Acts 4

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” 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. ‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Peter was “filled with the Holy Spirit” before he addressed the religious leaders (verse 8).  His words blew them away and left them dumbfounded and speechless, unsure of what to do next.  There is a difference between being “filled with the Holy Spirit” and having the constant, indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within us.  The Holy Spirit comes to permanently reside within the hearts of all believers the second they accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Jesus made this clear in John 7:38-39, “‘Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’  By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”  But there are several instances in scripture where someone is described as being “filled with the Holy Spirit.”  What’s the difference?  If you are filled with the Spirit, it means that you are so completely yielded to Him that He can have the freedom to guide and control you to accomplish His will.  It is during these times that His power can be exerted through you, so that you can do what is fruitful for God.  This is exactly what happened to Peter in this passage.  Maybe some of you have experienced this incredible sensation of being filled with the Spirit.  The unfortunate truth is that it is impossible to remain filled with the Spirit all of the time.  Sin hinders the filling of the Holy Spirit within us, and we are all imperfect people that are prone to sin.  Obedience to God’s commands allows the Spirit to work within us, and will sometimes fill us completely so that we can do or say something amazing that will be used to build God’s kingdom.  Although it is powerful and wonderful to be filled with the Spirit, we need to make sure that we do not stop doing God’s work just because we don’t feel like we are “filled enough.”  The every day, indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is more than sufficient to encourage and guide you in life.  Peter and John proclaimed: “For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (verse 20).  Remember that God blesses us so that we can bless others.  He also has us endure trials so that our faith will be strengthened and we can use our experiences to support others and empathize with what they are going through.  Don’t let fear of rejection or lack of confidence in your Bible knowledge hold you back from sharing with others about God’s goodness and the life-saving message of the gospel.  When others see a change in you and then question where the change came from, be prepared to tell them that it is all because of Jesus!  This is your greatest testimony, to explain that your faith in Christ has completely changed your life and impacted it in such a profound way that you will never be the same.  Take some time to think about the changes that have occurred in your life since you became a believer in Jesus Christ.  Now be prepared to explain it to others when the opportunity arises.