The Company You Keep

 

Acts, chapter 4, is a great chapter.
It’s the story of two of Jesus’ disciples - Peter and John - who were standing trial before the council.
In the middle of their preaching, they were stopped, questioned, and subsequently arrested.

The leaders wanted to know how it was that these men had the power they had.  They asked them in verse 7, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”

Peter, filled with Holy Spirit, responds to them by first saying this, “Are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for crippled man?”  (vs 9)
He goes on to say this in verse 10, “he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.”  

Oh and how you have to love verse 13 that says that the response of the members was pure astonishment, “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures.  They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.”

Isn’t that the goal?
For all of us who love Jesus and follow after Him?
That we would be recognized as “having been with Jesus!”??

But even in their amazement, they still remained confused as to what to do with them.

After all, they spoke with such profound boldness and certainty.
And power.

They go on to warn the men - commanded them actually - to, “never again speak or teach in the name of Jesus.”  (vs 18)

They continued threatening the men, but finally had to let them go because they were clueless as to how to punish them without starting a riot.  Because the scriptures tell us that, “everyone was praising God.” (vs 21)

So they released the men.

Acts 4:23 tells us this, “As soon we they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said.  And when the believers heard this report, they, “lifted their voices together in prayer to God.”  (vs 24)

Notice the words in verse 23, “As soon as they were freed… they returned to the other believers.”

The work forward - preaching the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus - was waiting… and the work was a necessity of their assignment… but so was the returning to the assembly of believers.  Like-minded soldiers.

They knew that in order to return to their posts of service, they had to retreat momentarily to their people of strength.  They were in need of prayer, encouragement, and perhaps even a confirmation of commission.

Oh how it matters the company you keep!

They returned to the ones they knew would lift them up to heaven and pray on their behalf.

My commentary says this, “In the Sanhedrin the air was dense with suspicion and malice, but here it was love, purity, and the peace of heaven.”

The Sanhedrin was the Supreme Court of Ancient Israel.
Ahh… but it’s also, in modern day, 109 million acres of wilderness in the state of California.
The Sanhedrin wasn’t adequate conditions for the servants of Christ - even though persecution was promised as part of the task (see Mark 10:30).

They had a great need to be in the body of bold believers who would not only usher them back on the road of duty, but would also usher them to the throne room of God - in where their help came from.

My commentary goes on to say this, “Courage is of the right kind when it seeks to sustain itself by breathing an atmosphere like this.”

And they were in need of being sustained.
Because the road is long.
The journey is exhausting.
The way seems all uphill.

And it matters the company you keep!

It may be time to return to the ones who can fuel you with love, purity, and peace… it may be the to breathe in the atmosphere of heaven…so you can resume your kingdom business.