Being a Witness

The great movement of Christianity seemed to have reached its tipping point at the moment the Jewish council attempts to restrain it by arresting Peter and John.  They threaten the Apostles, and charge them not to speak at all or teach in the name of Jesus; Peter and John contemn the threat, calling upon the council to judge whether it be right to hearken unto the council rather than unto God. The members of the council could not inflict punishment upon the two Apostles, on account of the people, who glorified God on account of the great miracle of the lame beggar who sat at the gate for so many years. Peter and John, being freed from custody, return to the other Apostles. They all give glory to God and pray for boldness to speak the word of God. After the prayer the place shakes, and they are filled with the Holy Ghost.

“And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
Even upon the menservants and maidservants
in those days, I will pour out my spirit."  Joel 2:28-29

"Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."  Revelation 19:10

Barnabas and Paul (the letter mentions Paul in second place) are called “our dear friends” and “men who have risked their lives” for the gospel (Acts 15:26).

 

“People are drawing conclusions about your God and about your gospel and about your Saviour and about your Bible and about your way of life based on you.” 

“As a Christian, you may be the only ‘living Bible’ that some people ever read.”

 Dr. Ravi Zacharias: Being a Witness in a Multicultural City