Acts 4:13-26 Tony Valdez

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Casper ten Boom, father of Corrie ten Boom, was caught harboring Jews in his home. After being raided by the police in February 28, 1944 he was arrested due to the evidence against him, the testimony of someone who sold out the family for money. The Gestapo chief had sympathy for the elderly ten Boom and questioned, “I’d like to send you home, old fellow. I’ll take your word that you won’t cause any more trouble.” Ten Boom replied, “If I go home today, tomorrow I will open my door again to any man in need who knocks.” The chief was furious by the disobedience of ten Boom and threw him into prison. Casper ten Boom would not last one month in prison. He died at the age of 84.

“We cannot help speak of what we have seen and heard.” The excitement of the good things that were being done in the name of Jesus. Have we lost that? Is it gone? Have we suppressed God’s Spirit?