Acts 4:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,

NIV: Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

NASB: And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant it to Your bond-servants to speak Your word with all confidence,

CSB: And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness,

NLT: And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.

KJV: And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

NKJV: Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,

The leaders of the early church in Jerusalem are asking God to equip them to face persecution from the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was a council of chief priests, elders, and scribes who enforced Jewish laws on all Jews, whether they lived in Jerusalem, Judea, or in another country. The day prior, Peter and John had healed a man born lame (Acts 3:1–8). When a crowd gathered to find out how, they preached that the power came from Jesus of Nazareth who had been killed but rose again from the dead (Acts 3:9—4:2). Most of the members of the Sanhedrin followed the Jewish sect of the Sadducees who rejected the notion of resurrection and even of life after death. The Sanhedrin arrested Peter and John but had to release them because of the power of the healing miracle. Before Peter and John left, however, the Sanhedrin warned them not to preach in Jesus' name again (Acts 4:18–22).

The Jesus-followers know to expect persecution because Jesus told them it was coming (John 15:18–21). They also know God has a plan for them. Like Jesus (John 7:30), the group is protected while they fulfill God's mission (Acts 1:8). However, that protection does not mean they won't be beaten (Acts 5:40) or that they won't give their lives when their individual missions are complete (Acts 7:59–60; 12:1–2).

The group prays for boldness in spite of persecution, not to be rescued from persecution. Later, Paul will ask the Ephesians to pray he stays bold while he is in prison (Ephesians 6:18–20). Meanwhile, Paul's example emboldens others who are sharing the gospel; he rejoices that the persecution he suffers is causing even more people to come to Christ (Philippians 1:12–14).

The "word" they are to speak is the story of Jesus (Acts 1:8). Many in the core group of Jesus-followers had known and learned from Jesus during His ministry; they are His direct witnesses. The others "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching" (Acts 2:42). When the persecution drives them out of Jerusalem, they will take that word to the world.

Acts 4:23–31 finds the Jesus-followers praying for boldness in the face of persecution. Jesus promised them they would see serious persecution (Matthew 10:16–25), but this is the first time they've experienced it directly. Peter and John already told the Sanhedrin they will follow God, not their earthly commands (Acts 4:19–20). They now return to the other Jesus-followers to let them know what's coming. The group affirms that everything that happened to Jesus was according to God's sovereign plan, and they pray that they will remain as faithful in their own trials.

Acts 4 continues the story started in Acts 3. Peter and John have healed a man born lame and preached that Jesus has risen from the dead. The Sanhedrin orders their arrest for teaching the resurrection. The Jewish officials warn Peter and John to stop speaking in Jesus' name. Peter and John refuse, but, since they have committed no crime, the Sanhedrin releases them. Peter and John return to their friends, and the Jesus-followers pray for boldness in the face of growing persecution. The church continues to grow, sharing all their possessions so that no one is in need.

Acts 4 gives the first hints of the persecution the church will face throughout its history. Peter and John attract attention when Peter heals a well-known lame beggar, and Peter uses the publicity to tell others about Christ. The Sanhedrin cannot allow the apostles to continue teaching Jesus rose from the dead. They arrest, warn, and free Peter and John, but it's just the beginning. Soon, they will arrest and beat all the apostles (Acts 5:17–42). Then a mob will stone Stephen (Acts 7:54–60). And Saul will persecute Jesus-followers in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1–3) and beyond (Acts 9:1–2). The Sanhedrin fails to realize—if you send Jesus-followers fleeing into the world, they will take Jesus' message with them.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.