Acts 4:13, commentary and pictures

After healing the lame man Peter and John were called before the priests, rulers and scribes at Jerusalem and questioned by what power it had been done, with the healed man standing beside them as undeniable proof. Though they were regarded as ordinary fishermen without schooling in the rabbis' schools and expected to be embarrassed, they boldly declared the work was done through risen Jesus and would not be silenced by threats. Their wisdom and convincing speech came not from human training but because they were moved by the Holy Spirit with courage given for the trial, so learned opposers could not gainsay their words. Christ had deliberately chosen humble, teachable men of good ability and trained them for three years in His own school, not because He despised learning but because many learned believers lacked moral power to confess Him at risk of reputation. Close companionship with Him had made them like their Master in mind and character, and leaders and people saw it in their fearless testimony, holy life and loving works and knew they had learned from Him, a witness that convicts sinners and draws souls to God.

Trial Before Jewish Leaders

After healing the impotent man, Peter and John were brought to trial at Jerusalem before the high priest, rulers, elders and scribes and questioned by what name they had done it. The healed man stood beside them, making the miracle undeniable and leaving opponents unable to refute it. Though perceived as unlearned and ignorant men, they boldly declared the miracle was done through Jesus of Nazareth, the stone set at naught by the builders. They preached Christ risen and the resurrection of the dead as truth for that time, moved by the Holy Ghost with a message given by God. They would not be stilled by opposition even when it displeased the Sadducees and rulers, persisting in declaring truth whether pleasing or not despite threats not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

Their boldness and convincing speech amazed and perplexed the priests, scribes, elders and rulers, because ignorant fishermen were expected to be overcome with embarrassment before the authorities. They were not embarrassed but spoke as Jesus had spoken, with a convincing power that silenced adversaries. To conceal perplexity the leaders ordered the apostles to be taken away to counsel among themselves. The clear evidence of God's work restrained opposers from acting as they otherwise would have. Fear of the people also kept the priests and rulers from giving way to malice even while their words convicted and converted thousands, swept away traditions and superstitions inculcated by the priests, and greatly enraged them.

Their fearless conduct made the council recognize they had been with Jesus, because their conduct under persecution resembled his. Peter, who had denied Jesus, now boldly acknowledged him, reproved before by Jesus' look of pity and sorrow. His bold confession was now approved and blessed, shown by his being filled with the Holy Spirit as a sign of Jesus' approval. Peter's bold energy and zeal as a witness helped silence opponents and deliver the apostles from difficulty, while John's patient, devoted manner won people to Christ, their different qualities complementing one another in serving the cause.

Boldness of Unlearned Men

Unlearned and ignorant means they were looked upon as ordinary, untrained men without formal schooling in the schools of the prophets, of the rabbis, or in the halls of philosophy. They were ignorant fishermen, poor, humble, small in number and plain in appearance. Before priests, scribes, elders and rulers they were expected to be overcome with embarrassment, yet they preached God's Word with power. Their lack of formal education did not make them unfit for ministry, for God can use humble, God-fearing people and equip them with power, grace and training for His work.

Their boldness, wisdom, and pure, simple, accurate speech, even in foreign tongues, with convincing power like Jesus' own speech, came because they were moved by the Holy Ghost with a message given by God. Courage and fortitude were given when trial required them, and their clear witness before the council displayed the effect of association with Jesus. So doctors, lawyers, priests, rulers, scribes and theologians could not gainsay or resist their words, and adversaries were silenced. Their character and the simplicity of their teachings were like the character and teachings of Christ, and their testimony went to the uttermost parts of the earth. That power requires entire surrender to God and the influence of the Holy Spirit, for absence of the Holy Spirit and grace leaves gospel ministry powerless, while being with Jesus refines, elevates and sanctifies the minister and gives commanding influence.

Christ deliberately chose humble, obedient, faithful men of good natural ability and of humble, teachable spirit, unshaped by the world's false customs and traditions, and connected them with Himself in order to educate them to carry forward the great work on earth. He did not do this because He preferred the uneducated, excused ignorance, opposed education and correct knowledge, or despised learning and education. Many learned and honorable men believed His teaching, and their abilities would have been accepted and used in His service if they had offered them. But they lacked moral power to confess Christ before frowning priests and jealous rulers and to risk reputation by joining the humble Galilean. Darkness had covered the men of wisdom because they had united with the spirit of the world and were pursuing its honors, with hearts corrupted by love of worldly riches and aspiring for the honors of the great and exalted, while He chose men of humble life and simple habits acquainted with privation and hardship whose hearts could be impressed with the beauty of truth and inspired with love for mercy, righteousness, justice and true holiness.

Their preparation was the highest education in Christ's school under the divine Teacher and the best and truest educator. For three years under His own care His teaching, healing works and example taught them truth free from tradition and bigotry and refined them. No course of study in the schools of the rabbis or the halls of philosophy could have equaled that training in value. The lessons of truth given to these lowly men were of mighty significance to move the world, so that their words and works would revolutionize the world. The same light is imparted to those who connect with God, and those who want to become what God intended should learn from Christ, who is meek and lowly of heart.

Transformed by Being With Jesus

Association with Jesus educated Peter and John and made their minds and characters like their Master's, so that others recognized they had been with Him. Though once unlearned, ignorant, uncultured fishermen without formal learning, they were changed by humble teachability under the divine Teacher and were no longer ignorant and uncultured, divided, or focused on worldly greatness. By the Spirit's teaching they became united in heart, thought and purpose, with Christ filling their thoughts and the advancement of His kingdom as their aim, and thus became capable, qualified workers for Christ.

After the resurrection their hope and faith revived to proclaim the crucified Jesus as the risen Messiah, and after His ascension and Pentecost Christ abided in them through the Holy Spirit so that His light, love and power shone through them and made their union with Him visible. Grace and truth shaped, purified, ruled and governed their actions, making them living representatives of Christ's mind, spirit and character whose lives were like readable letters others could read. Their repentant, pardoned, cleansed and sanctified lives showed learning from Christ, living connection with God in reliance on the merits of the crucified and risen Saviour, and partnership with God that could draw others toward repentance even without direct preaching.

Communion with God ennobles character and life and brings peace and rest in the Saviour with practical results seen in daily life, in moral elevation of character and actions that gives a minister's work greater power than preaching alone. Peace in the heart shines forth in the countenance and gives the voice persuasive power, so that men take knowledge the worker has been with Jesus just as they did with the first disciples. This gives the worker for God a power that nothing else can give, a power that must not be lost. It comes through a twofold life of thought and action, of silent prayer and earnest work, where strength received through communion united with earnest effort in training the mind to thoughtfulness and care-taking prepares for daily duties and keeps the spirit in peace under all circumstances, however trying.

Others Recognize Time With Jesus

The bold testimony of Peter and John before the council caused their hearers to recognize close companionship and association with Jesus and that they had learned from him. Their words and works represented their Teacher, and their clear witness was given through the power of the Holy Spirit. Their minds and characters had become like their Master, and this change, with their manner, boldness, fearless conduct, wisdom and courage, was evident to others and astonished the authorities because they were ordinary, untrained men regarded as uneducated. Their courage and fortitude were given when trial required them, and their witness before the Sanhedrin displayed the effect of their association with Jesus, while the healed man standing beside them made the miracle undeniable and left opponents unable to refute it.

That recognition is perceived in words, speech, deportment, actions, habits, appearance and influence that reflect the character learned from Christ. Those who receive what Christ gives do not keep it to themselves but become a source of love and help to others, receiving and sharing God's love and grace, expressing thankfulness, and bringing the warmth of that love and joy and blessing into relationships. It is shown in purity of speech and unselfish actions that testify to the power of His grace, in making truth appealing through both example and speech, and in love and help, meekness, humility, lowliness, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, kindness, courtesy, honesty, courage, zeal, firmness in principle and cheerfulness. It requires putting away selfishness, envy, evil surmising, strife, pride, worldliness, avarice, unkindness and censoriousness, so that even unbelievers perceive that such persons have been with Christ who is love and have learned from Him.

It is seen in a distinct, holy life that separates from the world rather than dressing like the world to gain favor. True and saving influence does not come from dressing like the world or from occasional penitence, which is a sad mistake that separates from God and makes people children of the world, but from continual humble doing of the word, walking in received light, putting on beautiful garments and arising and shining, turning from self-indulgence, extravagance, worldly amusements and entertainments, seeking God's counsel, following the Lord's way, denying self, and striving to become one with Christ. When faith is shown by righteous works and the distinction between Christian and worldling is made great and plain, with words, dress and actions telling for God in sobriety, humility and holiness, a holy influence is shed upon all. That life is marked by restful peace without fretful uneasiness, faithful service in every duty, compassionate help to the poor, sorrowing, sick and suffering, tender respect to rich and poor, controlled speech in the home, honest business dealings, unity and love among believers, doing the works of Christ in daily life and character and not merely saying sermons and prayers, and letting light shine in good works, so that even unbelievers, worldlings and skeptics perceive association with Jesus and find truth more desirable than error.

This visible witness proves to unbelievers that professed truth is truly believed, while without it believers demonstrate unbelief, fall into darkness that calls light darkness, and stand under coming judgments. It brings the realities of eternity near and gives the gospel living power beyond sermons, professions or creeds, for when truth becomes a living principle in the soul believers receive power with God and men, their very presence becomes an influence for good that leads men to glorify God, and such recognized fellowship keeps them from daring to sin lest others follow their example of folly. Their changed lives — repentant, pardoned, cleansed and sanctified through Christ — show partnership with God, love for Christ leading to obedience and to making winning souls the highest aim rather than keeping grace to themselves, drawing souls to God, enlarging the church, and bringing repentant sinners into partnership with God through His Son. So all should be able to see that messengers have been with Jesus and learned from Him as they carry the invitation everywhere, working harmoniously, untiringly and earnestly to lead men and women to Christ in the short time before all are judged.

Living So Others Recognize Jesus

Ministers and physicians are to work out the precious principles of truth in daily life and reveal Christ's pure, holy, undefiled character in face, spirit, words, actions and influence, so that all see they have learned from him and many are turned to the Lord. Gospel messengers carrying God's invitation and warning everywhere, including to the cities, are to work harmoniously, untiringly and earnestly to lead men and women to Christ, presenting truth with meekness, fervor, sound judgment and love, that people may recognize they have been with Jesus and learned of him. Teachers, medical students, parents, children, heads of families and all believers are likewise to live Christ's life before others in pure speech and unselfish action, so that even unbelievers see the power of his grace and acknowledge the companionship. The minister whose words show fervent prayer and whose life and teaching are shaped by the Holy Spirit bears this same evidence, for authority comes not merely from learning but from communion with God and the Spirit's power.

That recognizable life comes not from occasional penitence but from continual humble doing of the word, walking in the great light received, putting on beautiful garments and arising and shining, with truth as a living principle in soul, character and daily works rather than merely sayings of sermons and prayers. It requires taking a stand separate from the world and from worldly amusements, entertainments, fashions, self-indulgence, extravagance and indifference, seeking God's counsel, following the Lord's way, obeying truth, holding to God, humbling the heart, studying the Word and guarding the lips, striving to become one with Christ. Then faith in God's only begotten Son is made manifest, grace becomes apparent, power with God and men is received to win souls, the very presence becomes an influence for good that leads men to glorify God and draws souls for the enlargement of the church, while lack of this obedient doing explains lack of influence and demonstrates unbelief. The light is to be put on a candlestick through faithful service in every duty in neighborhoods and cities, going from door to door, distributing books containing the truths of God's Word, and doing good works with hearts filled with love for perishing souls, revealing practical Christianity whose results the world can see. Lengthy advanced preparation that keeps talent out of the field is not needed, for the Lord works with laborers who go to work in his vineyard and gives grace for grace to those who communicate the light received, and as probation closes there is to be prayer as never before for the more abundant bestowal and sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit, with the light of heaven received in the heart and revealed in countenance and works in preparation for judgment.