Acts 4:19, 20 - Compelled to Speak.
Acts 4:19, 20 (NIV) But Peter and John
replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in
God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we
cannot help speaking about what we have seen and
heard."
COMMENTARY PEARL
I love this verse because Peter and John
are essentially saying, We cant help
ourselves. Youll just have to excuse us. Or kill us
or put us in prison or whatever. But were
not going to hush about Jesus; we cant.
I can see them holding up their arms.
They dont really understand it either. Just
yesterday, they were selling fish. Now theyre
running around preaching and proclaiming a
revolution - a religion no ones ever heard of before
- the idea that love plus nothing saves you.
You dont have to be Jewish. You dont have
to be a good person. You dont have to go to
church or sacrifice your lambs or offer your
firstfruits. Just let yourself be loved.
Thats what happened to them. They let
Jesus love them. When Peter doubted, sinking under
the waves loved. When he had to be rebuked
for his pride and ignorance loved. Even when
he denied he knew Jesus, Peter was still loved,
still given more chances. He was still a valuable
part of the team. Always.
This is an irresistible message. When we
have an encounter with Jesus - really see and
hear Him - we are changed, because love like this
changes things. Truth like this sets us free. May we
never deny it, never back down, never give up. May
we never be able to help ourselves but keep on
sharing Him with others. by Gwen Ford Faulkenberry
Faith Step: Think about what a difference
having a relationship with Jesus has made in your
life. Write a letter thanking Him for all He means
to you. [Mornings With Jesus 2020 Devotional by
Guideposts and Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
Good news is too good to keep to
yourself. You can't tell the amazing story often
enough! Who can you share it with next? Everyone
needs to hear it!
Is that the kind of passion you have for
sharing the story of Jesus' life, death, and
resurrection? Anyone who has truly encountered Christ and
received the Holy Spirit is a transformed person, and
having a zeal for telling Jesus' story will be part
of that change. Experiencing Christ in the
fullness of all His love and majesty, His power and
mercy, inspires evangelism.
The church of Acts was characterized by
its passion for telling people about Jesus.
Again and again Peter, John, Paul, and others got
into trouble - even to the point of death - for
relating His story. Significantly, when trouble and
persecution came, these early Christians didn't pray for
deliverance from their oppressors. Instead they asked
for boldness to keep speaking, to continue
witnessing in the face of persecution, even if for just
one more time (v. 29).
May we who have the same story to tell be
just as compelled to declare it! May we know
Jesus so well that we cannot stop talking about
Him. [Being Still With God Every Day by Henry
Blackaby]
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor
(live now): https://www.revelationnow.com/
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio (recent):
https://bible.awr.org/en/the-signs/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657