After their release they went back to their own people and reported what the chief priests and elders had told them. 24 And when they heard it, they raised their voices to God with one accord and said, “Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them, 25 you said by the holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, your servant: ‘Why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples entertain folly? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand and the princes gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed.’ 27 Indeed they gathered in this city against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed, Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do what your hand and [your] will had long ago planned to take place. 29 And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness, 30 as you stretch forth [your] hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
The apostles and the community were emboldened when they heard Peter and John’s report. They prayed and praised God. Peter referred to David to show that the Scriptures spoke about the Messiah (Acts 1:16, 2:25).” Peter used the words from Psalms 2:1-2 to describe what the community was experiencing and recounted how the Jewish leaders, Jewish King Herod, Gentile Governor Pontius Pilate and the people all conspired to crucify Jesus and accomplish what the Jewish leaders had long planned to do (Jn. 5:18). The apostles pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to embolden them to fulfill their ministry as the truth of their ministry is demonstrated by signs and wonders in the name of Jesus. God’s name was invoked at the beginning of the prayer and God’s answer/approval was demonstrated by an earthquake, a sign of the divine (Mt. 27:54, 28:2; Acts 16:26). The apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit to go forth and strengthened to speak the word without fear.
Almighty God, help us to rely on you for all that we need and to praise you at all times for your goodness and mercy. Grant us the strength to boldly proclaim your word and fulfill the ministry you have entrusted to us. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
__________________________________
References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Comments