Courage Under Fire: Lessons from Acts 4:1-22

How Timid Christians Stand up to Intimidation: Peter Then and Now: Once, he was a man crippled by fear. Peter, remember, had denied the Lord three times, and even fled into hiding at the mere notion of persecution. Yet, having met the risen Christ and received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Peter is radically transformed. In Acts 4, Peter stands unflinching before the angry Sanhedrin that had, only a few days ago, condemned Jesus, and boldly proclaims the Gospel despite real threats to his safety. Peter’s metamorphosis from a cowering denier to a lionhearted witness powerfully testifies to the radical renewal that faith in the risen Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit can make even timid Christians stand up to intimidation.

The Context of Acts 4:1-22: Peter and John had just performed the miraculous healing of a lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful (Acts 3). This act of compassion and power drew the attention of the people and the ire of the religious authorities. As they preached about Jesus and His resurrection, they were seized and brought before the Sanhedrin—the same council that had crucified Christ, and the same body of men from whom the disciples had once fled in fear. But now, having witnessed the Resurrection and being filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter and John stand with unwavering courage.

This passage is special in that it shows us even ordinary and timid believers can hope to stand up to threat and intimidation, and still proclaim the truth of the gospel with boldness, thanks to the Holy Spirit’s enabling. We derive five key lessons from this passage on how those committed to proclaiming the truth can respond with courage under fire in times of persecution.

1. We’re to be Sacrificial

Key Verse: Acts 4:10 Peter and John risked their lives by attributing the miracle to Jesus, whom the Sanhedrin had crucified. They refused to be silenced, even when ordered not to teach in the name of Jesus. They declared, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).

When questioned about the authority and power by which they had performed the miracle, Peter boldly tells them it was by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they had crucified and whom God had raised from the dead. The disciples faced threats and intimidation, yet their faith remained unshaken. They challenged the council with a profound question: Should we fear God or man? The council, struck by their boldness and the undeniable miracle, could not answer. Instead, they issued threats and released them, unable to deny the power of God that was evidently at work around them.

Their willingness to sacrifice their safety and reputation highlights the essence of true discipleship. As believers, we must be prepared to lay down our comforts and face hardships for the sake of the Gospel. This aligns with the teaching of 1 John 3:16.

2. We’re to be Submissive

Key Verse: Acts 4:19: In their response, Peter and John exhibit submission to authority—first to God and then to man. They recognized obedience to God supersedes any earthly power. This teaches us the importance of prioritising God’s will above all else, even when it conflicts with human commands. Peter and John were also submissive and respectful to the Jewish leaders. Despite the hostility of the authorities, Peter and John maintained a respectful posture. When questioned about their actions, they submitted to the council’s authority, answering their questions with humility as the Spirit led them.

3. We’re to be Spirit-led

Key Verse: Acts 4:8 Peter’s boldness and eloquence were a direct result of being filled with the Holy Spirit. In this specific instance of standing trial for doing good and obeying the Spirit, Jesus’ words in Mark 13:11 come to life. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to speak truth and act courageously. As Jesus promised in Matthew 28:20, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” we are reminded to rely not on our strength, but on the Spirit’s power in every situation. Even if terror grips our hearts, we know God is with us at this hour, as at all times, guiding us and giving us the words to speak.

4. We’re to be Serving

Key Verse: Acts 4:9 Peter and John were on trial for doing good—healing a man who had been lame from birth. Their actions were motivated by a desire to serve others and glorify God, not by selfish ambition. Their trial underscores the reality that serving others, especially in the name of Jesus, can lead to opposition. Yet, their example encourages us to persist in doing good, regardless of the consequences.

5. We’re to be Strong (In Christ’s Abiding Presence)

Key Verse: Acts 4:12 Peter’s resolute declaration that “there is salvation in no one else” but Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12) displayed a strength rooted not in himself, but in the ever-present reality of his risen Lord (Matthew 28:20). Just as God was the fourth man who walked beside Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, so too was the risen Christ spiritually present with Peter and John in their hour of trial before the Sanhedrin.

Their boldness issued from the unshakeable truth that Immanuel, God with us, was tangibly by their side. This same promise fortifies believers today: in our moments of persecution or opposition, we are not alone, but can draw supernatural strength from the one who has overcome the world. Our courage, like the apostles’, flows from Christ’s abiding presence and power within us by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

In That Fiery Hour: God’s Special Enabling

So how can timid Christians stand up to imitation? What can we expect in that fiery hour? The disciples’ courage before the Sanhedrin was not so much their own as it was a testament to the transformative power of the risen Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. Their boldness reminds us even the most ordinary and timid among us can stand firm in the face of persecution when we anchor our hope in God’s abiding presence and divine enablement.

Scripture assures us we shall not be alone in our darkest hour. Just as God walked alongside Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, and sustained Daniel in the lion’s den, so too will the Lord be with us when we face trials for our faith. Jesus’ own words in Matthew 10:19 and Mark 13:11 promise the Holy Spirit will give us the words to speak when we stand before persecutors. What’s more, Paul asks Timothy to be willing to join with him in suffering for the gospel, with the strength God gives him (NLT; 2 Timothy 1:8).

The story of martyr, Stephen, who in his final moments saw the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:56), also reminds us of our Saviour’s presence and enabling. Our suffering is not unseen or forgotten by our Saviour. And as Christ assured us in Matthew 28:20, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

In our moments of weakness and fear, we can draw strength from the unshakeable promises of God’s Word. It is not by our own power that we will endure, but by the sustaining grace and presence of the One who has overcome the world. As we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), we can stand firm, confident the same Spirit that empowered the early disciples will equip us to bear faithful witness, even in the face of persecution.

Related Reads:

• Discipleship: Not Your Ordinary Job Description
• The Cost of Discipleship: Lessons from Luke 14
• The Prosperity Gospel’s Lies and the True Cost of Discipleship
• The Marks of an Authentic Christian: A Guide to Christlike Living