" Unashamed "

Acts 3:1-11   " Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour (3 P.M.). And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms (for money). And Peter, fastening (fixed) his eyes upon him with John said, Look on us. And he gave heed (attention) unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said,  'Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth rise up and walk.'

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked , and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising GOD. And all the people saw him walking and praising GOD: and they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. "

     In our world, Christians are increasingly being told that to mention JESUS' name in the public square is unacceptable. Yet early Christians also found themselves in an environment where civil and religious leaders sought to silence their public testimony of CHRIST. In Jerusalem, a man who had been  "lame from his mother's womb" (v.2) heard Peter declare,  "In the name of JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth rise up and walk" (v.6). The man was immediately healed, leaped up, and walked into the temple praising GOD. In response, the authorities hoped to silence the Apostles' use of the name  "JESUS"  by imprisoning Peter and John overnight and interrogating them the next day. Greatly displeased at the actions and teachings of the Apostles, these inquisitors asked,  "By what power, or by what name, have ye done this ?" (4:7). Peter answered, "By the name of JESUS CHRIST,"  and continued,  "neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (4:10, 12). The religious leaders then forbade the Apostles  "to speak at all nor teach in the name of JESUS"  (4:18). Jailed a second time for continuing to publicly share JESUS, the prisoners were scolded. "Did not we straitly (strictly) command you that ye should not teach in this name ?"  The answer of the Apostles is very important to believers today who are being warned not to speak publicly of JESUS:  "We ought to obey GOD rather than men"  (5:17-29). Like the Apostles, we need to be unashamed of the name  "JESUS."  Yes, consequences exist for speaking and praying openly in the name of JESUS, but the truth remains:  "We ought to obey GOD rather than men." JMC

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, Feature: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

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