Peter, the Prosecutor (Post 15)

Allow me to quote Acts 4:13:  "When they (the Jewish religious leaders) saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."

Next, the definition of "prosecutor":  a lawyer, a bar certified member of the legal profession recognized by the court system in which they intend to represent the state (or society) in criminal proceedings. Well educated ... very well schooled!

How can we put these two things together and end up with Peter?  The key is in 4:13.  "These men had been with Jesus."  We are observing the transformation of Peter.  And today we are reading yet another passage that highlights the incredible change that has occurred in this 'ordinary' man.

Read Acts 3: 11 - 26

The crowds are astonished by Peter's healing of the crippled beggar at the temple gate.  Word spread quickly ... people ran to see with their own eyes ... and Peter seized an opportunity.  Boldly.  Clearly.  Logically.  Like a prosecuting attorney he laid out the facts.  He placed responsibility where it justly belonged.  Peter is cool, calm, and clear.  This ordinary, unlearned man ... was brilliant!

Let's make some observations from this 'sermon' in chapter 3.

Observation #1:  What flows out of a person depends on what fills the person.  It's like a sponge. When you squeeze a sponge, whatever liquid fills it is what will spill out.  Profound, no?  Peter was full of the knowledge and the grace and the truth of Jesus.  He KNEW Him.  And Peter's knowledge of the person and the work of Jesus spilled out and splashed over all who heard that day.  It continues to pour out on us as we read ... as we hear.  What fills you?  When faced with questions about why you do what you do ... what is your answer?  When asked to explain how you do what you do ... what is your answer?

Observation #2:   Speaking the truth in love is always the right thing to do.  While Peter said hard things, laying the responsibility for the murder of Jesus at the feet of these hearers, he does so with a compassionate heart.  Look again at verse 17.  He addresses them as "brothers".  He acknowledges their ignorance in the whole matter.  Peter does not excuse their ignorant behavior ... but he offers hope ... he offers them a path out ... a path to freedom.

Later, the apostle Paul reiterates the same principle when he says in Ephesians 4: 14 - 15:

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is Christ.

Do you practice this principle?  Do you speak the truth?  Do you tend to excuse bad, ungodly behavior in those you love?  Do you speak truth in LOVE, not in judgement?  Do your words offer hope and promise?

Observation #3:  You speak what you know ... and leave the results in the hands of God.  We don't know the exact number of these hearers who believed Peter.  Were Peter and John encouraged or discouraged?  We don't know.  We can't chart their "conversion" numbers.  All we know for certain is from Acts 4:4 which says, "But many who heard the message believed ..."  People's hearts are known by God.  And conversion is a heart issue.  We can confidently leave the results of our teaching, our modeling, our training in the hands of a faithful and powerful God.

Lord, I want to know You.  I want to know You intimately.  I want You to so fill me that You are what overflows out of my life.  I trust myself and my mind in Your hands.  Help me, through Your Spirit, think clearly ... speak boldly ... and know the confidence that comes from closeness to You. Help me be like Peter as he was so transformed to be like You.