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.
After being interrogated by the Sanhedrin and then released, Peter and John returned to the community to report what had happened. The community responded with communal prayer praising God. The believers quoted Psalm 2:1-2, attributing it to the Holy Spirit speaking through David. That passage was seen as a foreshadowing of the opposition that Jesus and his followers would face. Psalm 2 also spoke of the opposition faced by Jesus, who was referred to as the Lord's anointed (Messiah). The believers identified Jewish King Herod, Gentile Governor Pontius Pilate, and other various Jewish and Gentile authorities as the ones who conspired to crucify Jesus and accomplish what the Jewish leaders had long planned to do (Jn. 5:18). However, their involvement allowed the accomplishment of God’s predetermined plan
The believers prayed for the Holy Spirit to embolden them so that they could fulfill their ministry of proclaiming the Gospel. The truth of their ministry would be demonstrated by the signs and wonders done in the name of Jesus. God’s name was invoked at the beginning of the prayer, and God’s 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 and strengthened to continue proclaiming the Gospel despite opposition and persecution.
Almighty God, help us to gather as a community to acknowledge Your sovereignty over creation. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and grant us the boldness to speak Your word and the courage to proclaim Your truth. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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