Peter closed his message to the temple rulers with a clear declaration:

Acts 4:12

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Peter was ‘with Jesus’ when Jesus made this famous personal declaration:

John 14:6

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

The temple rulers were ‘astonished’ by the courage of Peter and John to declare these truths so clearly…

Acts 4:13

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

What was more astonishing to the temple rulers is that these fishermen – these two unschooled, ordinary men – spoke with such courage and such conviction. 

There would soon arrive on the scene a very schooled and extraordinary man – but for now the temple rulers could only conclude that the reason for Peter and John’s extraordinary courage was that they had ‘been with Jesus’. 

Prayer. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus and thank You for your Word and thank You for your Spirit. Would you please build into me an extraordinary courage as I spend time in your Word and get to know Jesus better each day. In His Name I pray, Amen.