'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. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “ ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. ’ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. '
Acts 4:23-31
When they were released from prison, the told the other disciples what the religious leaders said about not preaching in the name of Jesus. Then they banded together to war in prayer over this issue against the preaching of the Gospel. They asked the Lord to consider their threats and to increase their boldness to preach the Gospel in the midst of opposition. They also asked that the Lord do miraculous signs through them to show that they are from God. God answered that prayer immediately and they then had boldness to speak the Word. Hallelujah! Lord, I pray that You will give us (Your church) the boldness to share You Gospel with others even in the midst of opposition and persecution.
'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. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.'
Acts 4:32-37
True believers are to be in unity with one another. This does not mean that we do not every have disagreements, but we are bound by godly love and we work through disagreements in a biblical manner. If anyone is struggling, we try to help them and not hurt them. We also should be known for how we share with one another. If anyone is in need, we know that it is our responsibility as a member of God’s household to help them if it is in our power to do so. If we do these things correctly, then there should not be anyone who is needy. When I think about it, this actually sounds similar to socialism. I do not think it means that everyone earn the same wage, but that those who are more wealthy are able to exercise more generosity. God blesses people to be a blessing, not to live an extravagant lifestyle and have expensive possessions. It is not wrong to have some of this, but I think the idea is that if there is someone in need, those who have more should be willing to put their own agendas and desires aside to help. Lord, if You one day decide to bless me with more, I pray that I will exercise generosity. I also pray that Your church will follow You model in Acts.
Acts 4:23-31
Acts 4:23-31 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. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in praye | New International Version (NIV) |
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. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in praye
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When they were released from prison, the told the other disciples what the religious leaders said about not preaching in the name of Jesus. Then they banded together to war in prayer over this issue against the preaching of the Gospel. They asked the Lord to consider their threats and to increase their boldness to preach the Gospel in the midst of opposition. They also asked that the Lord do miraculous signs through them to show that they are from God. God answered that prayer immediately and they then had boldness to speak the Word. Hallelujah! Lord, I pray that You will give us (Your church) the boldness to share You Gospel with others even in the midst of opposition and persecution.
'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. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.'
Acts 4:32-37
Acts 4:32-37 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. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the | New International Version (NIV) |
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. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the
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