“They went to their own companions…”
Notice carefully where Peter and John went after being threatened. They did not run to the world. They did not seek comfort first from relatives, casual friends, or worldly counselors. They went to the church—the body of believers, their spiritual family.
Worldly friends and relatives often say, “For the sake of peace, do not get too serious about religion. Do not get too involved.” That is exactly what the devil wants—to silence conviction and weaken boldness.
But believers strengthen one another.
Romans 1:12
“That
is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith
both of you and me.”
1 John 1:7
“But
if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship
with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us
from all sin.”
The church is where faith is strengthened, where burdens are shared, where courage is renewed.
They reported everything—the religious leaders had strictly commanded them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
Notice: they did not say, “Do not speak about God.” They specifically said, “Do not speak in the name of Jesus.”
People may tolerate the word “God,” but they are offended by the name of Jesus—the Jesus of the Bible.
Why?
First, because that name convicts them.
These same leaders were guilty of condemning Jesus to death. Now the undeniable truth stood before them: Jesus had risen from the dead. The crippled man had been healed publicly in Jesus’ name. Thousands had witnessed it. They could not deny the miracle.
Second, because people were being saved.
The devil hates the name of Jesus because sinners are rescued by that name. He does not want people to repent. He does not want believers to witness. He hates when the church grows. Heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents, but hell rages.
This reminds us of the darkness of the Middle Ages, when Roman Catholicism often prevented people from hearing the Word of God in their own language.
John Wycliffe is remembered as the “Morning Star of the Reformation.” He went from village to village teaching the Bible in the common tongue. Before Rome could execute him, he died of a stroke. Yet their hatred was so great that 31 years later they dug up his bones, burned them, and scattered the ashes.
Jan Hus also boldly confronted corruption. He denounced wicked priests and religious hypocrisy with fearless courage.
The devil may chain Christians, but he cannot chain the gospel.
He may persecute believers, imprison them, and kill them—but he cannot kill the gospel. Jesus died and rose again. The gospel cannot be buried.
Jesus said:
“I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
What a powerful and sweet name we have—the name of Jesus.
We are saved in Jesus, we live in Jesus, we die in Jesus, and we go to heaven in Jesus. Eternal life is in Jesus. Satan and his kingdom are defeated in Jesus.
It is the name precious to our souls, sweet to our ears, and glorious to our hearts—the name we will preach, teach, witness, pray, and live for until we die.
One of the most powerful passages in Scripture is Book of Revelation chapter 5:
No one in heaven or on earth was found worthy to open the scroll.
Not Mohammed.
Not the
popes.
Not Buddha.
Not Krishna.
Not the Dalai
Lama.
Not even the holy angels.
Not even the prophets.
No one.
The apostle John wept much because no one was worthy.
But then came the glorious words:
“Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed…”
The elder did not merely say, “The Son of God.” He pointed to the humanity of Christ.
The Lion of Judah.
The
Root of David.
Jesus came through the human line of sinful men—Judah, David, fallen people like us. He took on flesh. He entered our weakness. He relates to us.
We were filthy, guilty, rotten sinners—but Jesus changed our lives.
Only Jesus can open the scroll.
Only Jesus is worthy.
That is the name we live for and die for.
If authorities threatened you and commanded you never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and you came to your church for prayer, how would you pray?
Would you pray:
“Lord, keep us
safe.”
“Lord, protect us from suffering.”
“Lord,
remove these men.”
That is often how we would pray.
But notice how they prayed.
They raised their voices to God with one accord.
This was serious.
Jesus had commanded them to witness, and now earthly authorities were trying to silence them.
This was not a timid, cold, lifeless prayer.
This was fervent prayer.
They prayed together, with one heart, one mind, one burden.
They were not ashamed.
They
were not shy.
They were not spiritually sleepy.
Their prayer came from the depths of their souls.
You can pray like this publicly, and you can pray like this privately. Hannah prayed like this from the depths of her soul.
Boiling-hot prayer does not depend on volume—it depends on sincerity.
They began by acknowledging God as Creator and Sovereign.
Earthly rulers threatened them, but they appealed to the highest throne—the Creator of heaven and earth.
Then they quoted Scripture.
They prayed from Psalm 2:1–2 because it perfectly matched their situation.
They used the Word of God in prayer.
This is spiritual warfare.
2 Corinthians 10:4–5
“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds…”
Prayer is not weak. Prayer is not passive.
God has given His church a mighty engine—the powerful engine of prayer.
The leaders commanded them not to speak or teach in Jesus’ name.
So what did they ask for?
Not safety.
Not
comfort.
Not escape.
They prayed for boldness.
“Lord… grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word…”
They did not ask to be hidden.
They asked to be made fearless.
Why?
Because witnessing for Christ was the will of God.
They wanted courage to obey, even if obedience meant suffering.
This is how Christians should pray.
Not merely:
“Lord, remove the trial.”
But:
“Lord, make me faithful in the trial.”
God answered their prayer.
The place where they were gathered was shaken.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit.
They spoke the Word of God with boldness.
Their priorities were right.
Many prayers today are centered almost entirely on physical needs—health, money, comfort, success.
But Scripture teaches us to prioritize spiritual needs:
Pray for holiness.
Pray
for hunger for Christ.
Pray for boldness in witnessing.
Pray
for victory over sin.
Pray for spiritual strength.
“Seek first the kingdom of God…”
Some ask: “Were they not already filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2?”
Yes.
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is a one-time act for the believer.
But the filling of the Holy Spirit is not a one-time event.
Acts 4 proves this.
There was no “leak” of the Holy Spirit.
Rather, there are fresh empowerments, repeated fillings, renewed strength for present needs.
God fills His people again and again for service, boldness, and obedience.
There is something powerful when believers unite in prayer.
There is a sacred strength when the church lifts one voice to the throne of God in the name of Jesus.
Pray that the Lord would fill you with the floods of His heavenly power.
Not drunk with the pleasures of this world—
but filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
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