August 6

Acts 4:13
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus”— Acts 4:1313Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13).
NOTHING brings out more clearly the blessing of Pentecost than the contrast between the behavior and testimony of these two disciples before and after that stupendous event. Peter, who had been self-assertive and overconfident, yet vacillating and even cowardly in the hour of danger, became, when endued with the Holy Spirit, humble, yet bold; firm, yet gracious; and was enabled to bear witness to the risen Christ in such power that multitudes were brought to Him. John, who would have called down fire from heaven, on one occasion, to destroy those who were opposed to his Master (Luke 9:5454And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? (Luke 9:54)), became the apostle of love, whose letters overflow with the tender compassion of Christ. Both men were born again before the coming of the Spirit to usher in the new dispensation of the grace of God, but, in accordance with the promise given by the Lord, they received power for witnessing when the Comforter came to convince the world, through them, of sin, righteousness, and judgment. They became transformed, and men took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. His holiness was reflected in their lives; His love filled their hearts, and in His name they both wrought signs and wonders (Acts 4:3030By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. (Acts 4:30)) and bore testimony to the fact that He who died on the cross now lived to save all who trusted in His name.
“Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wonderful passion and purity;
O Thou Spirit divine,
All my being refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus my Saviour be seen in me.”