City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

“8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’ 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.” Acts 4:8-14 ESV

Reflection

Peter and John had spent the night in prison after a night of praying and wondering if it would be their last night alive. As Pastor Tim said last Sunday, they remembered Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would tell them what to say before authority figures (Luke 12:11-12). They were brought before the very same Annas and Caiaphas who accused Jesus and sentenced Him to death (Matthew 26:57-68, John 18:12-14). The chief priests knew Jesus had risen from the dead, but they spread a rumor that the disciples stole His body (Matthew 28:11-15). Once again, they’re trying to hide the evidence of Jesus as the Messiah. But this is not the same Peter who denied Jesus three times (Luke 22:54-62), and this is not the same John who fled when his Teacher was arrested (Matthew 26:56).

This Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit and every word he speaks is from God. He is not afraid to point out they are on trial for doing a good deed, and he is especially not afraid to point out it was through Jesus Christ, a man whom the chief priests knew was innocent yet still crucified. Keep in mind just less than two months ago, Peter denied Jesus when confronted by the high priests’ servants in the courtyard (Mark 14:66-72). Now Peter is declaring Jesus as the Messiah right to the high priests’ faces! And he points out they not only executed the wrong man, but He rose from the dead! And to top it all off, Peter says Jesus is the Cornerstone (Luke 20:17, Psalm 118:22)! Only by the Holy Spirit was Peter able to have such courage.

The chief priests could never win an argument against Jesus, and now they are faced with the same problem. They could not win against the Holy Spirit. They ended up letting Peter and John go (Acts 4:21).

Application

Jesus changes people for the better. If He can change someone who denies Him three times into a bold speaker of the Word to authority figures, He can change you. Allow the Holy Spirit to change you. As the song below goes, Christ alone is the Cornerstone, weak is made strong in the Savior’s love, and through the storm He is Lord, Lord of all.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, change my heart and grant me courage and the right words to say in Your Name, amen.