“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognised that they had been with Jesus.” – Acts 4:13 (ESV)
The description in the above Scripture took place in Jerusalem, just weeks after the resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Peter and John had gone to the temple at the hour of prayer, and there at the Beautiful Gate sat a man who had been lame from birth, begging, watching others walk past, hoping for a few coins to survive another day (Acts 3).
When he asked Peter and John for money, Peter’s response changed everything: “…I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6 – ESV). Instantly, he was healed. He entered the temple, jumping and praising God, stunning the crowd. A miracle, undeniable, unexplainable, impossible to ignore.
But miracles make ‘religious authorities’ nervous. They arrested Peter and John and locked them in prison before taking them to the Sanhedrin council – the same one that had condemned Jesus to death.
The Scripture tells us that Peter and John were “uneducated, common men.” The Greek word is agrammatos, literally, “unlettered.” They hadn’t been to the rabbinical schools. They hadn’t sat under the famous teachers. They were simple fishermen from the region of Galilee.
Yet something about them was utterly confounding.
They spoke with authority. They radiated confidence. They showed no fear, not even a flicker, before the very council that had sent their Master to the cross. When questioned, Peter opened his mouth and preached with a boldness that left the Sanhedrin “astonished.” They were struggling to comprehend what they were witnessing. How could uneducated fishermen speak like this? Where did this courage come from? What explained this inexplicable transformation?
And then a revelation occurred that echoes to this day: “…They recognised that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13 – ESV).
Yes, spending time with Jesus transforms ordinary people into vessels of extraordinary power, enabling them to perform great exploits. Be encouraged today, you can be a vessel of extraordinary power!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I am undone by the truth that proximity to You changes everything. I confess that I have often tried to serve You, represent You, and speak for You without first being transformed by time in Your presence. I have relied on my own abilities, knowledge, and efforts, but they are not enough. They will never be enough.
I come to You now, not with a list of requests, but simply to be with You. I want to be marked by Your presence. I want to be so saturated in who You are that others can see the difference, even if they can’t explain it. This, I pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen!
Read: Psalm 145:18; James 4:8
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 7:1-9; Matthew 7:24-29; Matthew 8:1-22; Genesis 19; Genesis 20