Threaten – to express one’s intention to take hostile action against someone

Acts 4:17

“However, so this does not spread any further among the people, let’s ‘threaten’ them against speaking to anyone in this name again.”

Their plan was to ‘threaten’ Peter and John never to speak to anyone about Jesus, but the two apostles said they must obey God vs obey them. So, what was the new plan of the temple rulers?

Acts 4:21

“When they had threatened them even further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them).”

Ha! When the threats didn’t work – they just threatened them some more! There was a time when these idle threats may have worked but those days were now over. 

Proverbs 28:1

“The wicked flee though no one pursues them, but the righteous are as bold as a lion!”

The courage of these two righteous men now made them ‘as bold as a lion’.  They were committed to obeying God and so they had clear consciences and no reason at all to fear the threats of men. 

Prayer. 

Heavenly Father, would You make me into a man who is not intimidated by threats but who is courageous and as bold as a lion. In Jesus Name I pray,  Amen.