Bold and Astonished

Introduction (10 Minutes)

I am so glad that summer is finally here. It’s warm, it’s green, it’s not cold.

And summer for us means outdoor work and something we haven’t done for a while but are getting back into. Fishing. The kids wanted to fish and so we went down to the river and caught some and now they are at the age where they can bait their hooks and they can take the fish off themselves.

It’s pretty intimidating that first time especially when they try to clamp down on your finger, but then you realize that it doesn’t hurt, the catfish doesn’t have teeth.

So it didn’t take long after watching dad and trying it out themselves that they were getting pretty bold when it came to getting hooks out of the fish mouths!

I use that word bold on purpose because what we are going to talk about today has to do with being bold.

In chapter 3 of Acts there is a story about how Peter and John were going into the temple and teaching and there was a man there that was crippled who was begging for money. Peter looks at him, gets his attention and tells him that he doesn’t have money but will give the man what he does have and tells the crippled man to get up and walk! And he does!

This creates a huge stir in Jerusalem. Remember, there are 3000 new Christian, men with very possibly up to 3000 families that have just become Christians and it is probably the talk of the town.

Peter and John and the other Apostles and probably even the new converts are preaching Jesus. They do it on the street corners and even in the temple area. This is we pick up today.

Acts 4:1–14 ESV

1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand. 5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 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.

This morning I am going to do something I don’t think I have ever done before. I am going to use an acronym to outline the sermon. The acronym is the word BOLD.

They were Bold

I want to use that word because of how bold Peter and John are in what is going on here.

Peter and John have been arrested. Arrested for the controversy about a crippled man who had been healed, and by the name of Jesus Christ who had been recently found guilty of blasphemy in the same town.

They have been arrested by the Temple police they would face trial by the Sanhedrin.

The Sanhedrin was the supreme court of the Jews.

71 members made up mostly of the Sadducees (did not believe in the resurrection of the dead)

Scribes (who were experts in the law)

Pharisees (who were fanatics in keeping the law)

And elders who were older respected members of the community. Along with some priests and former priests.

The Sadducees (the most influential over these types of matters) main goal was to keep the status quo so that they could retain their position and their riches. So Peter and John have to face this court.

So Peter and John have to face this court.

Now, this is a really big deal and since we know a lot about Peter we forget that this is early on in Peter’s preaching career. And he is about to face the highest court in his country among his people. And he is bold.

This is a big deal and this trial is supposed to be intimidating for Peter, but Peter’s courage is incredible.

William Barclay says that there are two types of courage: first is reckless courage where one is blind to the dangers they face. The other is cool courage where one understands what they face as dangerous but still proceed through.

So when Peter gets up and speaks to this group of elites it is incredible. And impressive. 71 men are looking at you accusing you. Looking to pronounce the guilty verdict on you.

This court is made up of the most influential, most wealthy, most powerful men in society and they want blood. And remember that it was this court that not that long ago illegally tried Jesus and had him executed.

They want to know about how this man was healed and Peter proceeds to tell them about Jesus, the one who you killed, he says. And the word says that when he gets up in front of the most elite men of his day, he defends Jesus.

That is so bold!

My first job was a pot washer down at Sandy Cove in North East, Maryland. It was a really simple job. Dirty pot gets dropped off, I put it in the sink with some comet at a green scrubbie, or a brillo pad to clean it.

It’s like how Brad Pitt was in Thelma and Louise. Big star but very early in the career. And he is very bold in the way that he comes out here. Bold

Next letter is O. They were Ordinary men.

That was my job. All summer long, every weekend. I washed those pots. yeah, it was good that I did that, and I did a good job but there wasn’t anything mentally impressive about that job. Truly. I had one decision to make when any pot came into my sink. Green pad or brillo. That was it. One decision and it was multiple choice. And honestly, either could work.

Next letter is O, for Ordinary men.

Peter was a fisherman. I am sure that there were parts of his trade that required some skill, but speech giving and preaching wasn’t one of them.

So when he gets up in front of the most elite men of his day it was pretty amazing to witness. Really amazing.

Acts 4:13 ESV

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.

acts 4

This trial was supposed to be a slam dunk. Like catching fish in a barrel. Easy peasy. Ducks on a pond. Peter was a fisherman, no problem.

There wasn’t much to being a fisherman. Not to knock being a fisherman, but in Peter’s day it was kind of menial work. They wouldn’t expect much from him when they questioned him. A fisherman wouldn’t be able to say much.

It reminds me of my first job. It was a job, it wasn’t anything impressive. I was a pot washer at Sandy Cove in North East, MD. My job description was this. Pot gets put in your sink, clean it, dry it. That was it, there wasn’t much to it. As a matter of fact, I had only one decision to make while washing pots: do I use the green scrubby pad or the steel brillo pad? So my one decision was a multiple choice and technically (in a lot of cases) you could have used either anyway. But that kind of job just didn’t require a whole lot of grey matter up here.

And if you know anything about Peter you don’t think that this is a very big deal for him. We know Peter and how bold he is, how he wrote a couple of books of the bible. But this happened before all of that. This is kind of early in his career Peter. This is when he was in the minors, Peter.

It’s like how Brad Pitt was in Thelma and Louise. Big star but very early in the career. Lots of potential. But from the worlds perspective he is very ordinary. I am glad God uses ordinary people in extraordinary ways.

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 ESV

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Not to knock being a fisherman, but in Peter’s day it was kind of menial work.

God uses humble ordinary people.

Peter is facing the highest minds of the day and he comes to this fight seemingly unarmed.

Except that the Holy Spirit begins to speak through him. And he tells them with all boldness that the crippled man was healed because of Jesus. And then he throws in there that there is no other name by which you can be saved, Jesus.

Except that the Holy Spirit begins to speak through him. And he tells them that the crippled man was healed because of Jesus. And then he throws in there that there is no other name by which you can be saved, Jesus.

We are told in verse 13 that those men were astonished. They were astonished. They say, “How is this fisherman able to speak like this? He hasn’t gone to school, he hasn’t been educated. Where did this come from?

“How is this fisherman able to speak like this? He hasn’t gone to school, he hasn’t been educated. Where did this come from?

They were expecting this little trial to be a joke but Peter and John, through the Holy Spirit are astonishing them through their boldness and their arguments. Ordinary people being used in extraordinary ways.

O was for ordinary.

Next we see here is L in the word bold which stands for the fact that..

Just as a side note. If you want the world to follow you you would take credit for the healing yourself. Peter knows that God healed the man and makes sure that God gets all the credit. Peter is giving credit to Jesus for this. And he is bold.

They loved God more than they loved themselves. They loved God and His message more than they loved themselves or other people.

When you surrender your life to Jesus you surrender it all. Even your dignity. Even your standing in the community. Your popularity. All of that goes out the window when you identify yourself with Jesus.

And this isn’t new. This has been going on forever. Listen to where there are those who believe in Jesus but sadly, they are too embarrassed to say anything about it.

John 12:42–43 ESV

42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

This is a big stumbling block in most people’s lives. Who do you love more? God, or yourself? Or your child? Or your job? Your Spouse? Or your entertainment? Ouch. There is so much in the world that wants to compete with your love for God. What is it for you? Maybe your whole life is wrapped up in your child’s life that you have no life of your own. Or your job, or entertainment.

I am not talking about not taking care of your children but I am saying that you need to love God first, before anything else. When Peter and John were talking to their supreme court, the Sanhedrin, they were putting their lives in their hands. And they didn’t hold back. They told the truth about Jesus and they were bold in the way they did it.

So Peter and John are there. And the 71 members of the court didn’t know what to do. They had the guys go out and they had a little private meeting.

Acts 4:17–22 ESV

17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

Acts 4:14–22 ESV

14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

They are commanded not to speak this name of Jesus anymore. It’s illegal. You can’t do it.

They are told there not to speak this name of Jesus anymore. It’s illegal. You can’t do it.

What do they say? Basically, we will obey God before we obey men and Jesus told us to speak his name.

Acts 4:19–20 ESV

19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

They loved God more than they loved men

No, they tell the truth about Jesus Christ and how it was by the name of Jesus that the crippled was healed and they face those consequences whatever those will be. They loved God more than themselves.

Finally

D. They were determined to stay bold.

They have been told to leave and when they do they go straight to the other Christian friends that they know and tell them the story. Mind you, the people probably didn’t think they were coming back. And the first thing they do is they have a prayer meeting. They have a prayer meeting.

Man, can you imagine how different life would be if we would react not with our feelings, not with panic but with prayer? Here is what they did.

Acts 4:29–31 ESV

29 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.

They didn’t just thank God for their safety, or to never have to face that kind of trial again, they asked for continued boldness to speak the name of Jesus. Let us speak your word with boldness Lord. Let us speak with Boldness.

Paul prays in

Ephesians 6:18–19 ESV

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,

Ephesians 6:19 ESV

19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,

Here is a question.

Here is a question.

Ephesians 6:19 ESV

19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,

Here is a question.

Here is a question.

When was the last time you were BOLD for the Lord? When did you say something really bold that was just true? Even if it was going to offend someone? And what I mean here is the total truth of who Jesus is. Not talking about theological differences or about the way you view the end times or anything like that.

I mean stuff like… “There is only one name by which a person can be saved and that is the name of Jesus Christ.” That is bold, and it is true. Will you proclaim that in your life? Can you say that to someone who is searching for an answer, even if it offends them?

For Peter and John, The supreme court (if you will) was astonished by the fact that they were so bold even though they were so common. This is what the Holy Spirit does, He gives us boldness to do what God wants us to do.

Boldness is important. Now being bold does not have to mean being rude, or loud, or belligerent. You can be bold and be polite. You can be nice about your boldness. Boldness is about being convinced. It’s about knowing beyond the shadow of a doubt and not apologizing for it. It means that you don’t waiver and that you are totally convinced in it.

Bold in our requests

Bold in the way we carry out

Explanation (10 Minutes)

Boldness is important. It’s convincing. It is so important that Peter went back after they were released to pray that they would continue to be BOLD!

2 Astonish by being COMMON.

3 Astonish by being with JESUS.

Boldness is important. It’s convincing. It is so important that Peter went back after they were released to pray that they would continue to be BOLD!

Ephesians 6:19 ESV

19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,

Ephesians

Boldness means being convinced. Not pushy or shove down your throat. You be bold and polite.

2 Corinthians 4:2 ESV

2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

How convinced are you this morning about who Jesus is? Because if you aren’t convinced, personally, then it would be hard to be bold.

Have you placed your faith in Jesus this morning? Understanding that we are separated from God because of our sin and that because Jesus paid for the penalty of our sin we can place our faith in him to forgive us. There is nothing we can do other than trust Him in that.

Then you need to be bold. Be Bold!

Application (10 Minutes)

Is anyone astonished at you or by your relationship with Jesus? Do people marvel at your boldness? Do people wonder at how much you are in love with the Lord and how you want to make him first in your life? Do people marvel because of you?

Not at what you say but about who you say it?

Peter was not giving great apologetic arguments to the Sanhedrin. He wasn’t saying things that were hard to figure out. He is plainly telling the facts but he is doing it with great boldness.

If no one is astonished at your boldness, or at my boldness then maybe we aren’t being bold? Are we so intimidated and are we so politically correct that we will throttle back on the truth?

Acts 4:27–31 ESV

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. 29 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.

Axts 4 27-31

Can we pray that prayer that those servants of God prayed this morning? Can we pray to God in Heaven to grant a boldness to us that we aren’t experiencing but that we need?

Part of Being Disciples and Making Disciples has to do with speaking the name of Jesus into a dying world.

We may have friends and family members that don’t know Jesus and if they never get to know Jesus then they will be separated from Him forever.

Can I be so bold this morning as to say that our friends and our families and our loved ones will be separated from God eternally in Hell if they don’t surrender their lives to Jesus.

And God has given us the privilege and the opportunity to share His name in their lives. Did you ever think that maybe you are friends with someone who doesn’t know Jesus for the specific purpose of introducing that person to God?

If you have never been bold before I want for us to do a little exercise. Let’s be bold in our prayer to God this morning.

Lord God we come to you today because we depend on you.

We come to you with a request Lord, a request for the boldness that you gave to those first disciples, Lord. We pray that you put a fire in us that never stops until we get out of our mouths the great and wonderful truths of you.

Give us opportunities to be bold. Lord, let your signs and wonders come because of you and not because of us. Help us to know the right times and the right places to shout your truths to the world. We pray Holy Spirit that you fill us up and create in us a boldness that comes only from you.

Lord, let us walk out of here changed, this morning.