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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