ARRESTED!

The miraculous healing of the crippled man had caused quite a stir! Everyone was talking about it! In fact, multitudes were coming to faith in Christ… “Many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand” (Acts 4:4).

Everybody was happy, except the religious establishment.

Before His sacrificial death at Calvary, Jesus had warned them about persecution! “They will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name” (Matthew 24:9). “They will lay their hands on you and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to bear witness” (Luke 21:12–13). So, it wasn’t a big surprise to Peter and John when the religious authorities swooped in and arrested them.

“While (Peter and John) were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them, because they were annoyed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. So they seized them and took them into custody until the next day since it was already evening” (Acts 4:1-3).

As Peter and John stood before the court, the rulers demanded that they quit telling people about Jesus! “Quit preaching about Jesus!” The religious rulers “ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18).

Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19–20). “Arrest us if you must. Imprison us. Beat us … even kill us. But we’ll never stop telling people about Jesus!”

Now, I’ve never been arrested. I’ve never felt the cold steel of handcuffs and shackles or heard the heavy iron doors clang behind me. But, if my freedoms are taken away… If religious freedoms are removed… If Christians in America are persecuted like they are persecuted in other areas of the world… then I pray that we’ll have the faith to trust God like Peter and John trusted Him!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).