Articles
They had nothing to say - Acts 4:14
They had nothing to say - Acts 4:14
Peter and John had healed a lame man that everyone in town knew was a lame man. Now, all could see him healed and whole. When they arrested Peter and John, they also took this lame man. Now he was the 'elephant in the room'. Awkward!
He was healed: "immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking a leaping and praising God" (3:7-8). It was by the name of Jesus that this man was given perfect health (vs. 16).
"This man was healed" (4:9). They admitted it saying: "…a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it" (4.16). So overwhelming was this that "they had nothing to say in opposition" (4:14).
YET they refused to believe, acknowledge, or submit. Such is often the case. It isn't that there is not evidence or that there is not enough evidence, many just refuse to acknowledge such. Romans 1 stated: "Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them" (Rom. 1:32). In this chapter we see that there WAS enough evidence because 'many of those who had heard the word believed" (4:4).
Thus we observe one of the hardest tests of man's character: truthfulness to truth. Truth is truth. When we come face to face with our mistakes we must admit them. Such acknowledgment of truth can cost us dearly: loss of friends, jobs, reputation, money, etc. However, as with our case here, the failure to acknowledge such truth will cost us our soul. When we come face to face with truth, we can always say, "I was wrong". This is the beginning of true character and godliness.
Hugh DeLong
