Acts:4 Discussion Board:
Discuss this passage:
kjv@Acts:4:1-22 > > RandyP :
Being filled with the Holy Ghost did not change other's perceptions of Peter's education, it gave him the boldness to say what needed to be said, comforted them in his incarceration, and perhaps divided the resolve of the leaders to pin something on them. Notice Peter is doing most all of the speaking and receiving most of the direction, John is providing the support and unity.
kjv@Acts:4:29-30 > > RandyP :
Notice here that their prayer wasn't for the tribulation to go away, it was for the word of God to be declared all the more effectively with the conformation of healings and wonders.
kjv@Acts:4:33 > > RandyP :
Two ways of interrupting this: The apostles were focused on solely giving testimony of the resurrection. The combination of what they were saying about the resurrection and what the Spirit was doing was powerful. Or, what the Spirit was doing testified/confirmed/was a seal of the resurrection. Apostles were being used by the Spirit powerfully to confirm that the resurrection indeed had transpired and that the new covenant was now under way. The two understandings would not have to be exclusive.
kjv@Acts:4:33 > > RandyP :
Great grace was very much upon them. That itself is a powerful testimony when it is allowed to be evident.
kjv@Acts:4:34-37 > > RandyP :
For all the problems and difficulties we have with this communal lifestyle, it is a curious and proactive means of testifying of "grace upon us", a built in testimony to the outside world. We today must be careful of what that testimony would be should we consider going back to this. Would it be of "grace upon us" or "hey man... far out, lookin' groovy" or "ten months later they all disbanded disillusioned and broke". It may well have been perfect for that time, but even then it was vulnerable to considerable direct attack; from without and within. One must ask as well - is our form of "grace upon us" testimony living non communally any better?