Acts 4:1-4 - Trusting the Lord

Scripture:

Acts 4:1-4
1 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,

2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3 And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening.

4 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
NASU

Thoughts:

This passage reminds me of the work of the Holy Spirit in ministry, and how we shouldn't jump to conclusions about the success or failure of our ministry, based on what we see.

For example, Peter seems to have gotten cutoff in the middle of his speech (Acts 3:26 - 4:1). Now, he had already given them the gospel (Acts 3:18-21, for example), but it certainly seems he would have continued.

On top of this, Peter and John were arrested! (verse 3) Wouldn't this seem to discredit your ministry? You might expect people to change their opinion of what they'd heard, seeing this happen. True, an outstanding miracle had been accomplished in that a lame man was made well, but Jesus had done many miracles in that same temple area, and yet the people rejected Him.

But the cool thing to see, is that even though things didn't go as Peter and John might have wanted or expected, God still completed His work. Many were saved that day (verse 4). If 5000 is a running total, then approximately 2000 were saved that day, added to the 3000 at Pentecost (Acts 2:41).

This account is so encouraging! It's a great reminder of how we shouldn't get discouraged when things don't go the way we expect or think would be best. We just need to be obedient to God, and trust the results to Him. What is needed in a situation may be different than we think, or God may wish to accomplish more or something different than we would have thought.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to have this kind of trusting attitude, especially when I don't understand why things are happening as they are. I know this is best. I know that this is freeing for me. And I know it's exciting, and what You want. Help my unbelief!

Forgive me for leaning on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). Help me instead to rest in You, no matter how things appear. I want and need this, Lord. Help me, today.

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.