13 The officials were amazed to see how brave Peter and John were, and they knew that these two apostles were only ordinary men and not well educated. The officials were certain these men had been with Jesus. 14 But they could not deny what had happened. The man who had been healed was standing there with the apostles.
15 The officials commanded them to leave the council room. Then the officials said to each other, 16 “What can we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem knows about this miracle, and we cannot say it didn’t happen. 17 But to keep this thing from spreading, we will warn them never again to speak to anyone about the name of Jesus.” 18 So they called the two apostles back in and told them they must never, for any reason, teach anything about the name of Jesus.
19 Peter and John answered, “Do you think God wants us to obey you or to obey him? 20 We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard.”
Reflection
You have probably heard the quote, “Speak the truth even if your voice shakes.”
The original quote is actually from Maggie Kuhn, the founder of the Grey Panthers, “Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind – even if your voice shakes.” Kuhn and her friends created this group as social justice activists after they were all forced to retire at 65.
I am a capable public speaker when I have a script to follow, but it’s a lot harder for me to speak off the cuff. Even if it’s not in a public setting, if it’s to someone who has any authority over me, my voice will shake (and tears may come to my eyes). Speaking in a tense situation is not my strong suit.
This makes Peter and John even more admirable in today’s scripture: “The officials were amazed to see how brave Peter and John were.” Their voices were not shaking. They spoke an undeniable truth, no script necessary.
We’ve seen this moment over and over again in stories. An underdog hero knows some truth that the villainous authority figure wants to have covered up. It’s usually a pivotal moment for the character; our hero speaks with clarity and conviction. You have no real power.
This is basically what Peter and John say when they clarify that they serve God, not the officials.
It’s an example set and worth following as we go about our day in this tumultuous moment in history.
by Ashley Bowler-Polhemus
For Pondering and Prayer
How can you use your voice to speak truth to power?
How does the bravery of John and Peter inspire you to live your life according to God?
Prayer: Gracious God, we thank you for the courage of Peter and John, who boldly spoke your truth even in the face of opposition. May their example inspire us to use our voices for justice, to stand firm in our faith, and to proclaim your love and truth with clarity and conviction. Help us to speak boldly when it is needed, to trust that you are with us, even when our voices shake. May we always choose to obey You above all else, and may our lives reflect the love and grace of Jesus. In Your name we pray, Amen.
