An Unlikely Group of World Changers
At the start of His ministry, Jesus gathered together a group of fishermen, a tax collector, and a political zealot. By the world’s standards, these men would not impact the world – no money, no power, and no influence.
The men had likely been to the synagogue regularly, had a bar mitzvah, and grew up under the Law so they knew what it meant to be Jewish. Peter knew, for example, that as a Jew he was not to eat unclean animals (Acts 10:9-16).
But few of them were likely literate, perhaps only Matthew the tax collector. They had not studied the nuances of the Law like the scribes. They didn’t live an exemplary Jewish life like the Pharisees. And they didn’t have the aristocratic background and power of the Sadducees.
In short, the apostles were ordinary first-century people – a mix of ages, occupations, and religious & secular life experiences. Nobody particularly special or visibly gifted.
And yet, through these 11 apostles He selected, Jesus built His church and changed the world.
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Things
In 1 Corinthians 1:27-31, we learn that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things:
27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
and in James 2:5:
Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
What do the lowly, the foolish, the weak, and the poor in the eyes of the world do that results in their doing extraordinary things for God? They make themselves available to Him to use to further His purposes in the world.
Boldness on Display
In the early chapters of Acts, we see what happened through these early leaders.
Peter, the fisherman, boldly was
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- Speaking in front of large crowds (Acts 2:14, 2:37-38)
- Healing a lame beggar near the entrance of the temple (Acts 3:1-10)
- Preaching to onlookers of the beggar miracle (Acts 3:11-26)
- Arguing with the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish leaders (Acts 4:1-22)
- Talking at the temple after being sent to jail and being told to shut up (Acts 5:17-21)
- Arguing in front of the Sanhedrin again (Acts 5:27-32)
We see Stephen, one of the first seven deacons, called to serve the Greek and Jewish widows, boldly preaching in front of the Sanhedrin in the longest recorded sermon in the New Testament. (Acts 6).
Philip (also a deacon) preached in Samaria, ran after the chariot of the treasurer for the Ethiopian queen Candace to explain Isaiah 53 to him, and then preached from Azotus to Caesarea (Acts 8). He became known as Philip the Evangelist.
It makes you wonder who was serving the Greek widows if two of the seven deacons were evangelizing. Perhaps that’s a different post for deacons.
The Source: Be Bold for Jesus
Why were these early apostles and deacons acting with such boldness?
Acts 4:13 and Acts 4:20 explain not just the Sanhedrin’s confusion, but also the apostle’s determination (emphasis mine):
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- When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
- “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
How was it that these ordinary first-century Jews could be so bold? The above passages are clear:
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- these men had been with Jesus, and
- were compelled by the Holy Spirit to proclaim God’s Word.
The Results: Boldness in Difficult Circumstances
In addition to the tremendous growth of the early church described in the New Testament, we see (emphasis mine):
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- Acts 5:28 (in Jerusalem): “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
- Acts 17:6b (in Thessalonica): “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here,
That is worth repeating – the early apostles filled Jerusalem and stirred up the rest of the Roman Empire with their teachings about Jesus.
Our Challenge – Be Bold
What are the challenges for us as Christians this week?
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- Be with Jesus – in prayer, in Scripture, and in fellowship with other believers. Our words and actions should make it clear that we have been with Jesus this week.
- Be compelled by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the gospel, until every tribe, tongue, and nation has heard. The gospel is God’s good news. Share it!
… until your city is filled with Christian teaching.
Remember that the Holy Spirit turned Peter from a denier of Jesus into a bold proclaimer of Jesus.
Do you believe the Holy Spirit has the power to turn you into a bold proclaimer of Jesus? As you go about your week, be intentional sharing your faith:
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- with your family and relatives
- with your neighbors
- with people you see at the grocery store, gas station, sports games
- with your co-workers
- in those random encounters with people that God will bring to you
As the saying goes, “If You Don’t Get Out of the Boat, You’ll Never Walk on Water.” This week, be bold for Jesus!
Prayer for boldness:
Father, this week give me the boldness of the early disciples to proclaim Your Word wherever I go. You want to draw all of Your children into a relationship with You. Help me overcome my fear to become part of Your plan. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.
