Acts 4:13–31

Be still: Lord help me cut out the distractions of the world to encounter to you in your Word. Amen

Read: Acts 4:13–31

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (v13)

Encounter: Have you ever thought about what you would want written on your tombstone? I know that is a slightly morbid question for a Wednesday, but it is one of my favourite questions to ask because the answer can be surprisingly revealing. Some people choose to emphasise relationships, such as Beloved Mother while others choose a character trait, such as Faithful till the end.

I developed my own answer a few years ago while studying today’s passage.

God performs a miracle through Peter and John. They then speak boldly before the ruling authorities, and the officials are astonished because something does not add up. They recognise them as 'uneducated, common men' who should not be capable of what they have just witnessed. The Greek word behind that phrase is idiótēs, from which we get our English word idiot. The religious leaders are amazed because, in effect, these men were idiots, and yet God had done something extraordinary through them.

Their conclusion is stunning: 'They recognised that they had been with Jesus.'

Even those antagonistic to the faith could not deny the transformation that had taken place through the disciples being with Jesus.

I hope I do not offend you by saying this, but we can all act like idiots sometimes — I certainly can. Yet this verse contains a beautiful truth of the gospel: intimacy with Jesus transforms us from within and sends us into the world as agents of transformation. And the invitation to intimacy is extended to the ordinary or even idiotic among us!

If I could choose my epitaph, perhaps it would be: 'Here lies Reuben Williams, an idiot who has been with Jesus.'

But to get there, with Jesus, I must ask myself a question every day: Will I accept his invitation and be with him? 

If not, I will simply be an idiot.

Apply: Take a moment to simply be with Jesus.

Devote: Lord Jesus, thank you that you call ordinary people into intimacy with you. Help me heed your call and be with you, so that others might see your life reflected in mine.