Tag Archives: Peter

Just love each other (1 Peter 3:1-12), July 24, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Peter 3:1-12

Set – Isaiah 40; 1 Peter 3

Go! – Isaiah 40-42; 1 Peter 3

1 Peter 3:1-12
1-2 In the same way, wives, you should patiently accept the authority of your husbands. This is so that even if they don’t obey God’s word, as they observe your pure respectful behavior, they may be persuaded without a word by the way you live. 3 Don’t focus on decorating your exterior by doing your hair or putting on fancy jewelry or wearing fashionable clothes; 4 let your adornment be what’s inside—the real you, the lasting beauty of a gracious and quiet spirit, in which God delights. 5 This is how, long ago, holy women who put their hope in God made themselves beautiful: by respecting the authority of their husbands. 6 Consider how Sarah, our mother, obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him “lord,” and you will be her daughters as long as you boldly do what is right without fear and without anxiety.
7 In the same way, husbands, as you live with your wives, understand the situations women face as the weaker vessel. Each of you should respect your wife and value her as an equal heir in the gracious gift of life. Do this so that nothing will get in the way of your prayers.
8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded and show sympathy, love, compassion, and humility to and for each other— 9 not paying back evil with evil or insult with insult, but repaying the bad with a blessing. It was this you were called to do, so that you might inherit a blessing. 10 It is written in the psalms,
If you love life
and want to live a good, long time,
Then be careful what you say.
Don’t tell lies or spread gossip or talk about improper things.
11 Walk away from the evil things in the world—just leave them behind, and do what is right,
and always seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the Lord watches over the righteous,
and His ears are attuned to their prayers.
But His face is set against His enemies;
He will punish evildoers.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I’m amazed at how much emphases people will put on the first six verses in this chapter and forget everything else around it. They forget Peter goes on to tell husbands to respect and value their wives as equal heirs in the gift of life. They forget his admonition to be like-minded, love, show compassion, and humility to each other. They forget the place I hold for women in My kingdom.

All you need do is look at how I treated women in My word and you’ll see how important they are to Me. They are never second place. There is no debate. Neither is there debate about the separate roles of men and women in My mind. I created men and women different from each other and dependent upon each other. Humankind cannot continue without both.

Look through the history of My actions in the lives of people and you’ll see stories about Rahab, Ruth, Esther, Mary, the woman at the well, Mary Magdolene, Lydia, and so many more that played critical roles in the establishment of My kingdom on earth and perpetuated faith in Me. If there’s any doubt about their importance to My kingdom, those stories should clear it up. To Me men and women share equally in the inheritance of My kingdom.

So what I want you to remember is the rest of the Peter’s admonitions. Be compassionate. Be humble. Be like-minded. Show sympathy. Love each other. Love doesn’t lord over one another, but love serves each other. Wives will serve husbands out of love and husbands will serve wives out of love. Now go back and see what Paul says about love in 1 Corinthians 13.

You’ll find love isn’t a mushy-gushy emotion. Love is a decision on which to take action. You decide to love. Remember, Peter is talking to a culture in which brides were chosen for husbands. Husbands had no choice in the matter and neither did the bride. The two just learned that love was something you decided you did. The families agreed the two of you would be joined together and so you better learn to love each other or life would become pretty miserable.

The psalmist gives good advice as Peter pointed out. If you love life, and want to live a good long time, don’t tell lies, gossip, or talk about improper things. Do what is right. Seek peace and pursue it. I’ll watch over you. My word tells you I will and I don’t break My promises.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Honor your ruler (2 Peter 2:4-17), July 23, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Peter 2:4-17

Set – Isaiah 38; 1 Peter 2

Go! – 2 Kings 20; Isaiah 38-39; Psalms 75; 1 Peter 2

1 Peter 2:4-17
4 Come to Him—the living stone—who was rejected by people but accepted by God as chosen and precious. 5 Like living stones, let yourselves be assembled into a spiritual house, a holy order of priests who offer up spiritual sacrifices that will be acceptable to God through Jesus the Anointed. 6 For it says in the words of the prophet Isaiah,
See here—I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone, chosen and precious;
Whoever depends upon Him will never be disgraced.
7 To you who believe and depend on Him, He is precious; but to you who don’t, remember the words of the psalmist:
The stone that the builders rejected
has been laid as the cornerstone—the very stone that holds together the entire foundation,
8 and of Isaiah:
A stone that blocks their way,
a rock that trips them.
They stumble because they don’t follow the word of God, as they were destined to do.
9 But you are a chosen people, set aside to be a royal order of priests, a holy nation, God’s own; so that you may proclaim the wondrous acts of the One who called you out of inky darkness into shimmering light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received it.
11 Beloved, remember you don’t belong in this world. You are resident aliens living in exile, so resist those desires of the flesh that battle against the soul. 12 Live honorably among the outsiders so that, even when some may be inclined to call you criminals, when they see your good works, they might give glory to God when He returns in judgment.
13 For the Lord’s sake, accept the decrees and laws of all the various human institutions, whether they come from the highest human ruler 14 or agents he sends to punish those who do wrong and to reward those who do well. 15 You see, it is God’s will that by doing what is right and good you should hush the gabbing ignorance of the foolish. 16 Live as those who are free and not as those who use their freedom as a pretext for evil, but live as God’s servants. 17 Respect everyone. Love the community of believers. Reverence God. Honor your ruler.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

When you see the wicked prosper at the expense of the good, it’s easy to want revenge on them. When you see the wicked getting away with their wrong doing, it’s easy to want to strike back and take justice into your hands. That isn’t My way. My word tells you to continue to do good. My word tells you to that vengeance is Mine. These verses in Peter tell you to obey all authorities I have placed over you.

Sometimes it’s hard to remember that I’m the one that allows authorities to reign. Whether in countries as dictators or elected by the populace, I’m the one that allows the authority to sit in their seat of power. It takes nothing for Me to change the course of events to prevent or change the outcome of elections, battles, coups, inheritances. I allow authorities to reign.

You might not like the person or people in power. They may be good or they may be wicked. It is not your place to judge their heart. Just remember, I allow them their place of power for a reason and I will judge their actions one day, not you. They will answer for what they do, not you. But you will answer for you actions and your behavior. So do what Peter admonishes in these verses.

Listen to authorities placed over you. It is better to suffer for doing good that because you deserve the punishment because of evil deeds. It is better for those around you to know your goodness than to think you are evil and should suffer because of it. Rulers have the power of life and death in their hands. If you die at their hands for your faithful acts of service for Me, others will know and bless you for it. If you die because you act like other criminals who deserve death for their crimes, who will want to follow Me because of your behavior?

Then do the things Peter asks as he concludes what you heard today. Respect everyone. Love the community of believers. Reverence Me. Honor your ruler. When you do these things you others will respect you in return. Even if they do not, you will still be doing what I ask of you and that’s what counts after all. You will live the life I want you to live in front of others so they will know you follow Me. By your actions, they will know there awaits you a better day, a greater prize, a kingdom without end. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Be holy because God is holy (1 Peter 1:13-25), July 22, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – 1 Peter 1:13-25

Set – Psalms 76; 1 Peter 1

Go! – Isaiah 36-37; Psalms 76; 1 Peter 1

1 Peter 1:13-25
13 So get yourselves ready, prepare your minds to act, control yourselves, and look forward in hope as you focus on the grace that comes when Jesus the Anointed returns and is completely revealed to you. 14 Be like obedient children as you put aside the desires you used to pursue when you didn’t know better. 15 Since the One who called you is holy, be holy in all you do. 16 For the Scripture says, “You are to be holy, for I am holy.” 17 If you call on the Father who judges everyone without partiality according to their actions, then you should live in reverence and awe while you live out the days of your exile.
18 You know that a price was paid to redeem you from following the empty ways handed on to you by your ancestors; it was not paid with things that perish (like silver and gold), 19 but with the precious blood of the Anointed, who was like a perfect and unblemished sacrificial lamb. 20 God determined to send Him before the world began, but He came into the world in these last days for your sake. 21 Through Him, you’ve been brought to trust in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him for the very reason that your faith and hope are in Him.
22 Now that you have taken care to purify your souls through your submission to the truth, you can experience real love for each other. So love each other deeply from a [pure] heart. 23 You have been reborn—not from seed that eventually dies but from seed that is eternal—through the word of God that lives and endures forever. 24 For as Isaiah said,
All life is like the grass,
and its glory like a flower;
The grass will wither and die,
and the flower falls,
25 But the word of the Lord will endure forever.
This is the word that has been preached to you.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Do you remember what Peter said to those early Christians? It applies to you today, also. Listen again. “…get yourselves ready, prepare your minds to act, control yourselves, and look forward in hope… . …put aside the desires you used to pursue when you didn’t know better. 15 Since the One who called you is holy, be holy in all you do.”

It’s easy to get trapped by the things of the world today. It’s easy to let the call of the world convince you everything is okay. But you know better. If you know Me and have Me in your heart, you know I write My laws on your heart and have standards for you that want you to transform yourself from the pattern of this world to the pattern of My kingdom. I want you to look like Me when I return. I want you to get ready to meet Me and not have to take time to prepare yourself.

When I tell you, I want you ready to act, not looking in the book trying to figure out what’s next. If you consistently read My word and talk to Me, you’ll know how to act when I return. You’ll know what to do when I give you a task.

Peter also tells you to put aside the desires you used to pursue when you didn’t know better. Remember when you where a kid and fascinated with fire? You’re parents probably told you several times not to play with matches or fire or other combustibles. You didn’t really understand why, but you obeyed until your desire to play with fire became too much for you. You learned the hard way why your parents warned you not to play with fire when you got a little to close and ended up with a blister on your hand or arm or leg because the fire burned you.

Hopefully, it was a relatively small, but painful lesson you learned well in your childhood and you’ve paid attention to the lesson since. Too many people know the devastation that severe burns cause both physically and psychologically when faced with large percentages of their body scarred from the aftermath of a raging fire. Peter uses such a metaphor to remind you to be like that younger obedient child that listens to its partents and avoids the potential pain that comes from disobedience.

So instead of focusing on those desires you used to chase, focus on the hope I bring. Focus on maintaining your holiness. I ask you to be holy because I am holy. Why do I ask you to work to attain such a high standard? Because I want you to be like Me. I won’t lower myself. I won’t lower My standards. I am holy. Without holiness you cannot see Me. Work to become holy as I am holy. Separated from the world, set apart in service to Me. 

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Faith – just do it! (Matthew 14:22-36), Apr 27, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Matthew 14:22-36
Set – 2 Samuel 2; Matthew 14
Go! – 2 Samuel 2; 1 Chronicles 11; Psalms 142; Matthew 14

Matthew 14:22-36
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on to the other side of the sea while He dismissed the crowd. 23 Then, after the crowd had gone, Jesus went up to a mountaintop alone (as He had intended from the start). As evening descended, He stood alone on the mountain, praying.

24 The boat was in the water, some distance from land, buffeted and pushed around by waves and wind. 25 Deep in the night, when He had concluded His prayers, Jesus walked out on the water to His disciples in their boat. 26 The disciples saw a figure moving toward them and were terrified.

Disciple: It’s a ghost!

Another Disciple: A ghost? What will we do?

Jesus: 27 Be still. It is I. You have nothing to fear.

Peter: 28 Lord, if it is really You, then command me to meet You on the water.

Jesus: 29 Indeed, come.

Peter stepped out of the boat onto the water and began walking toward Jesus. 30 But when he remembered how strong the wind was, his courage caught in his throat and he began to sink.

Peter: Master, save me!

31 Immediately Jesus reached for Peter and caught him.

Jesus: O you of little faith. Why did you doubt and dance back and forth between following Me and heeding fear?

32 Then Jesus and Peter climbed in the boat together, and the wind became still. 33 And the disciples worshiped Him.

Disciples: Truly You are the Son of God.

34 All together, Jesus and the disciples crossed to the other side of the sea. They landed at Gennesaret, an area famous for its princely gardens. 35 The people of Gennesaret recognized Jesus, and they spread word of His arrival all over the countryside. People brought the sick and wounded to Him 36 and begged Him for permission to touch the fringes of His robe. Everyone who touched Him was healed.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Peter started what Nike made famous. I want you to pay attention to these two stories and see the similarities in what faith does. Faith just steps out and does things. For Peter he was just as afraid as the other disciples in the boat, but when he thought he recognized Me, he made one simple request. “If it’s really You, ask me to come to You.” I did and Peter stepped out of the boat. That’s what faith does.

The same was true of those in Gennesaret. They knew if they could just touch even the fringe on My robe, they could find healing from their infirmities. So many of them stretched out their arms to touch My robe and found healing. Their faith launched them into action. James talks about faith in his short letter to the early churches. Faith requires action. Without action, faith is dead. Without action, faith is only words. There is nothing to it. It’s lifeless and meaningless until you put feet to your faith.

Peter and the people of Gennesaret understood faith. They understood it takes putting yourself in motion and doing something before real faith is exercised. Do you have faith in Me? Show it with your actions. Just do something for Me. Stop talking and do something. That’s what Peter did. That’s what the people of Gennesaret did. That’s what you’ll need to do to demonstrate your faith to those around you.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Prejudice is still the problem (acts 10/1-33), Feb 3, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 10:1-33
Set – Exodus 36; Acts 10
Go! – Exodus 35-36; Acts 10

Acts 10:1-33
1Cornelius, a Roman Centurion and a member of a unit called the Italian Cohort, lived in Caesarea. 2 Cornelius was an outsider, but he was a devout man—a God-fearing fellow with a God-fearing family. He consistently and generously gave to the poor, and he practiced constant prayer to God. 3 About three o’clock one afternoon, he had a vision of a messenger of God.

Messenger of God: Cornelius!

Cornelius (terrified): 4 What is it, sir?

Messenger of God: God has heard your prayers, and He has seen your kindness to the poor. God has taken notice of you. 5-6 Send men south to Joppa, to the house of a tanner named Simon. Ask to speak to a guest of his named Simon, but also called Peter. You’ll find his house near the waterfront.

7 After the messenger departed, Cornelius immediately called two of his slaves and a soldier under his command—an especially devout soldier. 8 He told them the whole story and sent them to Joppa.

9 Just as these men were nearing Joppa about noon the next day, Peter went up on the flat rooftop of Simon the tanner’s house. He planned to pray, 10 but he soon grew hungry. While his lunch was being prepared, Peter had a vision of his own—a vision that linked his present hunger with what was about to happen: 11 A rift opened in the sky, and a wide container—something like a huge sheet suspended by its four corners—descended through the torn opening toward the ground. 12 This container teemed with four-footed animals, creatures that crawl, and birds—pigs, bats, lizards, snakes, frogs, toads, and vultures.

A Voice: 13 Get up, Peter! Kill! Eat!

Peter: 14 No way, Lord! These animals are forbidden in the dietary laws of the Hebrew Scriptures! I’ve never eaten non-kosher foods like these before—not once in my life!

A Voice: 15 If God calls something permissible and clean, you must not call it forbidden and dirty!

16 Peter saw this vision three times; but the third time, the container of animals flew up through the rift in the sky, the rift healed, 17 and Peter was confused and unsettled as he tried to make sense of this strange vision.

At that very moment, Peter heard the voices of Cornelius’s delegation, who had asked for directions to Simon’s house, coming from the front gate.

Delegation: 18 Is there a man named Simon, also called Peter, staying at this house?

19-20 Peter’s mind was still racing about the vision when the voice of the Holy Spirit broke through his churning thoughts.

Holy Spirit: The three men who are searching for you have been sent by Me. So get up! Go with them. Don’t hesitate or argue.

21 Peter rushed downstairs to the men.

Peter: I’m the one you’re seeking. Can you tell me why you’ve come?

Delegation: 22 We’ve been sent by our commander and master, Cornelius. He is a Centurion, and he is a good, honest man who worships your God. All the Jewish people speak well of him. A holy messenger told him to send for you, so you would come to his home and he could hear your message.

23 Peter extended hospitality to them and gave them lodging overnight. When they departed together the next morning, Peter brought some believers from Joppa.

24 They arrived in Caesarea the next afternoon just before three o’clock. Cornelius had anticipated their arrival and had assembled his relatives and close friends to welcome them. 25 When Peter and Cornelius met, Cornelius fell at Peter’s feet in worship, 26 but Peter helped him up.

Peter: Stand up, man! I am just a human being!

27 They talked and entered the house to meet the whole crowd inside.

Peter: 28 You know I am a Jew. We Jews consider it a breach of divine law to associate, much less share hospitality, with outsiders. But God has shown me something in recent days: I should no longer consider any human beneath me or unclean. 29 That’s why I made no objection when you invited me; rather, I came willingly. Now let me hear the story of why you invited me here.

Cornelius: 30 It was about this time of day four days ago when I was here, in my house, praying the customary midafternoon prayer. Suddenly a man appeared out of nowhere. His clothes were dazzling white, and he stood directly in front of me 31 and addressed me: “Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your kindness to the poor has been noticed by God. 32 God wants you to find a man in Joppa, Simon who is also called Peter, who is staying at the home of a tanner named Simon, near the seaside.” 33 I wasted no time, did just as I was told, and you have generously accepted my invitation. So here we are, in the presence of God, ready to take in all that the Lord has told you to tell us.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say to us:

You have a problem in the church today in getting My message out. It’s the same problem Peter and many in the early church had. It’s called prejudice.

You try to defend yourself and cry out, “But look, we have all races in our church! We have all ethnic groups worshiping in our building! How can You call us prejudice?”

Prejudice comes in all forms. When you minister to yourself and confine yourself to the four walls of your place of worship, shutting the world outside, you exercise prejudice. Sure you think you are an inviting place, but are you? How do you really feel about the prostitute who walks the street to make enough money for that next fix – trying to find something to fill the emptiness in her soul? How do you feel about the radical Islam terrorist taught all his life to kill infidels? How do you feel about the man who brings young teenagers across the border to traffic them into the sex slave market?

Do you see your prejudices come through? I love them all. They are My special creation. They are all made in My image, remember? Oh, I abhor their behavior. I detest evil. I would like to stamp out all of the things that fallen man has done to mar the beauty of My creation. But humankind is still the crowning glory of My creation. Those who stirred those dark feelings of prejudice in you a few minutes ago, I still love. They break My heart and I call out to them to return to Me just like I called to you one day. But how can they respond unless you extend a hand of love to them like someone did for you.

Peter would never have gone to meet with Cornelius without the vision I sent him that day. Fortunately, I broke his prejudices and he saw that all humankind is made in My image. His nation, his race is no more or no less important to Me than another. I made them all. I long for all…all…to come to Me in repentance so I may bring them into My kingdom. So, who will dare to love all humankind and share My mercy and grace to the lost without prejudices getting in the way? Will you stand up to the challenge…with My help?

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

A new day dawned (Acts 4:1-22), Jan 28, 2015

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Today’s Devotional

Today’s background scripture comes from Acts 4. And from it God says:
I love the Jewish Leaders’ question to Peter and John after making them cool their heels in jail overnight. They must have stayed awake all night crafting that question. It was remarkable, don’t you think?

“Who gave you the authority to create that spectacle in the temple yesterday?” What a question!

Of course, the spectacle involved a man over forty years old, lame from birth who stood at the name of Jesus, My Son. The power resident, even in his name, transferred through the faith of Peter, John, and the lame man caused him to walk out of the temple and into worship. The crowds saw the same man they had seen for forty years walking around, leaping before the Lord, praising Me for the miracle performed on his behalf.

What would you expect but the for the crowds to start praising with him? The temple atmosphere that day turned from one of somber, long faced prayers asking where I was to one of celebration thanking Me for My presence. It wasn’t just a spectacle. It was spectacular. And who authorized it? Me, that’s who! I want My people to celebrate when I’m there. I want people to sound the trumpets, clash the cymbals, let out all the stops. Why, because the God of all creation chose to visit you.

Their decision ended up being a little ridiculous, too. “Don’t talk anymore about what I’m doing through them.” How can they do that? How can anyone hold back the joy and excitement that happens when I intervene in life. Peter answered correctly and it shook their well-schooled, intellectual prowess to the ground. “Is it better that I obey you or God?”

What could they say? They were supposed to lead according to what I tell them, so how could they deny others doing what I tell them to do? What a great day to show a new day dawned for those who believe in Me.

Today’s Scripture

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 4:1-22
Set – Psalms 12; Acts 4
Go! – Exodus 21-22; Psalms 12; Acts 4

Acts 4:1-22
1The conversation continued for a few hours there in Solomon’s porch. Suddenly, the head of the temple police and some members of the Sadducean party interrupted Peter and John. 2 They were annoyed because Peter and John were enthusiastically teaching that in Jesus, resurrection of the dead is possible—an idea the Sadducees completely rejected. 3 So they arrested Peter, John, and the man who was healed and kept them in jail overnight. 4 But during these few afternoon hours between the man’s miraculous healing and their arrest, Peter and John already had convinced about 5,000 more people to believe their message about Jesus!

5 The next morning, the Jewish leaders—their officials, elders, and scholars—called a meeting in Jerusalem 6 presided over by Annas (the patriarch of the ruling priestly clan), along with Caiaphas (his son-in-law), John, Alexander, and other members of their clan. 7 They made their prisoners stand in the middle of the assembly and questioned them.

Jewish Leaders: Who gave you the authority to create that spectacle in the temple yesterday?

Peter (filled with the Spirit): 8 Rulers and elders of the people, 9 yesterday a good deed was done. Someone who was sick was healed. If you’re asking us how this happened, 10 I want all of you and all of the people of Israel to know this man standing in front of you—obviously in good health—was healed by the authority of Jesus of Nazareth, the Anointed One. This is the same Jesus whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead. 11 He is “the stone that you builders rejected who has become the very stone that holds together the entire foundation” on which a new temple is being built. 12 There is no one else who can rescue us, and there is no other name under heaven given to any human by whom we may be rescued.

13 Now the leaders were surprised and confused. They looked at Peter and John and realized they were typical peasants—uneducated, utterly ordinary fellows—with extraordinary confidence. The leaders recognized them as companions of Jesus, 14 then they turned their attention to the third man standing beside them—recently lame, now standing tall and healthy. What could they say in response to all this?

15 Because they were at a loss about what to do, they excused the prisoners so the council could deliberate in private.

Jewish Leaders: 16 What do we do with these fellows? Anyone who lives in Jerusalem will know an unexplainable sign has been performed through these two preachers. We can’t deny their story. 17 The best we can do is try to keep it from spreading. So let’s warn them to stop speaking to anybody in this name.

18 The leaders brought the prisoners back in and prohibited them from doing any more speaking or teaching in the name of Jesus. 19 Peter and John listened quietly and then replied,

Peter and John: You are the judges here, so we’ll leave it up to you to judge whether it is right in the sight of God to obey your commands or God’s. 20 But one thing we can tell you: we cannot possibly restrain ourselves from speaking about what we have seen and heard with our own eyes and ears.

21-22 The council threatened them again, but finally let them go because public opinion strongly supported Peter and John and this man who had received this miraculous sign. He was over 40 years old, so his situation was known to many people, and they couldn’t help but glorify God for his healing.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.