One Year Bible: June 6

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13

To read today’s portion of scripture, you can purchase The One Year Bible or find the following in your Bible:

1 Kings 1:1-53
Acts 4:1-37
Psalm 124:1-8
Proverbs 16:24

We can’t ever forget that the Peter who is confronting the priests, guards and Sadducees is the same Peter who trembled before a servant girl on the night of Jesus’ arrest, and who feared to even acknowledge that he knew Jesus or had been with Him.

It’s the same Peter … and it’s not. Because a change like that doesn’t happen by self-determination or willpower. It happens because of a courage-changing encounter.

Peter had walked with Jesus, been forgiven and restored by Jesus, and had witnessed the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus. He had then been filled with the Holy Spirit. And somewhere in all of that, Peter’s love of this life dropped away. He let go of self-preservation, and fear of man. He embraced his calling and the superiority of his eternal destination. What could life offer him that could overshadow heaven?

And so we see a bold, passionate declaration of the truth that Peter had seen with his own eyes: Jesus — the Messiah of Israel — was alive. And no other name under heaven had the power to save humanity.

Lord, fill us with Your Spirit, and give us the boldness and the passion of Peter, that we might shine Your light in this dark world.