COURAGE COMES FROM BEING WITH JESUS

Acts 4:13-20

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 

14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 

15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 

16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? For that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 

19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

I wish I had the fearless nature of Peter and John. It didn’t matter if they were threatened with prison, persecution, or the pain of death, nothing would stop them from telling whosoever about Jesus. It did not matter who, when, where, or how - they were going to speak of Jesus and His resurrection. What boldness and courage! What confidence! While Christianity today (specifically in America) is free from direct persecution, we still need confidence in Christ, courage and boldness in the face of a nation that is becoming more and more hostile to New Testament Christianity. 

Thankfully, the same Holy Spirit that filled Peter and John and the Early Church with power and boldness is the same present Comforter with us today. We can learn to emulate the fearless nature of the apostle by confidently depending on the Scriptures and the Spirit of God.

Philippians 1:6

6 being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Being confident is not walking around with an arrogant spirit or a divisive nature. We do not want to be obnoxious to our community or confuse the unbelieving world as to what Christianity is all about - but we do need to trust God rather than fear what man says or threatens to do.

Proverbs 29:25 reminds us: “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” 

Our world is working harder than ever to make Bible-believing Christians feel uncomfortable, intimidated, and doubtful concerning the faith. They want us to cower under the cover of tolerance while they are intolerant of the truth of God’s Word. How will we respond?

Peter and John rose up in courage and confidence when speaking about the Resurrected Christ! Paul declared, “I am not ashamed of the gospel” (Romans 1:16). At one time Peter and John were dominated by fear, but that was all before the cross and prior to the Resurrection. No longer would they allow fear, criticism, doubt, threat of persecution to pull them back or cause them to refrain from speaking up.

You must understand: living in the First Century was often a very difficult experience for early Christians. They were under continual threat of persecution from the Jewish religious leaders and the Roman authorities. Yet, the apostles and the Early Church confidently proclaimed the Gospel. In Acts 2 Peter confidently preaches on the day of Pentecost and thousands of souls are saved. Now in Acts 4, Peter and John have been arrested, imprisoned, and called to stand trial. Here we find Peter and John standing before enemies of the cross. He knew they hated the message of the Resurrected Christ. And what did Peter do?

With confidence he declared:

“Neither is there salvation is any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

How was Peter, John, and the Early Church so bold, courageous, and confident? How can we - Christians in 2025 - stand with confidence in a culture that is quickly becoming confident in their unbelief?

The Cause of Courage.

What caused Peter and John to be confident, courageous, bold, and unapologetic concerning the Resurrection of Christ Jesus?

They had been with Jesus!

Acts 4:13

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Peter, James, John, and all the other disciples spent over 3 ½ years with Jesus during His earthly, public ministry. They witnessed miracles. They listened to His powerful words and doctrine. They experienced His gentleness, kindness, mercy, and grace firsthand. They knew what kind of man He was. They knew what sort of faithful friend He truly was. They frequently listened to Him pray to the Father. They heard what the Father said of Him. They heard what His enemies said concerning Him. They heard what those touched by Him said of Him. 

They were witnesses to the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Christ. Though they all forsook Him and fled for a time, they made their way back - some to the Cross - some to the Upper Room. And yes, for a few days they were hiding in shame and fear. But then, the Resurrected Christ appeared to them. He infused them with a courage and confidence that they didn’t have prior to His crucifixion. 

The Sanhedrin probably thought they could quickly dismantle the faith and boldness of these “unlearned and ignorant men,” but little did they know, they had a source of power within that could not be easily extinguished. They were walking in Resurrection power! 

We today “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). We are to live by the resurrection power (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:10).

Galatians 2:20

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Philippians 3:10

10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Jesus promised us the presence and power of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13; Luke 12:11-12). We do not need to be afraid that God will abandon us at any point, especially when we face fearful trials. 

The cause of courage is the strength we get from depending upon the Savior. The one thing that was unmistakable and undeniable concerning Peter and John is that they had been with Jesus. May that be the one unmistakable and undeniable thing said of us! 

As you spend time with Jesus, God will see to it that you are “conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29). The only way we can think, talk, walk, act, and live like Jesus is by spending time with Him. If we would have the world see Jesus in and through us, then we must stay close by His side through prayer, Bible reading, and Spirit-filled living.

Ephesians 5:18 charges the serious Christian, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” If you are going to be filled with anything, be filled with the Spirit of God! Be filled with the mind of Christ! Be filled with mercy, grace, hope, love, faith, courage, and confidence! 

Standing up and speaking with boldness, courage, and confidence is not speaking proudly in the flesh, but speaking confidently from a knowledge of the Scriptures and by the power of the Spirit. It is an embarrassment when so-called “Christians” are LOUD but EMPTY. We need the world to “see the boldness” but associate it with the fact that we have “been with Jesus.” 

The boldness of Peter and John was not a distraction or a misdirect. It wasn’t a front. They were not “putting on.” They were not faking anything. They were showing forth Christ! They were genuinely representing Him. They could speak with authority because they had actually been with Jesus!

It can be intimidating to think about being a witness at work, school, or in public. But when we have spent much time in prayer and in the Word of God, we draw from a source that produces Spirit-filled confidence and grace-filled courage. 

The Conflict of the Critic.

Being confident in Christ will not make you popular with the world. You will not be applauded, appreciated, or acknowledged with kindness by those who are antagonistic toward the truth of God’s Word.

Now, there will be some who are merely uninterested and will quickly dismiss the offer of the Gospel. But we are living in a culture that is increasingly hostile and will go out of their way to denounce the truth of the Word of God. Many spend great efforts and energy attempting to dismantle Christianity on social media outlets every single day. 

Jesus warned of strife against the godly in John 16:33 - 

“These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Here’s a very hard truth to come to terms with: the unbelieving world is hostile to Christianity because they fear the godly influence of the Church and the believer. Jesus “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38) and the world “hated him without cause” (John 15:25). If you spend time with Jesus - in prayer and in His Word - and if you strive to live for Him every single day, you will have an influence on the world around you. You will either influence others in a positive manner and win them to Christ or encourage them to draw closer to Him; or, you will cause those who refuse Christ to disdain your way of living and the Gospel influence of your life. Those uncomfortable with your witness and Spirit-filled life will either distance themselves from you or seek to defeat you in your walk.

Later on Peter would write these words in 1 Peter 3:14:

14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

We are trouble to the unbelieving world. We are trouble to the enemies of the Cross. We are trouble to those who live under the influence of the god of this world (Ephesians 2). But we are not to be troubled in our spirit. 

The Sanhedrin thought that when they killed Jesus it would solve their problems, but they had not anticipated Christ’s resurrection and now the bold, courageous, confidence proclamation by Christ’s followers. Things were getting out of hand and out of their control. 

Acts 4:1-2

And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

I would rather grieve the world than grieve the Holy Spirit of God! While the lost world may despise our message and deny our faith, and though they may seek to intimidate us into silence, we do not have to allow their threats to shape our conduct. Don’t give in to social pressure. Don’t give up on sinners either. 

The Constancy of the Courageous

Be confident! Be courageous! Be consistent!

When the challenge came and they were threatened (Acts 4:17-18), Peter and John had a choice to make. They decided to obey God rather than men. Without hesitation they chose to stand for Christ and the truth of the Resurrection. They did not dip or duck or dodge. They were not seeking to be defiant but they would not back down. 

Acts 4:19-20

But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

This reminds me of the man in John 9 who was born blind. After Jesus gave him his sight, the enemies of Christ wanted to find out who and where Jesus was and stop Him. They did everything they could to discourage this man that Jesus healed. But they could not deny the miracle and the change in his life. He had “been with Jesus.”

John 9:25

He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

He said, “All I know is, I was blind, but now I see!” It always makes a difference when Jesus passes by! 

Why do we fear God more than we fear man? Because we know what God has done! 

Acts 5:29

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Luke 12:4-5

4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:

but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Are you more worried about what man can do or what God can do? Are you more worried about what man says or what God says? Are you more concerned about upsetting people or disobeying God? You and I have a choice to make. Peter and John made their choice. What will your choice be today? 

The Christian who fears man will sooner or later fail to stand firm for God. Satan has used the fear of other people to cause many a Christian to stumble into defeat and discouragement. He wants you to stop speaking with boldness and confidence. He doesn’t want you to be courageous. Will you listen to him more than the One who said this to Joshua:

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:9). 

You and I have the same God that Joshua had! As He was with Moses, and as He was with Jesus, so He will be with us!

We must expect criticism and threats; but we must also expect the faithfulness of God!

We cannot expect that our lives will always be comfortable and convenient; but we can expect that there is courage and confidence in Christ no matter the situation. 

1 Peter 4:12-14

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Don’t think it strange when criticism comes. Don’t think it strange that the world rejects the Gospel message. Don’t think it strange that there will be adversaries to your faith. What should be strange to us is a Christian who refuses to stand with boldness, confidence, and courage when he has at his disposal the source of strength: Christ the solid Rock!

So long as we stand firm on Christ our source we have nothing to fear! We may feel powerless, but He has all power!

Matthew 28:18-20

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

First and foremost, you must know Jesus as your personal Savior. That is the primary way to “be with Jesus.”

Secondly, you must spend time with Him and get to know Him better by growing in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18). This takes place through continued prayer and Bible study (John 5:39; John 15:17; James 4:7-8; 1 Peter 3:12).