The story in the Acts of the Apostles picks up where we left off yesterday. The Jewish authorities, the very same ones who “dealt” with Jesus, are now trying to figure out what to do with Peter and John. They are dumbfounded, but then the authorities come up with a plan; tell them to keep quiet:
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another. They said, “What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it. But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.
After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant: ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4: 13-31).
The authorities don’t know what to do. The miracle occurred; the people witnessed it. The lame man was standing before them healed. But they didn’t want Peter and John to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. Why? Because the authorities would lose their power. The authorities were so power hungry, so concerned for their petty fiefdoms, that they rejected what they knew to be true. The authorities “saw the man who had been cured standing beside them”, and “they had nothing to say in opposition.” What is more, they acknowledged that “it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it.” Yet, they try to; they order Peter and John to be silent.
We have to ask ourselves, how could the leaders deny the truth before them especially when it was so plain, and they knew it? They knew it!
Perhaps, the better question for you and me is: do we deny the truth of Jesus’ saving and healing power in our lives even though we know it to be true, or do we proclaim it with boldness as did Peter and John?
Let us pray: Almighty God, Your mighty works are seen in creation around us. You have shown us the depth of Your love in Your Son Jesus Christ who died for us on the cross and rose to new life. Open our mouths to proclaim the truth of Your love and the wonders of the miracles in our lives, and make us ever more like Christ in our actions. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
Blessing of the Backpacks, Sunday, 8 August 2010: Come and have your backpack blessed for the new school year. We will also have some book bags available if you don’t have one.
The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September. Stay tuned for details.
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:
In thanksgiving for Deborah’s doing much better
Baby Alexa and her grandparents
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Cindi Clack
For all those who are traveling
Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus. When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another. They said, “What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it. But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.
After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant: ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4: 13-31).
The authorities don’t know what to do. The miracle occurred; the people witnessed it. The lame man was standing before them healed. But they didn’t want Peter and John to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. Why? Because the authorities would lose their power. The authorities were so power hungry, so concerned for their petty fiefdoms, that they rejected what they knew to be true. The authorities “saw the man who had been cured standing beside them”, and “they had nothing to say in opposition.” What is more, they acknowledged that “it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it.” Yet, they try to; they order Peter and John to be silent.
We have to ask ourselves, how could the leaders deny the truth before them especially when it was so plain, and they knew it? They knew it!
Perhaps, the better question for you and me is: do we deny the truth of Jesus’ saving and healing power in our lives even though we know it to be true, or do we proclaim it with boldness as did Peter and John?
Let us pray: Almighty God, Your mighty works are seen in creation around us. You have shown us the depth of Your love in Your Son Jesus Christ who died for us on the cross and rose to new life. Open our mouths to proclaim the truth of Your love and the wonders of the miracles in our lives, and make us ever more like Christ in our actions. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
Blessing of the Backpacks, Sunday, 8 August 2010: Come and have your backpack blessed for the new school year. We will also have some book bags available if you don’t have one.
The Feast Day of St. Augustine & Blessing of the New Facilities:
Dinner celebration on Saturday, 28 August 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
Eucharist, Sunday, 29 August 2010 at 9:00 a.m.
The Second Annual St. Augustine Art Show: It will be at the end of September. Stay tuned for details.
PLEASE REMEMBER ALL THOSE ON OUR PRAYER LIST and especially:
In thanksgiving for Deborah’s doing much better
Baby Alexa and her grandparents
Sue and Sean Coleman as Sue recovers from brain surgery
Cindi Clack
For all those who are traveling
Let us pray for all of those serving in the Armed Forces, especially:
Lewis Lemons
Lt. Cmdr. Brian Taylor
Lt. Col. Bryan Runion
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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