5 April 2024 Easter Friday
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is
“the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.”
From Acts 4:1-12, NRSV
Following the healing of the lame man, Peter and John were arrested as they spoke to the people. They were arrested by the Sadducees who were the administrators of the Temple. This Jewish sect had rejected the doctrine of the Resurrection and were annoyed and probably threatened by the way in which Peter and John so openly proclaimed the Resurrection within the Temple. The fact that large numbers of people who listened to their message became believers, explains why the Sadducees felt the need to act. Peter and John were imprisoned overnight and then brought before the rulers and elders to be interrogated. It would be have been understandable for Peter to have felt intimidated in these circumstances – after all it was only a short time before that he had publicly denied knowing Jesus. However, Peter spoke with great conviction and with a clear logic that would have likely confounded his interrogators. Peter did not hold back in his response to the questions put to him and openly blamed the high priests and their families for Jesus’ execution. Such was Peter’s conviction that he was able to speak without concern for the repercussions that would follow.
- What enabled Peter to speak as he did?
- Have you ever been in a situation of needing to “speak truth to power”? What helped you in this situation?
Give thanks for the many people through history who have risked their own safety in defence of truth.
