Read:
Peter and John are brought before powerful religious leaders and told to stop speaking publicly about Jesus. That kind of pressure could make anyone back down. These weren’t casual critics. These were people with authority—the power to make their lives incredibly difficult.
But Peter and John answer with boldness: “We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20, NLT). They've seen too much, been changed too deeply for silence to ever be an option.
There are situations where it’s easier to stay quiet. It certainly would’ve been easier for Peter and John. We don’t face persecution for sharing our faith, but we do face the potential for rejection. Misunderstanding. Awkwardness.
But this passage reminds us that the truth of Jesus is worth more than our comfort. Peter and John weren’t trying to be bold for the sake of being bold. They were simply unwilling to hide the grace and hope of Jesus that’s available to all.
Saying something might come with a cost, but silence has costs of its own. Had Peter and John stayed quiet, the message of Jesus may very well have stopped moving right there. The Church would have died out. Countless lives would have stayed in darkness.
What could your silence be costing?
Prayer: God, give me courage when I feel pressure to stay quiet. Help me not shrink back out of fear, but to speak with grace, wisdom, and conviction. Make me faithful in the moments that matter. Amen.