Peter and the apostles stood before the high priest and the council and said to them, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him." When the high priest and the council heard this, they were convicted that they intended to kill all the apostles. However, a well-known and respected Jewish teacher named Gamaliel stood up in the council and advised the council not to do anything against the apostles because if the apostles were not of God, they would perish just like the false teachers who came before. However, if they were of God, they would not be able to stop them, or else they would be fighting against God.
When the council heard the advice of Gamaliel, they flogged the apostles and let them go. But the disciples rejoiced that they were suffering for Christ and continued to preach Jesus as the Christ. (Acts 5:29-42). The apostles were not intimidated by the high priests and the council because they knew who they believed in. Jesus was not just an ordinary man; He was God Himself who died for the sins of this world so that those who believed in Him would be saved and forgiven. The apostles knew and believed that Jesus was the only Savior and Lord, and Jesus gave them the command not to be ashamed of Him but to make Him known.
Similarly, Jesus encourages us today to make Him known wherever we may be and not be ashamed of His name. We need to stand for our faith and not be intimidated, for Jesus is the Lord and Savior of this world. There will be a time that Jesus will come back, and every knee will bow down, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11).
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through carefully and meditate on the questions while answering these questions, and let the Spirit of God speaks to you) Am I willing to stand for my faith in Jesus? Do I believe that Jesus is the only Savior and Lord in this world? Am I willing to submit myself to Him?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for saving me through the death and resurrection of my Lord and Savior, Jesus. Please help to stand for my faith and not be intimidated wherever I am at today. Please give me the courage to share my faith and pray for others. In Your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.