20 March - Acts 4

Today we’re reading Acts 4 together. Here are some thoughts:

1. Today’s reading picks up where yesterdays left off. Yesterday we read that Peter healed a crippled man and was teaching people about Jesus being raised from the dead. In Acts 4 we read that Peter and John were arrested and thrown into prison for telling people that Jesus was alive again. But over night the number of people who believed that Jesus was risen from the dead grew to about 5,000. That’s a lot of people over night!
2. The religious leaders questioned Peter and John but were shocked at their bold response. However, the religious leaders couldn’t do anything to Peter or John because the man they had healed was standing beside them as evidence of the miracle. The leaders said don’t teach anymore about Jesus but Peter and John refused to quit; saying they’d rather obey God. They could not help but speak about what they’ve seen and heard.
3. After being released Peter and John went back and told the other followers of Jesus what happened. Then they all prayed and asked for God’s blessing so they could tell more people about Jesus.
4. The chapter closes with describing again this crazy community of helping each other and sharing whatever they had. There was so much sharing that; “there were no needy persons among them” 

The religious leaders were amazed that Peter and John spoke as they did because they were “unschooled, ordinary men.” The end of Verse 13 gives us the answer to how this is possible; the religious leaders “took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Peter and John had changed as a result of being with Jesus. We all should be changed as a result of being with Jesus. If we claim to follow Jesus we should be able to look at our life and see change. God loves us right where we are but he loves us enough not to let us stay there. God wants us to enjoy the great life he planned for us but that always requires change. Change is good.

If you are a follower of Jesus, can you look back and see how you’ve changed because of being with Jesus? If the answer is yes, how? What are some areas that you think still need some change? Ask God to show you how to live the full life he wants for you. If you’re still skeptical of this whole Jesus thing, aren’t there still areas of your life you could improve upon? If so how? Do you think asking God to partner with you would help?