Acts 4:1-31

Despite being thrown into jail, put on trial before the Sanhedrin, and ordered to no longer speak in the name of Jesus, Peter and John were able to continue to speak the word of God boldly and effectively.  The Church grew to about 5,000, the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they PRAYED.

What a contrast to when Peter denied Christ.  What now gave him the boldness to be able to say to the same Jewish religious leaders who crucified the Messiah, "'Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to Him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.'"?   Clearly the Holy Spirit empowered him; but, this also shows how God can use what may be our greatest failures, to develop us into bold and effective witnesses for HIM.  I see Peter as having grown from the denial experience, restored by Christ, and now a strong leader in the Early Church.

This gives me encouragement, that at times when I have failed, I may learn and grow; and then trust that God can use those experiences to develop me in ways that may not have happened otherwise.  And, when Peter spoke before the Sanhedrin, "they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus"  (Acts 4:13b).   I would love for that to be said of me, in that I would reflect my Lord so much that others would recognize I "had been with Jesus."