Act 4:24-31 | KingComments | STEP | The reaction of the disciples to the message of Peter and John shows the great connectedness with each other. When they have reported on the events, the whole company turns to God in a spontaneous prayer. It has now become a common need. This prayer comes from the testimony and service for the Lord. If we testified more and shared our experiences with each other, our prayers would become more like the prayer described here. There is unity in praying. God hears as it were one voice. When they address Him, they address Him with “Lord”, which literally means “despot”, that is absolute ruler, sovereign owner and possessor of everything. In connection with their need that is the right form of address. Earthly authorities have threatened that they are no longer allowed to speak about the Lord Jesus. Now they turn to the supreme authority and appeal to it as the highest and absolute authority. In their prayers they are led to the Scriptures, to also appeal to the authority of the Word. God and His Word are inextricably linked. The situation in which they find themselves reminds them of Psalm 2 ( ). In the direct sense, the psalm describes the situation in the last days, the end time, but they quote the psalm in their prayers for its application to their days. In the same way, we may also cite Scripture in our prayers. There is no better way to come to God than in connection with His Word. He wants us to come to Him that way. This means that we stand before Him on the same ground as He. Here we learn that Psalm 2 is of David, because that is not apparent from the psalm itself. We also hear again that David is the mouth of the Holy Spirit in this psalm (cf. ). Quoting God’s Word only has an effect if it happens in full faith in the inspiration of that Word. They speak to God about David as “Your servant”, making an even closer connection with their current situation in which opposition to God’s “holy servant Jesus” manifests itself. David wonders why the nations are in an uproar and the peoples are devising a vain thing. Surely it is foolishness to rebel against the Most High, isn’t it? Yet the kings and rulers, the authorities of the world, are in rebellion against the Lord of heaven and earth and against His Christ. For although in practice only the two apostles Peter and John have been threatened by the religious leaders of Israel, it truly is as stated in the psalm, that the whole power of the enemy has gathered against the Lord Jesus. The apostles have to suffer, but the real reason is the hatred of God’s ”holy servant Jesus”. Christ is also God’s holy Servant in heaven Who from heaven through the Holy Spirit continues His work on earth for the glory of God. God anointed Him when He was on earth. That anointing still rests on Him. To the world, however, He is the rejected and despised Jesus. He was that on earth and He still is. The disciples mention the names of Herod and Pontius Pilate as the persons who are model for the enmity of both the apostate religious world and the rebellious political world. They mocked, abused and condemned the Lord Jesus when He stood before them on earth. They did this together with the “Gentiles and peoples of Israel”. The disciples speak of Israel as belonging to the world of the Gentiles because together with the Gentiles they killed the true Servant of God, indeed, they were the instigators to that end. In their prayer, the disciples present the acts of the hostile people to God. At the same time they also know that God is not out of control. The enemies have believed that they have been able to carry out their own plans and intentions, but the reality is that they have only done what God wanted. They have carried out His work.

‏ Acts 4:24-31

The Need Presented to the Lord

The reaction of the disciples to the message of Peter and John shows the great connectedness with each other. When they have reported on the events, the whole company turns to God in a spontaneous prayer. It has now become a common need. This prayer comes from the testimony and service for the Lord. If we testified more and shared our experiences with each other, our prayers would become more like the prayer described here. There is unity in praying. God hears as it were one voice.

When they address Him, they address Him with “Lord”, which literally means “despot”, that is absolute ruler, sovereign owner and possessor of everything. In connection with their need that is the right form of address. Earthly authorities have threatened that they are no longer allowed to speak about the Lord Jesus. Now they turn to the supreme authority and appeal to it as the highest and absolute authority.

In their prayers they are led to the Scriptures, to also appeal to the authority of the Word. God and His Word are inextricably linked. The situation in which they find themselves reminds them of Psalm 2 (Psa 2:1-2). In the direct sense, the psalm describes the situation in the last days, the end time, but they quote the psalm in their prayers for its application to their days. In the same way, we may also cite Scripture in our prayers. There is no better way to come to God than in connection with His Word. He wants us to come to Him that way. This means that we stand before Him on the same ground as He.

Here we learn that Psalm 2 is of David, because that is not apparent from the psalm itself. We also hear again that David is the mouth of the Holy Spirit in this psalm (cf. Acts 1:16). Quoting God’s Word only has an effect if it happens in full faith in the inspiration of that Word. They speak to God about David as “Your servant”, making an even closer connection with their current situation in which opposition to God’s “holy servant Jesus” manifests itself.

David wonders why the nations are in an uproar and the peoples are devising a vain thing. Surely it is foolishness to rebel against the Most High, isn’t it? Yet the kings and rulers, the authorities of the world, are in rebellion against the Lord of heaven and earth and against His Christ. For although in practice only the two apostles Peter and John have been threatened by the religious leaders of Israel, it truly is as stated in the psalm, that the whole power of the enemy has gathered against the Lord Jesus. The apostles have to suffer, but the real reason is the hatred of God’s ”holy servant Jesus”.

Christ is also God’s holy Servant in heaven Who from heaven through the Holy Spirit continues His work on earth for the glory of God. God anointed Him when He was on earth. That anointing still rests on Him. To the world, however, He is the rejected and despised Jesus. He was that on earth and He still is.

The disciples mention the names of Herod and Pontius Pilate as the persons who are model for the enmity of both the apostate religious world and the rebellious political world. They mocked, abused and condemned the Lord Jesus when He stood before them on earth. They did this together with the “Gentiles and peoples of Israel”. The disciples speak of Israel as belonging to the world of the Gentiles because together with the Gentiles they killed the true Servant of God, indeed, they were the instigators to that end.

In their prayer, the disciples present the acts of the hostile people to God. At the same time they also know that God is not out of control. The enemies have believed that they have been able to carry out their own plans and intentions, but the reality is that they have only done what God wanted. They have carried out His work.

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!