TO SPEAK YOUR WORD WITH GREAT BOLDNESS

Passage: Acts 4:23-37

Key verse: 29

NIV

The Believers Pray

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.(A) “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.(B) 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:(C)

“‘Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed one.[a]’[b](D)

27 Indeed Herod(E) and Pontius Pilate(F) met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,(G) whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.(H) 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.(I) 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders(J) through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”(K)

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.(L) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit(M) and spoke the word of God(N) boldly.(O)

The Believers Share Their Possessions

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.(P) 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify(Q) to the resurrection(R) of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace(S) was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them,(T) brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet,(U) and it was distributed to anyone who had need.(V)

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas(W) (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.(X)

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Footnotes
  1. Acts 4:26 That is, Messiah or Christ
  2. Acts 4:26 Psalm 2:1,2
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Believers Pray for Boldness

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices (A)together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, (B)who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,[a] said by the Holy Spirit,

(C)“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and (D)the rulers were gathered together,
    against the Lord and against his (E)Anointed’[b]—

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your (F)holy servant Jesus, (G)whom you anointed, both (H)Herod and (I)Pontius Pilate, along (J)with the Gentiles and (K)the peoples of Israel, 28 (L)to do whatever your hand and (M)your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, (N)look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all (O)boldness, 30 while (P)you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed (Q)through the name of your (R)holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, (S)the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and (T)they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and (U)continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

They Had Everything in Common

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of (V)one heart and (W)soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but (X)they had everything in common. 33 And with great (Y)power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and (Z)great grace was upon them all. 34 (AA)There was not a needy person among them, for (AB)as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and (AC)laid it at the apostles' feet, and (AD)it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means (AE)son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and (AF)laid it at the apostles' feet.

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Footnotes
  1. Acts 4:25 Or child; also verses 27, 30
  2. Acts 4:26 Or Christ
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. They all spoke the word of God boldly (23-31) After being threatened and released, Peter and John reported back to the believers. They prayed together, remembering who they were praying to, their Sovereign, Creator God. Recalling Psalm 118:2 they rejoiced in his full control and that even though rulers try to conspire against Jesus, his will is always done. Rather than being cowered, they had two prayer requests, to be able to speak God's word with great boldness, and for the Lord to stretch out his healing hand in the name of the Lord Jesus. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 2. One in heart and mind (32-37) This early church was one in heart and mind. They valued people more than possessions and shared everything they had. At the heart of their community was the apostles' witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. When Jesus' resurrection is central to every heart and mind, selfishness is replaced by love and sacrificial giving. A man named Joseph was an example of this, he sold a field and brought the money to the apostles to be distributed to those in need. They called him Barnabas, he would later encourage Paul and John Mark (9:27; 11:22-26; 15:37-39).

Prayer: Lord, help me to speak your word boldly and be a source of encouragement in the name of Jesus.

One Word: Speak God's word boldly