THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS

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. —Acts 4:13

It is something that all followers of Jesus should aspire to—that other people, perhaps particularly our critics or accusers, should recognize the difference in our lives because we have “been with Jesus.” The obvious change in the disciples’ lives—including the courage with which they proclaimed the story of Jesus—was an important element of their witness in Jerusalem. Peter and John had been arrested and spent the night in prison before being called to answer to a council of Jewish leaders. It was an august assembly of “the rulers, elders and teachers of the law” (Acts 4:5), as well as the High Priest and various members of his family.

As the disciples took up Jesus’ ministry of preaching and healing—including healing a lame man at the temple the previous day—these rulers had a simple question for them: “Who gave you permission to do these things?” (see Acts 4:7).

Always ready to give an answer to such a question and a reason for the hope he had (see 1 Peter 3:15), Peter recapped the story of Jesus and the salvation that He had brought to the world. As individuals who had followed Jesus over the previous few years, the disciples would have been known to many of the Jewish leaders.

They knew that Peter and John were Galilean fishermen with little formal education, but they could now also see the boldness with which they addressed the council. Something had changed, and the Jewish leaders recognized that it was the influence of Jesus. From frightened, up-country fishermen to courageous apostles for Jesus, even in front of the most powerful and learned men in Jerusalem, their transformed lives were their ultimate witness.

It was Jesus who had made the difference for Peter and John, and they were ready to tell anyone who would listen.