Acts 4:19

Acts 4:19 declares, But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.  Verse twenty adds, For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.  Peter and John responded by asking if it were right to obey man or God.  That should have been an easy question for those who claimed to represent God.   As followers of Christ, we must stand ready to say that we will be faithful to His calling.  With Peter and John, we must say that we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard.  Verse twenty-one continues, So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.  Verse twenty-two concludes, For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed. The council acted by threatening them again, but they couldn't punish them because of the people.  All the men glorified God for what had happened.  A man lame for over forty years stood there whole.  Attempts to suppress Christianity are nothing new.  It started with the cross and has continued ever since.  We need to be careful that we don't view Christianity as only an American belief. When we speak of how hard it is becoming to be a Christian under the government today, look to the rest of the world and then we can see how hard it can really be.  Verse twenty-three says, And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. When the disciples were released, they went to their fellow believers and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.  I'm sure the others had to be wondering what was happening to Peter and John.  Jesus had just recently been crucified. Was there a danger to them?  It is best to deal in facts and not fear or speculation.  Verse twenty-four adds, And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:  Verse twenty-five continues, Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?  They proclaimed God to be Creator of heaven and earth and restated David's question of why do the heathen rage.  When we look at all that is going on in the world today, we need to look first to God.  Then we can ask why do the heathen rage.  After Peter and John shared the facts, the people there lifted up their voice to God in one accord.  We see the early church often said to be in one accord, and we as His followers must also be today.  Verse twenty-five states, The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.  All the rulers of the world, and even the leaders of the Jews, were gathered against the Lord and against His Christ.  Of course, we know that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, and that the world is still aligned against Him. Verse twenty-seven continues, For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,  The disciples then said that the child Jeusu was opposed by Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles and the people of Israel. That covered nearly everyone, and until we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, it includes us as well.  Verse twenty-eight concludes, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.  Peter and John said that these people gathered together to do whatever God determined they would do, but that does not mean He was responsible for the death of Jesus.  He was simply determined to make salvation available, and this was the only way it could happen.  Verse twenty-nine proclaims, And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word.   Then, they asked God to behold the threats against them and to give them the boldness to speak His word that people might be healed, and signs and wonders done in the Holy name of Jesus.  When we today add, “in the name of Jesus,” do we really have faith that He has the power to change things, or do we simply feel adding the words gives our prayers more power?  The disciples in that day didn't ask that the threats be removed, only that God would give them the boldness to speak His word.  We today need to focus not on the threats of the world, but on the power of God to give us boldness to speak for Him.  Verse thirty adds, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.  God did stretch forth His hand to bring everlasting spiritual healing to all who will put their faith in the Holy Child Jesus.