Unstoppable! 'Stop It!' — Acts 4:13-18

Thursday, February 29, 2024

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The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say. So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber and conferred among themselves.

"What should we do with these men?" they asked each other. "We can't deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus' name again." So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

— Acts 4:13-18 NLT

Key Thought

The Jewish council was concerned about Peter and John proclaiming Jesus and his power to heal and save, and yet the council had a major problem doing something about it. As Luke described it, since the apostles' critics "could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say." So, they warned Peter and John to quit proclaiming Jesus to anyone. The members of the council didn't know anything else to do other than threaten the apostles and say, "Stop it!" — but they soon learned that their order wouldn't work. Peter and John had been with Jesus. Their message and the Jesus movement were developing more and more momentum and were no longer controllable or stoppable. You and I today, two-thousand years later, are continuing testimony that the Jesus movement was, is, and will forever be exactly what the council feared: UNSTOPPABLE!

Today's Prayer

Loving God and tender Father, thank you for the story of the faith of early believers who refused to back down when threatened. Thank you for their bold proclamation of Jesus. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who gave them words to say and the power to say them. May we be like them in our day. That is our prayer, offered in Jesus' name and for Jesus' glory. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • John 11:38-52
  • John 4:31-42

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Illustration

Illustration of Acts 4:13-18 NLT — The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say. So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber and conferred among themselves. "What should we do with these men?" they asked each other. "We can't deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus' name again." So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

About This Devotional

Unstoppable! is a one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage, a reflection and a prayer. The reflection opens up the day's scripture and shows how it challenges one to live for Jesus.

Unstoppable! is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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