| “And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them” (Acts 4:23). |
| Most people in this world like to be in the company of those with whom they feel at home. We may have to interact with strangers in our work, and perhaps we enjoy meeting new people from time to time. However, we all have those with whom we feel comfortable, and whose company we enjoy. |
| Even animals are like this, especially dogs. As you probably know, they have an unusual ability to find their way home, even if they are a long way from those they love. The farthest recorded distance that a dog has traveled to get back home is 3,218 km. across Australia. That is about 2,000 miles! We do not understand how a dog could find his way for that long distance, but God has given them that special ability. |
| Among the early Christians, as recorded in the book of Acts, there was often persecution, as various leaders among the Jews tried to stop the preaching of the gospel. On the occasion recorded in Acts 4, Peter and John had just healed a crippled man through the name of the Lord Jesus, and it had caused many to believe on Him. The Jewish leaders were upset about this, and commanded them not to speak in the name of the Lord Jesus. |
| As soon as they were released, we read in our verse for today that Peter and John “went to their own company” and told them what had happened. Together the whole group prayed to the Lord, asking Him to give them boldness to speak the word of the Lord. The Lord was with them, and the place where they were together was actually shaken, as a sign of the Lord’s power in supporting them. |
| This chapter shows us the two sides of our Christianity. On the one hand, as we have said, it is nice to be with our “own company,” among other Christians. We are all believers in the Lord Jesus, and we enjoy the same things. On the other hand, we are also to go out and speak to this world, telling them about the Lord Jesus. This is the way that others will be saved, and will also become part of our “own company.” We should do both of these things in our Christian life; we need the company of other believers, but we need to be a witness to this world too. |
