“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)
Some background on this Scripture is needed to understand it. Peter and John were preaching to the people in Solomon’s Portico. It was a double-columned porch on the east side of the Temple near the court of the Gentiles. It was about 23 feet wide and the columns were about 40 feet tall. The priests, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came on them because they were preaching Jesus was resurrected. It was late and Peter and John were put in prison until the next day. Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas and others questioned them wanting to know on whose authority they spoke. (Acts 4:1-6)
Peter who was filled with the Holy Spirit began to preach to them about Jesus whom they crucified and salvation through Him. The council of priests knew Peter and John were unlearned fisherman. They were amazed at their boldness and how well they spoke. But the part of the Scripture we want to study is the phrase, “…they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
Peter spoke by the Holy Spirit. Jesus also spoke by the Holy Spirit. That’s why they recognized that they had been with Jesus. They spoke in the same Spirit. We need to ask ourselves, do our words reflect that we have been with Jesus? Our words should demonstrate that we have spent time with Jesus. They should be full of God’s Truth, full of compassion and love.
Jesus’ words set Him apart from everyone because He spoke in spiritual terms. His words were full of the Spirit. Just like the high priest and religious leaders recognized that Peter and John had been with Jesus, others should recognize that there is something different about us. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1Peter 3:15)
Most of us are fearful to testify about Jesus, mostly because we don’t know how. But like Peter, we can depend on the Holy Spirit and He will give us the words that we need. “And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12) Jesus was speaking to His disciples. We may not be brought before the authorities for preaching Jesus, but we may be questioned by others. We can depend on the Holy Spirit to tell us what to say. “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6)
Others of us may feel we’re inadequate to share about Jesus. We can open our mouths and God will fill it with His Word because although we may not be esteemed as knowledgeable, God shows Himself strong in our inadequacies. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence.” (1Corinthians 1:27-29)
It’s all God. We have nothing to boast about. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (2Corinthians 4:7) When we recognize that we have a treasure in us, a treasure to share to those in need, we will speak. And the Holy Spirit will help us when we ask Him to give us the right words that they need to hear.
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