Thoughts for the Day

Peter and John before the Council

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.

The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is “the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.”

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Peter and John have been arrested for preaching about Jesus and for healing the lame man in the Temple in Jerusalem. By now they had attracted some 5,000 believers and the ruling elders and teachers of the Law were feeling their authority threatened as well as being worried about likely problems with their Roman masters. So the two Apostles are arrested by the temple guards, thrown into prison and then brought before the Sanhedrin Council the next morning, to account for their actions.

But instead of being faced with two lowly Galilean fishermen whose work they can quash they find two men with unwavering faith and courage who stand firm in their belief in the message they proclaim - that Jesus Christ is the way to salvation. Peter boldly declares that the healing of the lame man was done in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the very man whom they had crucified but whom God had raised from the dead.

This passage should challenge us today to stan up for our faith. The two disciples were strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit hasn't just disappeared! He is the power of God at work throughout the world and particularly at work in believer's lives, giving them the faith and the courage to cope with challenging circumstances.

It was the Holy Spirit that inspired a Methodist Lay Preacher to clasp my hand in 1965, stare me in the eyes and say "Sister have you been saved?" My Anglican 18 year old soul shrivelled at the unaccustomed words, but in retrospect I see they began to accelerate God's work in me and I have never forgotten the incident.

Holy Spirit, Power of God,
work in us this day.
Give us faith to share what we believe,
both through our words and our actions.
May we continue to learn more about You,
about Your role in our life before this day,
and Your guidance freely offered today.
Amen.