Act 4:29 | KingComments | STEP | It is wonderful to note the conclusion the prayers come to. They poured out their heart before the Lord ( ) and placed their needs with Him. It is enough for their heart that they have asked His attention for the threats. They do not ask if He wants to intervene in power and destroy the enemies or take away the threats. They entrust it all to Him with the peace of mind that He knows what is needed. All they ask is boldness to speak, despite all opposition. After all, they have been threatened by the religious authority to no longer speak or teach in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Now they ask the Supreme Authority to be bold enough to resist the authority of these people and not to take any notice of the threats. All this with the aim to “speak Your word”. The disciples are full of the Word of God. Against this, the enemy tries to raise a dam; but it must be spoken with the view to salvation of people. The disciples also ask the Lord for proof of His consent to their prayer. They would like Him to further manifest Himself with irrefutable proof of His power through the Name of the Lord Jesus. They ask if He wants to make the Name of His “holy servant Jesus” even greater by healing and doing signs and wonders. As they pray, God answers. The answer is slightly different than what they have been praying for. There is a manifestation of His power, but it is only noticeable to the praying believers. It is not a manifestation of power against their opponents, but for themselves. That manifestation consists of shaking the place where they are. They feel how the place is being shaken. The part of the prayer asking for boldness is fulfilled. Therefore they are filled with the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit means that there is no more room for the flesh to assert itself. Through being filled with the Holy Spirit they do not speak in languages, but they speak the Word of God. Two apostles have spoken the Word and that is forbidden to them. After they have prayed, the whole company speaks God’s Word!

‏ Acts 4:29

Question to the Lord and His Answer

It is wonderful to note the conclusion the prayers come to. They poured out their heart before the Lord (Psa 62:8) and placed their needs with Him. It is enough for their heart that they have asked His attention for the threats. They do not ask if He wants to intervene in power and destroy the enemies or take away the threats. They entrust it all to Him with the peace of mind that He knows what is needed.

All they ask is boldness to speak, despite all opposition. After all, they have been threatened by the religious authority to no longer speak or teach in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Now they ask the Supreme Authority to be bold enough to resist the authority of these people and not to take any notice of the threats. All this with the aim to “speak Your word”. The disciples are full of the Word of God. Against this, the enemy tries to raise a dam; but it must be spoken with the view to salvation of people.

The disciples also ask the Lord for proof of His consent to their prayer. They would like Him to further manifest Himself with irrefutable proof of His power through the Name of the Lord Jesus. They ask if He wants to make the Name of His “holy servant Jesus” even greater by healing and doing signs and wonders.

As they pray, God answers. The answer is slightly different than what they have been praying for. There is a manifestation of His power, but it is only noticeable to the praying believers. It is not a manifestation of power against their opponents, but for themselves. That manifestation consists of shaking the place where they are. They feel how the place is being shaken.

The part of the prayer asking for boldness is fulfilled. Therefore they are filled with the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit means that there is no more room for the flesh to assert itself. Through being filled with the Holy Spirit they do not speak in languages, but they speak the Word of God. Two apostles have spoken the Word and that is forbidden to them. After they have prayed, the whole company speaks God’s Word!