Acts 4

Read Acts 4

Notice that it was for the preaching the resurrection of Jesus that Peter and John were arrested (4:2). They by no means overlooked the death of Jesus (4:10), but it was his resurrection that caused such consternation. It is of course understandable since Jesus dying was the wish of the religious leaders, but his resurrection was something that cast both doubt upon them and gave authority to this Jesus and his comrades. Jesus death means nothing if there were no resurrection.

The apostles had an apocalyptic air about everything they said and did. The coming of the Spirit was fulfillment of Joel’s “last days” prophecy (2:17-21). They preached repentance that times of refreshing might come from God’s presence and all things might be restored in Christ (3:19-20). They even proclaimed that the healing of the lame man was by the power unleashed by Jesus death and resurrection (3:15). It’s no wonder. They believed that the Author of life was killed and rose from the dead. This power of the resurrection was turning the universe upside down. It was beginning to penetrate into men’s bodies and into their hearts.

It seems the church thinks far too little about the resurrection. We put too little thought into God’s power over death, evil, and the forces of darkness as revealed in the resurrection. The resurrection says evil is coming down, and its coming down now. Slowly but surely, patiently and powerfully the evil and death that binds this world in its iron clasp is being eroded by fierce rains of grace streaming from the resurrection. Peter and John believed this heart and soul and so could say in essence to their bullying authorities, “Do you what you must with us, but we cannot help but tell people what we have seen and heard.” The church embraced this and so instead of praying for the fires of persecution to be quenched cried out, “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness”(4:29). May we also constantly live with resurrection power on our minds.