22.204 | Prayer and Praise | Acts 4 :23-31 | God's Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

Acts 4:23-31 ESV
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’-
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
PRAYER AND PRAISE
Peter and John returned to their companions. In addition to the other apostles, Jesus' church family, and the original Jesus-followers, about five thousand men plus women and children have accepted Christ and received the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:13-15; 4:4). Jesus made the church to be a place where we can experience His love (1 John 4:12) and, as here, they found encouragement to stand firm in the face of persecution.
When they heard the report, their initial response was to pray, first by affirming God's sovereignty over the Jewish leaders. Their prayer included the texts from Psalm 146:6, but Psalm 146:1-5 directly related as well. The psalm starts by praising God, then gives the admonition to not trust in princes or other men. God blesses those whose help and hope are found in Him alone. They quoted also Psalm 2:2 and continued the passage from Acts 4:25. Although the writer of Psalm 2 must have had other kings and rulers in mind, the group praying here was thinking of Herod Antipas and Pontius Pilate.
They were well aware that they will face persecution. Jesus specifically stated that if the world hates Him, they will hate His followers too (John 15:18-21). In the week before the crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples, "They will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake" (Luke 21:12). But He also said that this is their opportunity to fulfill His statement in Acts 1:8 (see also Luke 21:13-19). The Holy Spirit will give them guidance, and they will bear witness to Jesus in front of these rulers (Matthew 10:16-20).
The apostles and other leaders didn't ask God to keep them from persecution. They believed that as God predetermined Jesus' crucifixion (Gen 3:15; 1 Pet 1:13-21), so He planned His followers' trials, deeming them as necessary for His plan. Jesus' followers had submitted to that plan and only asked that God would equip them for their part in it. They asked for boldness to continue speaking in Jesus' name and the ability to perform miracles so that the people will understand that their message is His message (Acts 4:29-30). Their selfless request was honored, and the Holy Spirit again filled the place where they were praying (Acts 4:31; see Acts 2:2).
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