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NASB | Acts 4:13 ¶ Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 4:13 ¶ Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) saw the confidence and boldness of Peter and John, and grasped the fact that they were uneducated and untrained [ordinary] men, they were astounded, and began to recognize that they had been with Jesus. |
Bible Question:
Dear saints, What was the 'confidence' that was observed in Peter and John? Can we have it? What did education and training have to do with it? In Jesus, charis |
Bible Answer: After being imprisoned, brought before the Sanhedrin and severely questioned, Peter and John were not intimidated. They were filled with confidence by the Holy Spirit and reflecting on their direct personal relationship with Jesus Christ, having confidence stemming from that relationship and by being empowered by the Holy Spirit. They preached Jesus and blamed the Sanhedrin for crucifying Him. The defendant had become the prosecutor! The authorities were amazed at the boldness of Peter and John, especially since they were 'unlearned and ignorant' (Acts 4:13). They were laymen, not religious experts, and they had no formal training. But it was clear that these apostles had 'been with Jesus,' who had spoken just as authoritatively, even though He had no official training (Matt. 7:28-29; John 7:15). It was with His authority that they spoke.The council was also silenced by the presence of the healed man (Acts 4:14). Apparently, he had been summoned as part of the 'evidence' against the apostles (vv. 9-10), but he proved to be an embarrassment to the accusers. They could not deny the miracle, and being unwilling to accept Peter's explanation, they were left with the question of what to do to these men (v. 16). All the council could do was forbid the apostles to continue their ministry (Acts 4:17-18). But this feeble effort was like a dam made of toothpicks before the mighty, onrushing power of the Holy Spirit! |