Acts 4

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Boldness is a very tricky thing, especially when it comes to representing Jesus.

We’ve all seen examples of the over-the-top boldness that does more harm than good: overly aggressive evangelists, overly strident pundits, overly blunt signs, billboards, and placards. We all know that love and grace better represent who Jesus is, so most of us opt for a kinder, gentler way of being Christian in the world. And that’s good—generally speaking.

But don’t you sometimes sense that in the name of gentleness we’ve made the faith way too genteel? We’ve taken so many shots from the world, and shot ourselves in the foot too many times, that we’re never bold for Christ anymore. But Acts 4 brings us back to center.

Peter and John made bold statements about who Jesus was. Bold statements about what unbelievers had done to him. Bold statements about the nature of salvation. Bold statements about who they took their marching orders from. In the most intimidating of circumstances—when arrested by the same people who crucified Jesus—two unschooled disciples were remarkably bold.

And when they gained their release, what did they do? They prayed for more boldness! And God answered their request. The ancient commentator, John Chysostom, said, “God shook the place, making his followers unshakable.”

Now it’s left to us to apply this passage wisely. Without becoming harsh, rude, or obnoxious, I think God wants us to become more bold. What will that look like in your life? Is God nudging you to speak or act more overtly for him? Pray for wisdom and move forward with courage!