How to pray when threatened
The extraordinary example of Peter and John in Acts 4
In Acts 4, Peter and John were imprisoned for speaking about Jesus and his resurrection (Acts 4:1–4). The leaders of the city demanded that they stop ALL speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:5–18).
When Peter and John explain that they cannot stop speaking about Jesus, they are threatened once again and commanded to remain silent, not speaking the name of Jesus (Acts 4:19–22).
After being released, Peter and John returned to the other disciples, explain what happened, and begin to pray.
Instead, they pray:
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. (Acts 4:29–30, CEB)
And now they’re at it again! Take care of their threats and give your servants fearless confidence in preaching your Message, as you stretch out your hand to us in healings and miracles and wonders done in the name of your holy servant Jesus. (Acts 4:29–30, MSG)
When they finished praying, Scripture tells us, “the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word…
