Acts 4:13-14
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
The Apostles lived in a unique time in the history of the Church—a time of new revelation. Peter and John, the two figures in this passage, were instrumental in this age. These men, inspired by God, would go on to write seven books of the New Testament, lead thousands to Christ, and shepherd countless souls into a saving faith in Jesus. While we should not expect the same miraculous signs they were granted—not because God cannot perform them, but because His purpose for those signs was fulfilled with the completion of Scripture—the same miraculous power that empowered them remains available to us today.
This power came from being filled with the Holy Ghost, not just on the Day of Pentecost but repeatedly. Pentecost marked the day the Holy Spirit began to indwell believers, a blessing that has been given to every Christian since. Yet, we are still commanded to be filled with the Spirit. The Bible often distinguishes between the Spirit's indwelling and the repeated fillings experienced by the Apostles as they carried out God’s work. As believers, we were filled with the Spirit the moment we trusted in Christ, but we are continually called to yield to Him and be controlled by His presence in our lives.
When these men were yielded to the Holy Ghost, they acted with faith and boldness, as seen when Peter reached out to the lame man and, in the name of Jesus, lifted him to his feet. It was this very act of healing that brought them before the rulers of Israel. Peter's boldness when he addressed these rulers was not his own—it came from the Holy Ghost: “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them…” (Acts 4:9).
In our time, it is when we are yielded to the indwelling Spirit of God that we, too, can reach out to a lost and dying world with the life-giving Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is when we are yielded to the Spirit that we can stand before peers, rulers, or family and boldly proclaim that Jesus is King. Instead of looking for the miracles of the first-century church, why not seek the miraculous power still available today—a Spirit-filled, Spirit-yielded life?
A Spirit-Filled Life is Marked by Boldness
"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John…"
Proverbs 28:1 says, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” We live in a time when many believers hesitate to share the Gospel outside the walls of the church. Fear of rejection, fear of consequences, and fear of being labeled “ignorant and unlearned” keep them silent. But when we yield to the Holy Spirit, we find a boldness we never had before—a boldness to share the Gospel in the face of persecution, to go into the uttermost parts of the world, and, if called upon, to lay down our lives for Christ.
The church today often lacks this boldness because it lacks Spirit-filled, Spirit-yielded believers. Oh, for the boldness of a lion that comes from being controlled by the Holy Ghost!
A Spirit-Filled Life Glorifies God
"…and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men."
God often chooses weaker vessels so that His power is clearly seen. As Scripture reminds us, He uses the foolish to confound the wise, so that no flesh may glory in His presence. The miracles performed by Peter and John did not glorify them but glorified God. Their boldness and power made it obvious to all that the source was not of themselves but of the Lord.
When we yield to the Holy Spirit, we glorify God in the same way. People may marvel at the power at work in our lives, but it will be clear that it comes from Him, not us.
A Spirit-Filled Life Reflects Christ
"…and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."
The boldness, miracles, and mannerisms of Peter and John reminded the rulers of Jesus Himself. As Christians, we are called to be His hands and feet in the world. To be Spirit-filled is to show the indwelling Christ to the world. Yielding to Him changes everything—our speech, our walk, our priorities, even our appearance. Oh, that others would take note that we have been with Him and that He is with us!
A Spirit-Filled Life Produces Fruit
"And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it."
No matter the opinions of the rulers, one undeniable fact remained: a man who had never stood before was now standing before them. Similarly, the fruit of a Spirit-filled life is undeniable. The world may scoff, but it cannot ignore the transformed lives—the blind who now see, the lost who are found, the broken who are made whole. Drunkards made sober, addicts set free, hateful hearts turned loving—this is the fruit of the Gospel shared in the power of the Holy Spirit. As Scripture declares, “The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation!”
Lord, fill us with Your Spirit and help us to live lives yielded to Your indwelling presence. May we boldly glorify You, manifest Your presence to a lost world, and bear fruit unto eternal life. Amen.
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