Dear Christian friends:

In a hospital in China a medical missionary operated on the cataract of a man and restored his sight. A few weeks later forty-eight blind men from the interior of China, each holding on to a rope, held in the hands of the man who was cured, came to the doctor. This chain of men had walked two-hundred-fifty miles to the hospital, where nearly all were cured.

The one man who was cured eagerly and gladly told the other blind men. The doctor did not command him to go and tell others, but he himself knew that was the right thing to do and so he gladly did it. He couldn't keep still about the good thing that had happened to himself.

And so you, if you find a good doctor, you tell your friends and neighbors gladly and you can't be quiet about it. Or if you have other good news you simply cannot keep still.

We Christians also have a good Doctor who has healed us from sin and promises salvation now and forever. The Good News of Jesus we have in our hearts and if we really have Jesus in our hearts we cannot keep still about Him. We must tell others even if they don't believe us or want to hear us.

Our text this morning shows how Peter had to tell the Good News to others. He says in Acts 4:20, "As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

But often we Christians are quiet about Jesus. We are afraid or shy or ashamed. (Tell the wooden Indian story!) So we are often wooden Christians who can't talk about our faith and hope. Let's look at Peter and get some courage for bold witnessing.


From our text we see that bold witnessing may make some enemies, Acts 4:2. Peter grieved the priests and the Sadducees when he preached Christ crucified and risen again. They put him in prison.

So even today, proud, self-righteous people don't want to hear about sin and death and hell. They are displeased to hear that Jesus, God's holy Son must be crucified for sin. They think they are not that bad.

Others think "death" is a dirty word and do not mention it or want to talk about it. They pay $1,000 to the funeral director to make the dead body look nice for the funeral. They spend much for an expensive casket to hide the ugly smell of death. Such people are not interested to hear about Jesus' resurrection and His promise to raise the dead.

So when we witness of Jesus we should expect many will not want to listen. Some will become enemies. Some will mock and laugh. Others will avoid us. But if we know that and expect that we will not let that hinder our witness.

Peter did not let that stop him. Peter was not interested in his own popularity. He didn't care if people mocked or not. He knew Jesus was true! He loved Jesus! And he knew only Jesus could help and save sinners. He wouldn't keep quiet. Also He knew that some will listen and believe.

"For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe." (1 Corinthians 1:21) The simple positive statement of the truth from a convinced heart is God's way of adding to the church. (Acts 4:4) In Jerusalem the Christians grew rapidly. On Pentecost three-thousand joined. A few weeks later two-thousand more had changed from sin to Jesus.

The Holy Spirit speaks through weak men. Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. (read Acts 4:8-12 below)

"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!
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,
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. Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

The Spirit can use unlearned and ignorant men. (Acts 4:13) Don't say you are not smart enough. The smartest men cannot stop the working of the Spirit. (Acts 4:14-16) The Holy Spirit often opens the eyes and ears to make the witness bold. (Acts 4:20)

Bold witnessing is established in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:11-12) His person, work and glory! Peter who denied His Lord on Maundy Thursday spent his life preaching, "no other name."

This bold witnessing is needed today. We must not be afraid to show people their sins. Peter did. (Acts 3:19) Show idolatry, lust, murder. Let people understand because of these sins Jesus was crucified! Tell them your sins made Jesus suffer and die.

Then point them to His resurrection as Peter did. "God raised Jesus from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him (Acts 2:24). This is the work of pastors and laymen. (Ephesians 4:11-12)

Our P.T.R. missions this fall will give us a wonderful opportunity to become bold witnesses for Jesus. We should have forty-two preachers here, not just one.

Read the Book of Acts. It is a powerful example of lay and pastors witnessing. Peter and his members were not baby Christians. They daily prayed and listened (attended) to God's Word and Sacrament and by that the Holy Spirit taught them and led them to do this good work of messengers of God and fishers of men.

God help us to become the same!

Amen.