What does Acts 4:13 teach about the power of being "unschooled, ordinary men"? Setting the Scene: Acts 4:13 in Context - After healing the lame man (Acts 3), Peter and John are hauled before the Sanhedrin. - Asked to explain the miracle, they proclaim Jesus’ resurrection and lordship. - Luke records: “When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) What “Unschooled, Ordinary Men” Really Means - Greek agrammatoi (“without formal learning”) and idiōtai (“laymen”). - No rabbinic credentials, no prestigious lineage, no societal clout. - Yet their confidence, clarity, and authority confound the most educated leaders in Israel. The Source of Their Power: Being with Jesus - Relationship, not résumé, explains their impact. • Mark 3:14 – “He appointed twelve… to accompany Him.” • John 15:5 – “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” - Empowered by the Spirit given at Pentecost (Acts 2:4). - Zechariah 4:6 – “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.” Biblical Pattern: God Uses the Ordinary - Moses – shepherd with a stutter (Exodus 3–4). - Gideon – hiding in a winepress (Judges 6). - David – youngest, tending sheep (1 Samuel 16). - Amos – “a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs” (Amos 7:14). - Mary – village girl of Nazareth (Luke 1). - Twelve disciples – fishermen, tax collector, zealot (Acts 4:13 highlights two of them). - 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 underscores the principle: God chooses the “foolish,” “weak,” and “lowly” so glory goes to Him alone. Results When Ordinary People Rely on Extraordinary God - Bold proclamation of the gospel. - Demonstrations of God’s power (healings, miracles, transformed lives). - Unexplainable courage under persecution. - Astonishment and attention from a watching world. Implications for Believers Today - Formal education is valuable but not indispensable for effective ministry. - Time spent with Jesus—Word, worship, obedience—produces recognizable spiritual authority. - Any believer, regardless of background, can be a mighty witness when filled with the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:5 – “Our competence comes from God.” Practical Steps to Walk in This Power - Prioritize daily fellowship with Christ through Scripture and prayer. - Ask and keep on asking to be “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). - Step out in obedience when opportunities arise; God supplies courage in motion. - Cultivate humility, remembering we are “jars of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7). - Redirect praise to Jesus so others “take note” of Him, not us. Encouragement from Other Scriptures - 2 Corinthians 4:7 – “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.” - 1 Peter 4:11 – Speak and serve “with the strength God provides.” - Acts 1:8 – “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses.” Acts 4:13 reminds every follower of Christ that the decisive qualification for kingdom impact is not human schooling but divine schooling—time spent with Jesus and reliance on His Spirit. |
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