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13 The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
I might disagree that they didn't have special training, after all they spent 3 1/2 years learning from Jesus. Though as we talked about several times while reading the Gospels they never seemed to "get it." But thankfully Jesus left them (and us) the Holy Spirit to bring the things Jesus' taught them back to their memory and help them understand what He meant.
I love the fact that after the encounter with the religious leaders they went back together and prayed for courage to continue speaking God's truth. And God responded:
31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
Those were the same parts that jumped out at me today. I love how Jesus chose as His disciples and apostles men from all walks of life--and these, the founders of the Church, had no traditional higher education. But you're right, they didn't need it--they got to learn at the feet of Jesus.
ReplyDelete"32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need."
ReplyDeleteThese people didn't just dip their toe in. They dove!
Acts 4
ReplyDelete12 No one else can save us. Indeed, we can be saved only by the power of the one named Jesus and not by any other person.