Would You Stand If Everything Was Against You?

The same Holy Spirit who empowered Peter can give you, an ordinary believer, courage to stand for Jesus today.

A crippled beggar had been miraculously healed and was, “walking and leaping and praising God.” (Acts 3:8 ESV).

Because it’s often true that “no good deed goes unpunished,” after a crippled beggar was miraculously healed, Peter and John found themselves under arrest. The next day, as if Congress had convened to do the interrogation, the leadership of Israel met to discuss and decide the fate of the Apostles. It was, for the average person, a very scary moment.

“By what power or by what name did you do this?” Was the leading question. The verdict was pre-determined. The leadership had recently executed Jesus who had preached that he and God were One. But his death hadn’t stopped the movement. The leaders who had opposed Jesus now faced a troubling reality: His followers were continuing His ministry in Jerusalem. They were determined to end this challenge to their authority once and for all.

But were they fighting against God, himself? 

Jesus had also promised to give his disciples authority to powerfully testify of Him throughout the world—beginning in Jerusalem, right where they were (Acts 1:8). Just as Jesus had promised, the Holy Spirit empowered Peter to powerfully speak. Acts 4:8-12 says:

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.” 

Peter quoted Psalm 118:22, declaring that the leaders had rejected Jesus like builders rejecting a stone. Yet God had made Him the cornerstone—the foundation upon which God’s saving work now rests.

Peter concluded, saying, “’And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.’” 

Peter’s words leave no room for neutrality. Salvation is not found in human effort, religious devotion, or personal sincerity. It is found in Jesus Christ alone.

We often think of Peter as a fearless superhero of the faith. Yet he was an ordinary man whose courage came from an extraordinary Savior.

What about you? If you were asked to defend your faith before hostile critics, would you shrink back—or speak boldly of Jesus?

Today, take time to pray and open God’s Word. Trust Christ’s claims, depend on the Holy Spirit, and remember that the same Spirit who empowered Peter lives in every believer. When the moment comes to speak for Jesus, trust Him to give you the courage, wisdom, and words you need.