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23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.' 27 For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." ~ Acts 4:23-30
Today, we return to our study of Acts 4 where the insecurities of the fake religious leaders is becoming more and more evident while the confidence of the Apostles is soaring. The contrast provided here clarifies what is real and what isn't. When we see something by itself, we may not really understand it for what it is, but when it’s compared to something distinctly different, the comparison makes the truth about the identity of both more clear. Our faith in the risen Lord Jesus causes us to surrender our rights to Him. "More of Him, less of me" is the motto that raises to the forefront. In short, where sin makes enemies, faith in the God of the Bible makes brothers.
In v.23 of today's passage we read, "And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them."
The Apostles did not go out to organize a revolutionary committee to overthrow the religious leaders of first century Israel. They did not even try to arouse a popular march or demonstration which provides the clearest evidence that they were on the side of the truth and that they had popular support. The people were behind them, and the high priests were afraid because the people supported the Apostles. But the Apostles did not rely for even one minute upon political or popular pressure. They trusted wholly upon the sovereign power of the Lord Jesus.
In v.24-26 of today's passage we read, "24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: 'Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.'"
It was at this point in the narrative that the Apostles did the most important thing we all do in a given moment of each day: They prayed. Prayer is our declaration of dependence upon God. The object of our prayer is much more important than the prayer itself. When we pray, it must not be so that we can get what we want from God. Otherwise, we petition God for our will. Rather, prayer is a way to connect with Him and align our hearts with His heart. This alignment prepares us to receive His will for our lives.
When I was a kid one of the more popular TV shows was entitled, Father Knows Best. It was a simple format that showed a mom and a dad with three kids, going through life together, but focusing in on the father who would usually end up solving everybody's problems. This show portrayed fathers according to the ideal of Fatherhood, the model that worked best, the one that God designed for all men to do. When we depend upon our Heavenly Father we can trust Him to do the very best for us given our circumstances. And, if we do not exercise patience we will conclude the wrong this about Him. I've learned down through the years that if I give Him enough time He always makes sense out of His will for me.
The persecution of Peter and John produced a much greater sense of unity among all of the believers. The believers, upon Peter and John's return raised their voices to God in one accord. With great power, the Apostles gave testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and God's abundant grace was evident upon them. These first century believers clung tightly to one another and to the Lord Jesus as they sought Him in prayer. Their persecution inevitably produced unity among the believers forcing them to come together and to hold onto one another tightly.
In their prayer the believers honed in on the reason all things come to pass. It is by the sovereign plan of God that the narrative comes out as it does. This is underscored in the phrase "the God who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them." This is good theology and we do well to be so immersed in the Bible that we arrive upon the absolute best understanding of God and His ways because this is where our best identity is found. It is when our theology fails that we rage and plot vain things.
In v.27-28 of today's passage we read, "27 For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done."
Evidence of their good theology these early believers in the Lord Jesus remind us why they had the courage they displayed that day. They understood the crucifixion from an eternal perspective. They understood that Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles and the Jews carried out God’s predestined plan. It was not that they were individually predestined to carry out God’s plan but that the Lord Jesus would be crucified and that had been settled in eternity past. If God had predestined certain ones to crucify the Lord Jesus, He would be guilty of sin. No, He knew that it would come down to this in advance and His Son still agreed to come and rescue us.
In v.29-30 of today's passage we read, "29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."
The Apostles did not presume upon the Lord. They were diligent to seek His face and to pray accordingly. It is obvious that the Old Testament Scriptures informed this prayer. The stretching forth of the hand is an anthropomorphism where the hand accomplishes certain things. In many Old Testament passages like Psalm 138:7 it is declared that God will stretch out His hand against the wrath of His enemies and provide salvation for His people. In times of struggle or need, this phrase serves as a reminder to reach out to the God of the Bible for strength, courage and protection. It is also the hand of the Lord that is stretched forth to heal, and also to perform signs and wonders. Thus, our Source for all things is the Lord.
The words, "through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus" are most important. Praying in the name of the Lord Jesus means we approach God based on His merit, His authority and His will, not our own. Prayer is simply communing with the Lord to the point that we end up praying for His will to be done in our lives. Prayer is like a man in a rowboat pulling on a rope tied securely to the shore. He is not pulling land toward him, he is pulling himself towards the land. We read in Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourselves in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
