Acts 4:13-20: What Do People See When They Look at Your Life?
There are times when a passage of Scripture will make you stop reading for a minute and start examining your life. Last week, Acts 4:13-20 was one of those passages for me. It was pretty convicting!
In this passage in Acts, Peter and John had been preaching the Gospel, and the religious leaders were not happy about it. As they were standing before these leaders who had the authority to punish them, they spoke with courage and much boldness!
The religious leaders were amazed because they knew that these men were not educated or trained. They were just ordinary fishermen who had spent time with Jesus, and it showed.
When I read that, some pretty challenging questions came to my mind.
- If people watched my life, would they recognize that I had been with Jesus?
- Would my words, actions, boldness, and attitude point others to Him?
These verses were a great reminder that people should be able to see Jesus in us.
Ordinary People Can Make an Extraordinary Impact
The religious leaders expected to intimidate Peter and John. Instead, they saw men with a confidence that didn’t come from education, position, or influence. It came from the Holy Spirit and having spent time with Jesus.
Peter and John were fishermen. They had no formal rabbinical training. However, they boldly defended the Gospel before the most powerful religious leaders in Israel. They were able to go head to head with these authorities without fear.
This is wonderful encouragement for us today.
God has never required any kind of credentials before using someone. Throughout Scripture, He chose ordinary people so that His power received the glory. Take a look at these verses as well:
- 1 Corinthians 1:26–29
- 2 Corinthians 12:9
Your Boldness Affects Everyone Around You
One of the greatest lessons we see from this passage is that our boldness can have an influence on other people, even unbelievers.
The religious leaders didn’t agree with Peter and John, but they couldn’t deny what they saw in them. They saw:
- Courage
- Confidence
- Boldness
- Changed lives
Whether you know it or not, people are constantly watching us as believers. They notice if our faith is genuine a long time before they listen to what we have to say.
Sometimes our greatest testimony isn’t found in a sermon; it’s in the way we live our lives and reflect Jesus!
People Should Recognize That We Have Been with Jesus
I am confessing that I am not a very vocal or bold person in general. So, when I read this Scripture, it brought several questions to my mind:
- Who do people see when I speak?
- Can people tell by my actions, attitude, and countenance that I have been with Jesus?
- Does my daily life give enough evidence for someone to see my relationship with Him?
- Does my life reflect Christ during the ordinary moments as much as during church on Sunday?
- Have I allowed my relationship with Christ to affect every area of my life so that it is obvious that I have spent time with Him?
Peter and John’s relationship with Jesus wasn’t hidden; it was very obvious.
Would people say the same about me?
The World Still Tries to Silence the Name of Jesus
Acts 4:18 Is Still Happening Today!
The religious leaders tried to stop the message of Christ by commanding Peter and John not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
Not much has changed today!
Today we continue to see pressure to keep our faith private. Whether this silencing is through workplace policies, social pressure, or even the fear of offending someone, there always seems to be attempts to silence our faith.
When you think about it, following Jesus has never meant an easy road. It has always required courage – back in the days of Peter and John and even now for us.
When You’ve Experienced Jesus, You Can’t Stay Silent
Acts 4:20 really makes you think! It should challenge every believer. Peter and John responded:
They weren’t speaking because someone told them they had to, it was because they couldn’t help it. They had truly experienced the Presence of the Lord and couldn’t remain silent.
Silence should be difficult when we have experienced God’s forgiveness and faithfulness. When we really stop and think, we can feel His Presence guiding us every day. (We may not always follow His leading, but He is leading!)
My desire is for the silence to become difficult!
Questions Worth Asking Ourselves
As I finished reading this passage, I jotted down a couple more questions in my journal and in Evelyn’s Bible:
- Has anyone ever tried to silence my witness, or have I remained quiet enough that no one feels threatened by my influence?
- Have I experienced God’s presence so personally that I can’t keep it to myself?
Final Thoughts
Acts 4:13-20 isn’t just a story about two courageous disciples standing up to the religious leaders. It’s an invitation for each of us to take a look at our own lives and ask:
- Is our faith visible?
- Is our testimony bold?
- Do our conversations point people to Jesus?
The world may continue trying to silence the Gospel, but those who have truly experienced Christ know that His grace is too wonderful to keep hidden.
My prayer is that when people meet us, they won’t just remember our words, they’ll know without a doubt that we’ve been with Jesus.
Biblical Resources
If you are trying to get started with a daily Bible plan, see Simple Bible Study Ideas for Spiritual Growth. I hope these tips will help you like they have helped me.
These are a few of my favorite Bible study resources:
- She Reads Truth Bible
- Composition Notebook
- Black Pens – These are fine point and work well in Bibles.
Related Posts
- Life Applications from the Book of Titus – Part 1
- Life Applications from the Book of Titus – Part 2
- How to Choose the Right Bible for Personal Bible Study
disclosure: Amazon affiliate links and others are used on this page. Thank you for supporting Home with Grace and Joy. When you purchase an item, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my full disclosure and privacy policy on the website.
“From one Man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live.” Acts 17:26
- How To Keep a Shower Curtain from Blowing In: Easy Magnet Trick
- Apron Strings & Blessings Weekly Newsletter Vol. 62
- When God Multiplies What We Give Him: Trusting His Provision
- Apron Strings & Blessings Weekly Newsletter Vol. 61
- Apron Strings & Blessings Weekly Newsletter Vol. 60
This is so good, Susan! Lots to think about and pray about. Every time I start to feel frustrated or overwhelmed in a store, or when I’m dealing with something and feel like I’m going to lose it, I think to myself, “If you were the only example of Christ these people saw today, would they be curious to know him more?” – it helps me to refocus every time! Big hugs, CoCo
Traffic does it for me! I heard something on the radio recently about prayer walks, right as I was getting frustrated with a driver. That was my sign to pray to them. It was a lesson!