Devotion Acts 4:19-22 NAS

But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

Peter and John now speak up. It’s pretty simple at this point. We’re going to keep preaching and proclaiming the gospel…even if it cost us our lives…and don’t forget church…it eventually does. That is the raw truth. They live out their promise here to the religious leaders…and it cost them their lives…but here is the thing…they lost their lives the minute they handed it over to Christ…because no longer did they live but Christ in them lived…remember?

So here is the question…

How can you kill someone that is already dead? The answer…you can’t. Long after they are gone the legacy of their lives live on…For Peter, we are going to find out as we continue to study this book that his life was one of ups and downs. He would later write a couple of books of the Bible that would long outlive his life… John goes on to write one of the 4 gospels, along with 3 epistles, and Revelations. Their obedience as well as their shortcomings are all recorded so we can relate and follow in their footsteps…but here is the thing…it all happened because they had died to their own self. The preached and proclaim the power of the name of Jesus. They took upon themselves the cross of Christ and His mission.