How often do you rehearse what you wish you would have said after the fact?
Or maybe you have the opposite problem, you immediately speak and then wish you had remained silent?
I fall into the first camp most of the time.
Even as I was studying for today’s post, something triggered in me a tirade of anger about something that I have re-rehearsed far too many times. I sound, in my own ears, incredibly bold and powerful in this re-rehearsal of what I wish I had said.
I realize, though, that these re-rehearsals are temptations to focus on an unhealthy anger rather than a healthy boldness inspired by God.
What does this have to do with Acts 5:17-32?
The Passage and Some Study Questions
17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.[1]
Why was the high priest and all who were with him filled with jealousy? (See Acts 5:12-16)
19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. [2]
Who freed the apostles and for what purpose?
Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.”[3]
Given the Sadducees did not believe in angels, explain the significance of what the officers found when they arrived at the prison.
24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. [4]
What emotions are now present in the priests and officers of the temple? Why?
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” [5]
Explain the significance of the phrase “yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching”. (See Matthew 28:16-20)
What does the high priest continue to deny?
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” [6]
List the key points that Peter and the other apostles state in response to the high priest’s questioning.
Why weren’t the apostles afraid to speak to the council in this manner?
So How do we Find Our Opportunities for Boldness?
When we speak rashly and then later regret what we said, it is typically of being emotionally triggered in the heat of the moment.
This is also true when we re-rehearse what we wish we would have said but didn’t.
I think we can make either of these errors, even when we are trying to share our faith with another person. Especially when that person is highly antagonistic to what are sharing.
But this is not what the apostles are doing in Acts 5:17-32.
Back in Acts 4, Peter and John had already been arrested by the high priest and council for speaking boldly about Jesus Christ. Yet they and the other apostles continued to speak boldly after being released this first time. And now, after a second imprisonment, they continued to speak boldly.
How was this possible? (See Acts 4:8 and Mark 13:11)
The apostles appear confident in these passages because they are allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through them and not succumbing to their emotions.
This does not mean they didn’t struggle with fear, frustration, anger, etc. So how did they overcome these emotions and be able to remain calm in the face of opposition and continue speaking boldly about their faith?
Review what Peter and John did after when released from prison the first time.
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
“ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’—
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. [7]
What is the point of their words to God thus far?
They didn’t stop there in their prayers.
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. [8]
So how do we find our opportunities for boldness with sharing our faith according to the verses above?
May we learn from the apostle’s example to pray before we ever speak a word.
When we trust the Holy Spirit to work through us, we will speak with greater boldness.
How has this post encouraged you today?
Is there anything you feel prompted by God to do because of this study?
Warmly,
Barbara Lynn
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 5:17–18.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 5:19–21.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 5:21–23.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 5:24–26.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 5:27–28.
[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 5:29–32.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 4:23–28.
[8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 4:29–31.
There is a huge difference between emotional boldness (that I am guilty of) and Spirit led boldness.
Great article, Barbara. Insightful.
Well said Carl! Thanks for leaving a comment!