Have you ever had to get up and say something in front of a large group?
I had to a few years ago when my Lego Robotics Team got drawn from a hat to go to the FLL World Championship in Houston. There we met other kids from around the globe who were interested in the same things we were. One night there was a large gathering at Minute Maid Baseball Park, where everyone sat in the stands and looked down at a small stage set up in the center of the field. One of my teammates and I were chosen to read a small note card explaining our league and what we were trying to accomplish. There were over 15,000 people in the stands watching and listening to us. It was terrifying.
In Acts 3 and 4, Peter went through similar experiences. Peter and John were going to pray at the temple in the afternoon. At the gate called Beautiful, they met a lame man asking for coins. Then Peter and John looked him in the eye and then said, “In the name of Jesus, walk.” When all the people saw the man walking and praising God, they all began to come to Peter. Acts 3:12 When Peter saw this, he said to them “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?” then in verse 16, “By faith in the name of Jesus this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you all can see.” About 2,000 people were baptized and joined the believers after Peter’s sermon. But during Peter’s sermon, the priests and the captain of the guard heard him, and after he was done, they took Peter and John and locked them up until the next day.
So Peter and John were thrown into jail for preaching the Gospel. The next day they were brought before all the priests and teachers of the law, known as the Sanhedrin. Then Scripture says that Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit.
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’[a]
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Peter and John were ordinary men, not trained like the priests and the teachers of the law.
They were ordinary fishermen, not preachers. But through courage and the Holy Spirit they healed a lame man and told of their faith to the whole Sanhedrin fearlessly. That reminds me of one of the first meaningful Bible verses I memorized, Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
We can teach the Gospel no matter who we are and what background we come from.