Acts 4:8-12. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Scripture warns us that Satan will remain active until the end (Matthew 25:41; 1 Peter 5:8). Knowing that his time is short, he attempts to cause as much destruction as possible across the globe. As an enemy of God, he relentlessly attacks the Church, trying to dilute the authentic message of the gospel. Using his oldest trick, the devil lures the people of God, attempting to make them abandon the eternal covenant and become friends with the world.
Unfortunately, the devil has often succeeded in preventing the modern church from passing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the next generation. To advance his aggression, he employs evil schemes through politics, the economy, and culture. Even so, the gospel will reach the ends of the earth: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
The gospel is the power of God that no one can stop or deny. Nothing can block the zeal of our God: “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end… The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:7). This is why Lord Jesus told us not to be afraid of people when we are persecuted: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
Unfortunately, Peter forgot these words on the night Lord Jesus was arrested. Consumed by fear, he tried to distance himself, following at a distance and sitting with the guards just to “see the outcome” (Matthew 26:58). This fear led him to deny and eventually curse his Lord (Matthew 26:74). We have all been there. When we are pressed on every side, we tend to lose sight of Christ and create distance.
Knowing everything about Peter’s failure, Lord Jesus came to him after His glorious resurrection—not to punish him, but to restore him. The Lord asked, “Do you love me?” (John 21:15). Knowing our weaknesses, God desires to surround us with the power of His love: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Our Father drives out fear by showering us with this perfect love (1 John 4:18).
When Lord Jesus ascended into heaven, Peter, compelled by this love, firmly held onto the Lord’s final promise: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Only a few days later, when the Holy Spirit moved into his life, Peter was no longer the same man (Acts 2:1-4). He was no longer afraid of people. He stood up, raised his voice, and boldly declared: “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).
As a result, three thousand people were added that day, and a vibrant church was born (Acts 2:41-47). We cannot drive out fear by our own willpower; only when we hold onto God’s promise does our fear turn into boldness. Only when filled with the Holy Spirit do our weaknesses turn into strength.
True persecution finally arrived the moment Peter healed a crippled man at the temple gate by invoking the name of Jesus: “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (Acts 3:6). Filled with the Spirit, Peter delivered one of the most powerful messages of all time: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
The message God has entrusted to us is the same as Peter’s. Satan fears when we believe and proclaim that Jesus is the only way. That is why the devil injects pluralism and liberal theology into the world—to deny the uniqueness of Christ. The rulers and elders who once intimidated Peter were astonished by his courage, realizing he was an “ordinary man” who had “been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
True boldness comes from being with Christ. God turns the ordinary into the extraordinary, and this includes you. Boldness is highly contagious. When the church prayed for boldness, the very place they were meeting was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:29-31). They never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 5:42).
This is the gospel movement God desires today. In our spiritual struggles, let us fix our eyes on Christ alone. Nothing can save, protect, or empower us like the name of Jesus. Let us hold firmly to His name and boldly proclaim it to all nations.
Prayer. Lord Jesus, I am Your servant. Help me to speak what You want me to speak without fear. Show me Your power and make me brave. May miraculous signs and wonders happen by the authority of Your name. In Your mighty name, Amen.