I’m still reflecting on our time together this past Sunday, delving into Acts chapter 4. What a powerful reminder it was of the incredible transformation we see in the Apostle Peter and the unwavering courage of the early church. The core message that God wanted to impress upon us from that passage is so vital for our lives today: Be bold about Jesus because the resurrection guarantees your victory.

As I look back on what we discussed, Peter’s journey truly stands out. Can you imagine the same Peter who vehemently and repeatedly denied even knowing Jesus to a servant girl, later being crucified upside down in Rome for continually preaching the Gospel? Church tradition tells us he requested that specific, undignified death because he felt unworthy to die in the same manner as our Lord. The question we asked, and one I think we should keep asking ourselves, is: What in the world could transform a person from fearful denial to such incredible, self-sacrificial boldness?

We found a significant part of that answer in Acts chapter 4. Peter and John had miraculously healed a man lame from birth, and this led to their arrest and questioning by the Sanhedrin. This was no small matter; facing the Sanhedrin was like being brought before the Supreme Court today – incredibly intimidating. Yet, Peter, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” responded with astonishing boldness. He didn’t shy away from declaring that the man was healed “by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead.” He even cited Psalm 118, proclaiming Jesus as “the stone rejected by you builders which has become the cornerstone.” Most powerfully, Peter asserted: “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.” This declaration, delivered with respect yet undeniable conviction, stunned the Sanhedrin.

What Biblical Boldness Is (and Isn’t)

• It is NOT: Being loud, pushy, obnoxious, shouting people down, or forcing conversations on people who’ve made it clear they don’t want to talk about spiritual things. That’s what we called “brashness”.
• It IS: Speaking the truth in love, with kindness and respect. Peter modeled this perfectly by addressing the Sanhedrin as “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel,” even though these were the very men responsible for crucifying Jesus.
• It IS: Clearly identifying sin (e.g., Peter telling them, “You crucified Jesus”).
• It IS: Clearly identifying the Savior. Peter stressed that Jesus is the only path to salvation. As we talked about, while some religions may share superficial similarities, their fundamental differences regarding salvation are critical – like choosing between arsenic and aspirin for a headache. The foundational difference is that every other religious leader (Muhammad, Buddha, Confucius, Joseph Smith, Mary Baker Eddy) is dead, but Jesus is alive and risen.

His resurrection is God’s ultimate declaration that Jesus is precisely who He claimed to be: the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the only one who can grant eternal life.

What truly fuels this boldness? It’s the resurrection of Jesus! Peter’s courage stemmed from the undeniable reality that Jesus was risen from the dead. The early believers, upon Peter and John’s release, didn’t pray for safety; they prayed for more boldness: “And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness.” And God’s answer was immediate and powerful: the place where they were meeting shook, they were “filled with the Holy Spirit,” and “they all began to speak the word of God boldly”.

This demonstrates God’s commitment to empowering His people to speak His truth.

We also reflected on how the early believers understood that the resurrection fulfilled Old Testament prophecies, like Psalm 2, which speaks of God laughing at those who oppose His anointed King because He will raise Him from the dead and install Him on His holy hill. Jesus’s ascension to God’s right hand means He rules and reigns as King forevermore.

Knowing that Jesus conquered death should overcome our fears. While believers in many parts of the world face death for their faith, in our context (Middle Tennessee), fears often revolve around awkward conversations, being misunderstood, or labeled judgmental. I challenged us, and I want to challenge us again: “If Jesus really rose from the dead…is an awkward conversation really that high of a cost…when someone’s soul is on the line?”

Our willingness to speak boldly truly reflects how much we love others versus how much we love our own comfort.

And let’s not forget that we don’t need to feel inadequate or uneducated. The Sanhedrin noted Peter and John were “uneducated and untrained men”, yet they spoke powerfully. The same Holy Spirit who filled them fills us, and Jesus promised in Luke 12 that the Spirit would teach His disciples what to say when brought before authorities. We are called to be faithful to speak when God gives the opportunity, trusting the Spirit will provide the words.

You don’t have to be fearless or flawless to be bold. You just have to be faithful. Don’t shrink back; don’t stay quiet. Be bold, not because of your strength, but because Jesus is risen, and there is “no salvation in any other name than his; there is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved than the name of Jesus.”

Prayer Prompt

Heavenly Father, we confess that fear or feelings of inadequacy often keep us silent. Forgive us for prioritizing our comfort over sharing the life-saving truth of Jesus. We believe that Jesus truly rose from the dead, conquering sin and death. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, just as You filled Peter and John, granting us the courage to speak the name of Jesus with love, clarity, and confidence. Help us to remember that our boldness comes not from our own strength, but from the power of our risen, reigning, and righteous Lord. Amen.

Scriptural References:

• Acts 4:5–12
• Acts 4:19
• Acts 4:23–31
• 1 Peter 3
• Psalm 118
• Psalm 2
• Luke 12