Acts 4:3-4

“And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”

The temple leaders were so ‘disturbed’ at Peter and John teaching about Jesus and the resurrection that they held them in custody until the next day when they could interrogate them. 

“But” many who heard this same message believed. 

This was not the city jail but they were still being held overnight against their will for ‘witnessing’. This was the start of a new pattern of persecution and of people believing the message of the Gospel. It would take courage to continue to witness when the result of witnessing might mean jail. 

Acts 5:17-18

“Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.”

Why were they filled with indignation? Also translated as jealousy…  It was because of the fruit of this witnessing…

Acts 5:14 

“More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.”

The new church was now experiencing a Holy Spirit momentum that fueled a new courage to witness that resulted in salvations by the thousands! 

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‭‭Might it be that we need some people being fired from their employment and an increase in believers being harassed and even put into jail for witnessing if we are to see this type of ‘courage’? 

Prayer. 

Heavenly Father, make me a courageous man and prepare my heart and mind today to receive unusual pushback for witnessing to others about Jesus. 

In Jesus Name. Amen.