

Rise and Walk/What I Do Have: Experiencing the Healing Power of Christ

Biblical Narrative (Acts 3:1–10)

One afternoon (“the ninth hour” is 3:00 pm), the apostles Peter and John “were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer” (3:1). At this time, people were carrying a lame man. This man was “lame from birth” and every day he was laid “at the temple gate” so that he could “beg from those entering the temple courts” (3:2). His physical incapacity meant his economic survival was dependent upon the generosity of others. When this man saw Peter and John, he asked them for money (3:3). In a moment of attentive focus, Peter and John “looked directly at him” (3:3) and told the man to look at them. Having lived with his impediment his whole life, the man had come to terms with his lot in life. Therefore, the lame beggar “gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them” (3:5). At least at this moment (and probably for most of his life), the man had grown to expect that his life as a beggar would be his enduring reality on this earth.

Peter’s response radically transformed the man’s expectations and his life situation. He told the man, “silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you” (3:6). Then, acting as a apostolic representative of the risen Christ, Peter gave the command, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk” (3:6). In an amazing display of faith and conviction, Peter took the lame man “by the right hand” and “helped him up” (3:7). When Peter did this, “at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong” (3:7). The handicapped man, who had been lame since his birth, sprung up in a standing position (3:8). So complete was his healing that the man “sprang to his feet and began to walk” (3:8). As the man accompanied Peter and John into the temple courts, he was “walking and leaping and praising God” (3:8). Having sat at the temple gate daily, this man had likely become a fixture to the temple surroundings. People knew this man, and they knew he was lame—lame for decades. Now, “all the people saw him walking and praising God” (3:9). They recognized him as the beggar who daily asked for alms at the temple gate (3:10). When they realized the amazing transformation that this man experienced, “they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him” (3:10).

Biblical Principles

Healing and Holistic Ministry. Peter and John healed a lame beggar in the powerful name of Jesus (3:5). This healing ministry transformed the beggar’s life. Previously unable to walk, the man’s “feet and ankles were made strong” (3:7) so that he stood up (3:6–7), walked (3:6, 8, 9), and even leaped around (3:8). While lame, this man was on the outskirts of the temple (3:2–3). Daily, he would see people enter the temple, reminding him of his marginalized status. When he was healed, this man entered “into the temple courts” (3:8). His infirm condition confined him to beggary (3:3, 5), being the alms-receiving object of people’s devotion to God. After his healing, the man offered his own praise to God (3:9), even stirring people to amazement and wonder (3:10).

Through the power of Jesus, Peter and John provided for the physical needs of this lame man. While providing money would have certainly assisted this man in his needy condition, the healing utterly transformed his lived experience. Across the globe, God still performs miracles today. Yet, people can certainly have a misconstrued understanding of miracles. Some people underestimate the reality of miracles, questioning their legitimacy. Others wrongly exaggerate their role in demonstrations of divine power, claiming an ability to “manufacture” miraculous healings as if they wielded God’s power on their own terms. God will neither be overlooked by the skeptic nor exploited by the opportunist. God is powerfully and actively at work in the world today, bringing supernatural healing and restoration in the lives of people.

The reality of miracles—having occurred in the ancient world as well as today—invites us to participate in caring for the physical well-being of others. Christian work is a holistic ministry. As humans are both physical and spiritual, the work of gospel witness involves caring for people’s present-day felt needs as we announce the eternal message of the gospel. Whether this involves miraculous healings, supernatural answers to prayer, or simple acts of charity, Christians influence others for the gospel by ministering to both physical and spiritual needs. Neither one can be neglected. Good deeds of charity, love, and care should adorn a clear and bold presentation of the gospel.

Kingdom Rule. This narrative record of a miraculous healing helps us to understand the nature of miracles. In essence, miracles serve as a foretaste of the kingdom of God—God’s full and complete reign over all creation. By performing miracles, the apostles displayed the holistic concerns of God’s kingdom (3:1–2). The man’s physical ailment was severe and marginalized him on a number of fronts. He was lame from birth for forty years. At that time and in that culture, his physical impediment confined him to economic poverty. Unable to work, this man depended upon the gifts of charity. As his ailment placed him in a low social class, the man was socially vulnerable, a kind of relational outcast. Religiously, this man was laid outside of the temple as his infirm body disallowed him access into certain of the temple precincts (cf. Leviticus 21:17–20).

The miraculous healing of the beggar reconstituted and transformed his existence. This miracle displayed the ultimate hope and promise of the kingdom of God (3:3–6), a promise of restoration (cf. Isaiah 35:6; note the emphasis on “rise up” in 3:6–8). Miracles anticipate the final restoration of all things: the resurrection of the dead, the defeat of evil, and the recreation of heaven and earth. The healing of this man’s physical malady—and along with it all of its related social and religious difficulties—foreshadowed the final restoration of all things, an event Peter would speak about in his upcoming gospel proclamation (cf. 3:19–21). Because miracles give a present foretaste of God’s future kingdom, miracles highlight the remarkable joy that God’s people experience and express (3:7–11). In God’s kingdom, his people consistently praise his goodness and wonder over his amazing deeds.

By Faith in His Name: Exploring Miracles as a Clear Demonstration of God’s Power

Biblical Narrative (Acts 3:11–16)

The healing of the lame man caused quite a stir. The healed man “clung to Peter and John” while “all the people were astonished and ran to them in the walkway called Solomon’s Colonnade” (3:11). Addressing the amazed and frenzied crowd, Peter gave a public speech and “addressed the people” (3:12). Peter opened his speech by challenging the crowd. He asked the people why they were filled with wonder at the healing of the man (3:12). He also asked why the people thought Peter and John healed the man by their own power (3:12). In asking this twofold question, Peter refused to take credit for this amazing miracle and drew attention to the healing power of God.

At this moment, Peter recounted Jesus’ rejection, crucifixion, and resurrection. Speaking to the people, Peter reminded them how they handed Jesus over to Pilate (3:13) and denied him as the Messiah (3:13, 14). The people had asked for a murderer to be released instead of Jesus (3:13, 14). Asking for Jesus to be crucified, they “killed the Author of life” (3:15). Peter went on to explain that Jesus did not remain dead, but “God raised Him from the dead” (3:15). So true were these events that God gave witnesses to these events (3:15). It was the power of Jesus’ resurrection that enabled the crippled man to be healed. Speaking of the power of Jesus, Peter told the crowd that “by faith in the name of Jesus” the lame beggar had “been made strong” (3:16). They could not deny the miracle because the man, lame from birth (3:2), was a man familiar to the people—“this man whom you see and know” (3:16). Emphasizing a similar point, Peter said that “it is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing in your presence” (3:16).

Biblical Principles

Jesus’ Power and Identity. At the same time, Peter denied that his “power or godliness” (3:12) healed the beggar and announced the might and character of the God who did heal the man (3:13–16). Peter’s initial speech to the amazed crowd credited Jesus’ power for the miraculous healing of the lame beggar. At this time, Peter also clarified Jesus’ identity to the listening people. Peter was certain to tell the people that Jesus was God’s “servant” (3:13), “the Holy and Righteous One” (3:14), “the Author of Life” (3:15), and “a prophet like [Moses]” (3:22). Christ is the suffering and exalted servant whom God set apart to accomplish the salvation of sinners by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. Jesus is the powerful Creator of all things, the promised messianic Deliverer, the anointed and reigning King, the mighty Healer of the sick, and the only Savior of the world. God intends miraculous events not as ends in themselves, but as opportunities to tell others about the gospel: testimonies to the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ.

Call to Faith. While miracles help to reveal the character, power, and purpose of God, they are also an invitation to respond to God. The crowd’s amazement and astonishment had created a frenzied stir (3:11–12; cf. 3:10). While the miracle had won the people’s attention, amazement over a supernatural event does not constitute true devotion to God. Unlike the crowd’s astonishment, the healed beggar was moved to praise God as a result of his restoration (3:8–9). His healing had led him to a commitment and allegiance to God. As Peter spoke, he emphasized the role of faith as a proper response to God’s powerful working. Peter showed this focus on faith by identifying the source of the man’s miraculous healing: “by faith in the name of Jesus,” “Jesus’ name,” and “the faith that comes through [Jesus]” resulted in the man’s healing and restored well-being (3:16). Witnessed by the crowd, the miracle happened in a way that people could not dismiss. The people knew well that the man was a lifelong cripple—“this man whom you see and know” (3:16). Additionally, the miracle took place publicly—“in your presence” (3:16). The open, visible, and transparent nature of this miracle gave undeniable evidence of God’s healing power and compelled people to consider their own relationship with this God (cf. 4:14). Miracles not only provide a platform for credible gospel witness, but they also appeal to people who would pledge their full allegiance to Jesus.

Listen to Him: Making an Appeal for Others to Believe in the Good News about Jesus

Biblical Narrative (Acts 3:17–26)

At this point, Peter continued his speech, delivering a fuller gospel proclamation. Peter had already given a condensed summary of the gospel as he explained the authority and power behind the healing miracle. Having highlighted the essence of Jesus’ rejection, death, and resurrection (cf. 3:13–15), Peter then expanded on the essential details of the gospel message. He told the crowd that although they “acted in ignorance” (3:17) when they crucified Jesus, Jesus’ suffering and death were a fulfillment of prophecies that were given many years prior (3:18). Showing that Jesus’ crucifixion was not an accident in human history, Peter emphasized God’s hand in orchestrating these events: “In this way God has fulfilled what He foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Christ would suffer” (3:18).

Peter told the people that, though they had acted in ignorance, they needed to “repent, then, and turn back” (3:19). As is the promise of the gospel, if people repent of their sin, God will respond with forgiveness and cleansing. In this case, Peter told the people to turn from their sin so that their “sins may be wiped away” (3:19), and they may experience “times of refreshing … from the presence of the Lord” (3:20) at the return of Christ. One day, Jesus will return. Peter went on to explain that at the present time, “heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets” (3:21). In these words, Peter emphasized the powerful transformation—forgiveness, refreshing, and restoration—that Jesus brings.

The Old Testament prophesied that God would send his Messiah. Moses (3:22–23; cf. Deuteronomy 18:15–22) and all of the prophets (3:24) testified to this. As the Jewish people were part of Abraham’s offspring, they were also a part of this prophetic heritage that announced the coming of the Messiah (3:25). Peter identified the listeners as “sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers” (3:25). God fulfilled his promise to Abraham by sending the Messiah to the Jewish people first: “God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness” (3:26). Of all people, the Jews should have received and welcomed Jesus as the Messiah. At this time, Peter was inviting this group of Jews to recognize their guilt in the crucifixion of Jesus, to turn from their sin, and to receive forgiveness, refreshing, and restoration that Jesus can powerfully offer. The physical healing of the lame man was a testimony of the complete healing that Jesus can cause in people’s lives. Those who place their faith in Jesus experience divine healing; those who reject him have chosen a path of their own destruction (cf. 3:22–23).

Biblical Principles

Gospel Message. As already mentioned, miracles compel people to grapple with the urgency of the gospel. As Peter continued his speech to the amazed crowd, he clarified the essential message about Jesus’ saving work. Peter first emphasized the crowd’s personal culpability in the suffering and death of Christ (3:14–15, 17, 19; cf. 4:10). Just like the crowds who handed Jesus over to crucifixion, all people are sinners who have acted in ignorance and guilt in their rejection of Christ. Each sinful human is guilty before God. The gospel message begins by acknowledging the defiant, disobedient, and guilty status of sinful humans. Peter also narrated Jesus’ work in saving sinful people. Although people are guilty of Jesus’ death on the cross, Jesus did not die as a helpless victim. God prophesied that he would send a deliverer to rescue his people from their sin. Jesus came to the earth to fulfill this promise (3:18, 21–25). After Jesus was rejected (3:14), he suffered (3:18), died on the cross (3:15), and rose again from the dead (3:15; cf. 3:22, 26). One day, Jesus will return to earth again and bring full restoration (3:20).

Jesus’ rejection, suffering, death, resurrection, and return form the main plot—kerygmatic spine—of God’s work to save sinners. To receive God’s salvation, people must respond in faith to Jesus (3:16) and repent of their sin (3:19, 26). When people turn from their sin and turn to Jesus in faith, God brings a transformation in their lives. The key difference between believers and unbelievers is that followers of Christ—those who receive eternal salvation—are those who “listen to [Jesus] in everything He tells you” (3:22). Experiencing God’s just and fierce judgment, those who do not listen to him will be “completely cut off from among his people” (3:23). In this speech, Peter identified this transformation as sins being “wiped away” (3:19), “times of refreshing … from the presence of the Lord” (3:20), “the restoration of all things” (3:21), and blessing (3:25). Christ promises forgiveness, renewal, restoration, and blessing to those who place their faith in him. This message demands an urgent response because while people remain in their sin, they face God’s pending judgment.

Prophetic Fulfillment. The work of gospel proclamation publicly proclaims that God has fulfilled his promises. In relation to this, the gospel message is the announcement of God’s plan to save sinners. Emphasized in this speech is God’s plan to accomplish his ancient promises. God’s plan of salvation was “foretold through all the prophets” (3:18). Jesus came as a fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel (3:22–23). It is true that “all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have proclaimed these days” of Jesus (3:24). As much as Jesus’ work of salvation was a fulfillment of God’s promises, so the future restoration of all things is something “God announced long ago through His holy prophets” (3:21). God first sent Jesus to save sinners (3:26), but Jesus will come again to bring full restoration to the broken world (3:20–21). All of this is part of God’s eternal plan to rescue his fallen creation. Those who believe in Jesus become part of God’s people, “sons of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers” (3:25). God has a plan to make a covenant people. Proclaiming the gospel message involves announcing this promised plan of God that comes to full fruition in Christ, inviting sinners to join the community of God’s forgiven people by placing their faith in Christ.

We Cannot But Speak: Bearing Witness Boldly with Deep Conviction

Biblical Narrative (Acts 4:1–22)

While Peter and John were talking to the crowd of people, the temple authorities approached them (4:1) and became “greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead” (4:2). As a result, they arrested Peter and John. Because it was evening, they “put them in custody until the next day” (4:3). Even though Peter and John were incarcerated, the gospel preaching that came after the miraculous healing was effective in bringing people to faith in Christ. So effective was their healing and preaching ministry that “many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand” (4:4).

The next day, Peter and John were brought before a gathering of Jewish religious leaders (4:5–7) who asked them to identify the power behind their ministry (4:7). Peter’s response was a Spirit-filled answer (4:8). He told these inquiring authorities that Jesus’ power healed the crippled (4:8–10). With God’s guiding help, Peter also pointed out to his inquisitors that the very one who healed the lame man, Jesus, was the one they crucified and God raised back to life (4:10). Taking the opportunity to preach the gospel—a message of good news and repentance that he had already told the crowd the day before (3:13–15, 17–26)—Peter told those listening that although they rejected Jesus, he became a cornerstone upon which people can be saved from their sin (4:11). To this point about Jesus’ ability to save guilty sinners, Peter announced to them that redemption is exclusively found in Jesus: “Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (4:12).

The religious leaders were impressed with “the boldness of Peter and John” (4:13). The conviction with which the apostles spoke caused the leaders to be astonished because they “realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men” (4:13). In fact, these religious elites “marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus” (4:13). Even though the leaders were annoyed by the apostles’ work, “they had nothing to say in response” to them because standing next to the apostles was “the man who had been healed” (4:14). The undeniable power of Jesus was exhibited in full display a lame man who was miraculously healed.

The leaders told Peter and John to leave the gathering while they discussed what to do with them (4:15–16). They admitted, “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it” (4:16). The healing of the lame man was so clear and incontestable that no one could deny that a miracle had happened. In fact, that the man had been lame for forty years validated the miracle (cf. 3:2; 4:22). In spite of the obvious miracle, these leaders opposed the message about Jesus. Certainly, the message of the gospel was validated by the miraculous healing. But the leaders did not want news of this miracle—and thus the gospel message about Jesus—to spread to more people (4:17). Therefore, they commanded Peter and John to stop talking about Jesus (4:17–18).

Firm in their conviction and calling, Peter and John refused to abide by the leaders’ intimidating orders. Instead, these apostolic exemplars told their accusers that they would follow God’s calling over their command (4:19) because they could not “stop speaking about what [they had] seen and heard” (4:20). Essentially, the potency and persistence of their gospel witness was an ineradicable compulsion to bear testimony to the life-transforming power of Jesus they had experienced for themselves. In response, the leaders threatened them more but eventually released them because they “could not find a way to punish them” (4:21). Their desire to squelch the gospel proclamation was met with the large crowd of people “glorifying God for what had happened” (4:21). The eruption of praise came from a definitive healing that had taken place for a man who had been known as lame for forty years (4:22).

Biblical Principles

Expected Opposition. Those who proclaim the gospel should expect opposition. In this narrative, Peter and John faced powerful leaders who confronted them (4:1). These religious leaders opposed Peter and John, being “greatly disturbed” (4:2) by their preaching. As a result, Peter and John experienced sudden imprisonment (4:3), an interrogating trial (4:5–9), stern warnings (4:17–18), and threats of punishment (4:21). The experiences of Peter and John forecast common challenges Christians undergo as they engage in evangelism. When Jesus’ followers faithfully proclaim the gospel, they should anticipate resistance, obstruction, and hostility. Often the gospel most challenges powerful elites (cf. 4:1, 5–6, 8)—those who stand to lose the loyalty of the people for their allegiance to Christ—and causes such leaders to use their power to stymie the progress of the gospel.

Importantly, opposition is not a marker of failure. Opposition often means that successful gospel progress is taking place. In this present biblical narrative, even though Peter and John faced criticism from religious leaders, “many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand” (4:4). Incredible acceptance of the gospel occurred at the same time as fierce opposition. This is true throughout cultures and generations. Faithful gospel proclamation often results in resistance from some and acceptance from others. Disciples must remember that resistance to Christian witness is really a rejection of Jesus. Truly, Jesus becomes “the stone … builders rejected” (4:11) by those who refuse to believe the gospel. But for those who accept the gospel message, they have built their life on Jesus as “the cornerstone” (4:11). Built on this unshakeable cornerstone, sinners can find divine salvation (4:12). Through the crucible of resistance, opposition, and hostility, the gospel powerfully advances to more and more people.

Boldness. Because opposition is an expected part of Christian witness, it takes courage, conviction, and commitment to faithfully proclaim the gospel. In this story, Peter and John demonstrated such bold witness in front of the astonished crowd and inquiring religious leaders. They quickly and decisively accredited Jesus as the source of the beggar’s healing (4:10). Peter asserted the exclusivity of Christ as the means of salvation (4:10–11). Additionally, Peter told the religious leaders their own guilt in crucifying Jesus (4:10). So courageous were Peter and John such that the religious leaders noted their “boldness” (4:13; cf. 2:29; 4:29, 31; 9:27, 29; 13:46; 14:3; 18:26; 19:8; 28:31). Further highlighting this boldness was the fact that Peter and John were “unschooled, ordinary men” (4:13). In this narrative, the simple and bold testimony of a disciple of Jesus willing to risk his life proclaiming salvation in Jesus’ name is as astonishing as a miraculous healing (cf. 3:10, 11, 12).

At a foundational level, Christian boldness involves a willingness to take risks in order to tell others about Jesus. Rather than drawing attention to themselves through self-promoting acts of bravery, disciples deflect attention and give all credit to Jesus. While boldness requires acting with uncompromising conviction, Christians act boldly when they speak the unfiltered truth of the gospel and allow this saving message about Christ to carry its own weight. That is to say, boldness is a plain and clear pronouncement of the gospel that resists any temptation to distort or alter the message in order to avoid danger. Providing an open and simple presentation of the gospel—a presentation that is both straightforward in its assertions about Jesus and honest about the listener’s need to respond in faith and repentance—Christians aim to communicate the gospel clearly, knowing that opposition is on the horizon.

Clear Sign/Evidence. Christians can communicate the gospel boldly because of the clear and definitive transformation that Jesus makes in people’s lives. As Peter, John, and the healed man stood before the Jewish council, Jesus’ transforming power was undeniably evident “in” (4:7; lit. “in the middle” or “in the midst”) and among them (4:10). They could see “the man who had been healed standing there with them” (4:14). Not only was this miracle evident to the religious leaders, but the healing of this man was also a “remarkable miracle” that was “clear to everyone living in Jerusalem” (4:16). The widespread impact on the crowd of people was due to the indisputable fact that a man who had been lame for forty years was healed (4:21–22). Although the leaders wanted to punish the apostles and squelch their preaching, these religious authorities could not “deny it” (4:16) and “they had nothing to say in response” (4:14).

Although the examination of Peter and John was due to “a kind service to a man who was lame” (4:9), the message of the gospel—and the power behind the apostles’ boldness—was good news. It is worth risking human rejection, temporary animosity, and limited threats to share the good news of Jesus that will determine one’s eternal destiny. God does things that people witness so he can make the power of Jesus “be known to all” (4:10). So clear was Jesus’ power to Peter and John that they testified about Jesus with great power and authority. The apostolic boldness made it evident to these religious leaders that Peter and John “had been with Jesus” (4:13). So clear were Peter and John about the power and truthfulness of Christ that they could not help but speak about what they witnessed (4:20). This is the honest, testifying work of witnesses (cf. 3:15): the free and plain proclamation of a truth that one has experienced and believes to be incontestable. For such a truth—one that is personally experienced—a person is willing to boldly announce to others, even at the risk of their safety and very life.

Exclusivity/Only Jesus. Another source of Christian boldness is the utter uniqueness of Jesus. Jesus’ exclusive claim on salvation is the great fuel of bold witness. The fact that Jesus is the “cornerstone” (4:10), that “salvation exists in no one else” (4:12), and that “there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (4:12) emboldens Christians to courageously and plainly proclaim the gospel. Since Christians believe Jesus is the only means of salvation (cf. 3:16), there is an urgency to herald the gospel to all. Only one path to forgiveness exists. God has appointed his Son, Jesus, as the only means of salvation. Having already secured their eternal destiny, Christian witnesses are willing to sacrifice their lives to propagate this life-saving message.

When They Had Prayed: Resourcing Gospel Witness with Gospel Prayer

Biblical Narrative (Acts 4:23–31)

Having no real claim to charge against Peter and John, the leaders released them. Peter and John went to other believers and reported what had taken place (4:23). In response, the community of believers held corporate prayer (4:24–30). They praised God as Sovereign Creator (4:24) who keeps his promises (4:25–26) and affirmed God’s power over all human rulers and authorities (4:25–26). The gathering of Christians acknowledged that those involved in Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion (4:27) were really doing “what [God’s] hand and will had decided beforehand would happen” (4:28). The early Christians believed that, while people were guilty for the death of Christ, Jesus’ crucifixion only happened because of God’s sovereign intentions.

In light of the Christians’ confident belief that God fulfills his promised plan, they asked God to give them confidence “to speak [God’s] word with complete boldness” (4:29). Having heard the report of the threats made to Peter and John—and knowing that more threats awaited those who testified about Christ—they asked God for courage to endure these threats and be faithful to the mission. The believers were further built up in their confidence by the fact that the lame man had been healed by Jesus’ power (4:30). After the disciples prayed, “their meeting place was shaken” (4:31). As a sign that God answered their prayer, the people gathered there “were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (4:31).

Biblical Principles

Prayer. Upon the return of Peter and John to the other disciples, the gathering of believers became an assembly of prayer. This time of prayer involved corporate intercession (4:24), confession of God’s praise (4:24), citation of Scripture (4:25–26), expression of confidence in God’s sovereignty (4:27–28), and a clear request for God’s aid (4:29–30). Asking for God’s help, the believers made a twofold request for God to pay attention to those who mistreat them and for God’s help for the believers to continue to preach the gospel openly (4:29). One might think that the believers would pray for safety and protection since some of their key leaders just experienced imprisonment and trial. However, this ardent group of believers asked for God’s strength to help them share the gospel with boldness.

One cannot underestimate the power of prayer. Sustaining Christians in the Christian life and empowering God’s people for gospel proclamation, prayer is a vital component of evangelistic work. When believers pray, they are yielding the results of gospel witness to God. Further, they are depending upon God’s sovereign plan to be accomplished. Evangelistic prayer acknowledges God’s rule over all things and believes that no obstacle—not even the powerful guild of human rulers—can obstruct God’s purposes and plans in the world. Prayer rightly orients the community of faith toward God’s help and knits the hearts of believers together in one accord, allowing the progress of the gospel to serve as a great unifying factor in the church. Believers dare not approach Christian witness without this great weapon of prayer, but armed in prayer, believers can boldly enter into any situation God has called them.

Power and the Holy Spirit. As a sign of God’s answer to their prayer and as a testament of his power toward his people, he shook the place where these believers gathered (4:31). At this time, God empowered his people with the Holy Spirit, and the believers continued to preach the gospel with boldness (4:31). Just as prayer sustained the believing community in their witness, the Holy Spirit empowered them to preach the gospel with perseverance. The same Holy Spirit that predicted how rulers would abuse their power and oppose God (4:25–26) is the Holy Spirit who would equip God’s people to announce the gospel (4:31). In fact, it was the Holy Spirit who empowered Peter at the moment of his trial to speak boldly before the Jewish religious leaders (cf. 4:8). As God’s people embrace the work of Christian witness, God promises his power and presence for them.

Conclusion

After healing a lame beggar, Peter and John boldly credited Jesus’ healing power and faithfully announced the gospel message. Even when Peter and John were arrested and interrogated by powerful religious leaders, God strengthened them to represent Jesus before those who threatened them. The powerful examples of Peter and John must not overshadow the equally important role the healed beggar and the Christian community played in this gospel witness. The lame beggar was a visible and undeniable testimony of God’s healing power that gave credence to the gospel message. The larger church community contributed to the Christian mission through its commitment to earnest prayer.

The present biblical narrative is a fascinating blend of miraculous healing, gospel proclamation, bold witness, and prayerful commitment. The historical occurrences of this ancient narrative are no less relevant to us today. They provide a formational grid to help believers and churches approach evangelism in a bold, faithful, and dynamic way. If we heed the message of this text, believers and churches can become vehicles of Jesus’ transforming power to a broken and sinful world. Because of the forces that oppose us, this will be difficult work. Nevertheless, armed by God’s divine power, we can boldly announce Jesus with an unshakeable and resolute purpose.

Session Synopsis

SESSION 8 SYNOPSIS
Boldness in Christian Witness	In this passage, we learn about bold Christian witness. On their way to the temple for prayer, Peter and John met a man who was lame from birth. They miraculously healed the man, who leapt in the temple praising God. An excited crowd formed around Peter, and he preached the gospel to them. The religious authorities were greatly annoyed at the apostles and arrested them, bringing them before the Jewish Council. They interrogated the apostles and told them to stop preaching the gospel. Peter told the Council that salvation could only be found in Jesus, and they would not stop preaching the gospel. No one could deny the miracle of the man. Eventually, the Council released the apostles, and they returned to the other believers. The church prayed for continued boldness to preach the gospel, and the place where they met shook. This biblical narrative helps us cultivate boldness in preaching the gospel to others. A summary of this story’s principles is outlined below.
Miracles, Gospel, and God’s Kingdom	Miracles demonstrate God’s healing concern for whole persons—body and spirit (3:1–10, 16; 4:9, 14, 22, 30). Miracles give a platform for gospel preaching (3:11–26) as they bear witness to God’s saving power (3:12–13), the person of Jesus Christ (3:14–16), and the undeniable transformation Jesus brings to the lives of people (4:7, 9–10, 14, 16, 20–22). Miracles are a foretaste of the fullness of God’s kingdom (3:3–8; cf. Isaiah 35:6).
Bold Witness	God calls his people to bear witness to Jesus with boldness and courage (4:13, 29, 31; cf. 2:29; 9:27, 29; 13:46; 14:3; 18:26; 19:8; 28:31). Bold witness is a conviction to preach the gospel openly (3:12; 4:10), directly (3:14; 4:11), unashamedly (3:15–16; 4:12), clearly (3:17–26; 4:12), simply (4:13), unreservedly (4:20), and continuously (4:20, 31) without regard for the consequence to oneself (4:21).
Clear Gospel Proclamation	Bold witness speaks the gospel message with conviction and without compromise (3:17–26; 4:8–12). Bold witness maintains the integrity of the gospel message’s core. In fulfillment of God’s promises (3:18, 21–26), God sent Jesus as his promised deliverer (3:22, 26; cf. 3:20) to deal with human sin and guilt (3:14–15, 17, 19, 26; 4:10–11). Jesus experienced rejection (3:14; 4:11), suffering (3:18), crucifixion (3:15; 4:10), resurrection (3:15, 22, 26; 4:10), ascension (3:21), and future return (3:20) to bring salvation to (3:20–21, 23; 4:12) to any who repent (3:19) and believe (3:22; cf. 3:16) in him and judgment (3:23) for all who reject him (3:23; 4:11).
Opposition to the Faith	Bold witness will bring about opposition (4:1–2). Opposition to the gospel can come in the form of imprisonment (4:3), interrogation (4:5–9), intimidation (4:17–18), and threats (4:21).
Exclusivity of Jesus	Bold gospel witness preaches the exclusivity of Jesus (3:16; 4:10–12)—there is salvation in Jesus alone. Jesus is either a cornerstone to the believing or a stumbling stone to the unbelieving (4:11). This often offends people with power, position, and prestige (4:1, 5–6, 8).
Prayer	Bold witness is characterized by fervent prayer (4:24–31). Some important aspects of Christian prayer are corporate intercession (4:24), praise to God (4:24), use of Scripture (4:25–26), trust in God’s sovereignty (4:27–28), and petition for God’s help (4:29–30).
Holy Spirit	In contrast to the abusive power of worldly leaders (4:25–26), God’s people preach the gospel boldly by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit (4:8, 25, 31).

Personal Reflection: Entering the Story

Apply the Text: The word of God is binding and authoritative, the only reliable guide for faith and godliness. True disciples submit themselves to God’s word. In this movement, you will apply God’s word to your lives.

Reflection Questions

Encourage one person to share a testimony about how this story has impacted them so far. Use the reflection questions to examine your life in light of this biblical passage.

Spiritual Practice

Prayer Walk

Identify a particular area to walk around and pray. Do this individually or as a group. As you walk around this area, pray that God will give you open doors to share the gospel and boldness to share the gospel. Identify the area in which you will walk, subjects to pray about, and a reflection on the experience.

Ministry Practice: Rehearsing the Script

Minister the Text: God’s word is living and active. Through God’s word, the Christian community is edified. In this movement, you will utilize the biblical passage to minister to other believers and build them up in their faith.

Application Questions

Look at the infographic below. Use the questions to think about how to minister this text to other believers.

Missional Outreach: Publicizing the Truth

Witness the Text: The Bible is a message of God’s gracious salvation to the world. In word and deed, God’s people proclaim the good news of the gospel. In this movement, you will use this biblical passage to reach out to unbelievers.

Strategy Questions

Reflect on the infographic below. Consider how you can use this passage to witness to the surrounding world. Use the suggested ideas to prime your imagination. Then, put together a plan to share this passage with unbelievers, Afterward, reflect on this mission experience.