Acts 4:13: … they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
It was only a short time after the miracle at the Gate Beautiful and Peter’s preaching to the crowd about the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus that the enemies of the Gospel took notice. Acts 4 begins with the fact that the priests, captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came. “They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.” [Acts 4:2]
They were so disturbed that they threw Peter and John in jail until the next day when they could be questioned. When brought before the authorities for questioning the next morning, Peter used that time of conflict to once again preach to those gathered. He didn’t pull his punches this time either. “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.” [Acts 4:10]
The courage of Peter and John didn’t go unnoticed. Those who were listening realized that although unschooled and ordinary, Peter and John had been with Jesus.
Miracles gave Peter the OPPORTUNITY to share about His Lord. Conflict also gave Peter the OPPORTUNITY to share about His Lord. And it was evident to all present that Peter knew what and Whom he was talking about.
Do you see a pattern here? Whether miracles or conflict, healings or persecutions, we should be sharing Christ and Him crucified and resurrected. We should be sharing with great courage. When we do that, people will then take notice that we too have been with Jesus.
