He arrested them for preaching and ended up as an AG pastor.

Saturday 1-28-17, Modesto, California

Today we read Exod 21 – 22, Psalm 12 and Acts 4

S = Scripture  O = Observation  A = Application  P = Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S. Acts 4:29-31 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give your servants great boldness in their preaching. Send your healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus." After this prayer, the building where they were meeting shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they preached God's message with boldness. NLT

O. Peter and John were arrested and thrown in prison for preaching the message of Jesus Christ in the temple, with a man who had been lame for 40 years jumping and dancing around at their side.  The next day in court Peter shocked these religious Jews by his words: “This Jesus that you killed, arose again to life and in His name this lame man has been healed and, get it straight, men. His name is the only name under heaven that can save you!”  These men all knew Joel’s prophecy “Whoever shall call upon the Lord (Yahweh) will be saved.” They knew that the name of the “Lord Jesus” was being declared on an equal plain with “Jehovah God”.  But what could they do to them with this dancing miracle still at their side?  So, they threatened Peter and John, told them never to preach about Jesus again and let them go free. 

A. Now, if it had been me, I might have been looking for a more suitable place to preach.  But instead the whole baby church cried out to heaven for fresh power to go back and do it again.

P. Yes, Lord, been there, done that. And, yes, I have heard the threats of men in places of authority and somehow You never let them throw me behind bars.  Some, however, in San Juan, Argentina, were thrown in prison for ten days and preached to the police chief, the guards and the policemen with holy boldness. And You chose the very policeman that, with such fervor, had arrested them, to be a Holy Spirit filled Assembly of God pastor. Thank you, Jesus! Amen.

Ralph