Amazing Idiots

Acts 4:13  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled.  And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Peter and John were brought before the rulers, elders and scribes (and a few others) to explain by what name, by what power or authority they were able to heal a lame man.  The scribes were educated men who would easily be able to dispute or disprove a flawed explanation.  The rulers and elders were powerful men who, should the scribes fail, would easily be able to use their influence to dissuade others.  Certainly, Peter and John would be no match for them.

But what they got from Peter and John was totally unexpected.  They understood that these two were uneducated and untrained.  One translation says unlearned (illiterate) and ignorant men (literally, idiots).  Another simply describes them as ordinary men.  And yet everyone saw their boldness.  They had assurance, confidence, clarity and spoke (filled with the Holy Spirit) convincingly while providing irrefutable evidence.  The rulers, elders and scribes were left speechless (v.14).  In fact, they marveled.  These were two amazing idiots!

Then they all remembered that these were two of the guys who had been with Jesus.  They communed with Him.  They learned from Him.  And now Peter and John were able to stand boldly before the most educated and powerful men who stood against Him.

At times in our lives, we will also be given opportunities to explain by what name, by what power or authority we say what we say and do what we do.  And when that happens, I pray others will see the same Holy Spirit boldness in us and realize that we have a communion, a relationship with Jesus.  We don't need to be highly educated or highly ranked.  God puts extraordinary boldness in ordinary people.  We can be some pretty amazing idiots!


Sock Monkey Snippet:  God puts extraordinary boldness in ordinary people.