Grant to Your Servants...
Acts 4:23–31 – Teach Us to Pray, Part 7
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time – September 13th, 2026 (am)
The Book of Acts, Acts of the Apostoles as it’s actually titled, is Luke’s fascinating telling of the birth, growth, and development of the early church over its first three decades. In addition to numerous other characteristics of well-told history, even well-written literature, it’s chock-full of OT references, perhaps even beyond Hebrews, if that’s possible! It’s like Luke felt compelled in this second volume of his Life and Legacy of Jesus Christ (my title for Luke/Acts) to illustrate what Jesus told those two travelers on their way to Emmaus on the day of His resurrection (Luk.24:13-35). They were talking over all that happened, just processing it all, when Jesus walked up to them. They didn’t recognize Him, but He asked them what they were talking about. Luk.24:18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Now it truly appears that Luke is continuing in that vein, showing his readers how all of Scripture points to Jesus. As Acts opens, we read: 1:1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Then Luke records: 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” I’ve often struggled with that question: forty days with Jesus explaining the kingdom of God to them (3) and they’re still confused at this level? But this time it occurred to me.
Paul explained: Eph.3:8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord. This mystery of the gospel, the kingdom of God available to all nations through one and the same Savior, was not revealed by God until the Holy Spirit was poured out on the church (Act.2), enabling them to unveil this grand mystery by preaching the gospel in the native language of every visitor in Jerusalem that day, at that Feast of Pentecost fifty days after Passover and ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, recorded here. So: 1:7 [Jesus] said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” If we listen closely, we can hear foreshadowing of the vastly expanded scope of the kingdom in Jesus’ words. But even though the time was at hand for the giving of the Spirit, it hadn’t yet arrived. 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
From then on, especially in the earlier part of Luke’s history, virtually all the disciples did was anchored to OT Scripture. They were finding connections everywhere for all that was happening to them and among them. While they were still waiting for the Spirit in the upper room, where they were staying (1:13), 1:15 … Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas…. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” … 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “May his camp become desolate, and let there be now one to dwell in it;” (Psa.69:25) and “Let another take his office” (Psa.109:8). Psalms 69 and 109 are individual laments in which David is suffering deeply and is seeking God both to deliver and to visit his wrath on these enemies. But both are interpreted [here] as [describing] Jesus in his suffering and death (Joh.2:17; 15:25; Rom.15:3) and also applying to those who rejected him (Rom.11:9-10) (Marshall 2007 530). It’s amazing to think the eleven learned this understanding of God’s word from Jesus Himself during those forty days before His ascension! But it didn’t stop there. Peter used a string of OT quotes in his sermon on the streets of Jerusalem to explain what was happening in this supernatural enabling from the Spirit to proclaim the gospel in many languages: Joel 2 (2:17-21); Psalm 16 (2:25-28); Psa.110 (2:34-35).
3:1 Now, for today’s story: Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. This drew quite a crowd. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. Peter is attaching the OT as a whole to the ministry of Jesus. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all. 17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, the same gospel we’re still preaching today, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
Obviously the Jewish leaders didn’t like this at all, so they arrested Peter and John and held them overnight, because it was already evening (3). But when Peter, a fisherman, was addressing the rulers of the people and the elders the next day (5), he drew on the OT again: Psalm 118 (11). And Luke records: 13 … when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. The net result was that they 18 … charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” So: 21 … when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old. It’s hard not to hear an echo here of Israels own affliction in the wilderness for forty years. Regardless, we’re finally at our text!
If there’s ever been a time in church history in which God’s people have experienced the fullness of what Jesus died for them to experience this side of heaven, these early days were that time. So, let’s draw a couple insights from them. They’re right here in our text; we’ll take just a few minutes with each. These insights fall into two categories.
A Model Response to Gospel Opposition
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. A warning like that (18) would concern any of us. 24 And when they heard it, here was their starting point, step one of their response, they lifted their voices together to God. They prayed. They didn’t discuss the matter, or form a potential response strategy, debate the pros and cons, then close in prayer, seeking God’s blessing. They immediately turned to God in prayer and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, they reminded themselves of Who they were talking to, of His utterly unlimited reign, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, again they drew on OT Scripture (Psa.2:1-2), ‘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’—why would the rulers of this world scheme against a God who not only created the whole universe but also foresaw their scheming (Marshall 1980 111)—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, their leaders and no small number of the people themselves, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. Do you hear this? Even the evil perpetrated against Jesus is understood to have happened under the sovereign hand of God. And if that was so with Jesus, surely it would also be so in the difficult experience Peter and John just had with the council (15). God allowed this trial. God assigned this trial! This was their view!
Is this our view in our trials? Do we immediately turn to Him and acknowledge this? Or do we scheme, much like the rulers of this world, to get out of whatever we’re in?
So, how did they pray for themselves? 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and remove them? Neutralize them? Silence them? Deliver us from them? No. They virtually ignored the opposition itself, the threats, and prayed, 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.” Help us keep preaching. Help us stay on mission. Help us not to be distracted or diverted by the opposition Jesus told us we’d face (Joh.15:26-16:4, 31). And You, God, please just continue doing what You do to affirm the truth of your word!
31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, God was pleased with their prayer, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. He heard and answered their prayer. They didn’t turn personal comfort into an idol that they worshiped ahead of the sovereign God [of all creation] (24). Rather, they were already on their way to the perspective they modeled after their next round of opposition—5:41 … they left the… council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And… they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
A Lesson in Prayer Worth Pondering—three charges
(1) Anchor your prayers to Scripture. Note the relevance of God’s word to life and stand firmly on it, as His people always have.
(2) Don’t be distracted by difficulties. Jesus said they will always be with us. So, as we’re striving to be faithful, they indicate that we’re in a good place more often than in a bad place.
(3) Ask God to show up and shine forth. It pleases Him when we truly want His will ahead of our comfort. We see that so clearly here: 29 … 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. Those signs and wonders may look a bit different today, but the greatest of them all God still does regularly. He turns rebel sinners into faithful servants like these, kingdom ambassadors!
Conclusion
This only happens as we hear and embrace by faith the message Peter preached: 3:19 Repent… and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…. Praying like we see here is part of that refreshment. It remembers Who God is, who we are as we pray. And the refreshment itself comes only in small measure in this life, but it comes to us fully and forever in the next.
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Resources
Beale, G. K., & D. A. Carson, eds. 2007. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Acts, by I. Howard Marshall, 513-606. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.
Calvin, John. 2010. Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles, trans. by, Henry Beveridge. Bellingham, WA: Logos.
Carson, D. A., R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham, eds. 1994. New Bible Commentary 21st Century Edition. Acts, by D. A. Carson, 1066-1114. Leicester, Eng.: InterVarsity.
Dever, Mark. 2005. The Message of the New Testament. Ch. 5, The Message of Acts: Jesus, the Risen Lord, 123-143. Wheaton: Crossway.
Dockery, David S, ed. 1992. New American Commentary. Vol. 26, Acts, by John B. Polhill. Nashville: Broadman & Holman.
Fee. Gordon D., gen. ed. 1988. New International Commentary on the New Testament. The Book of the Acts, by F. F. Bruce. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
Harrison, Everett F. 1975. Acts: The Expanding Church. Chicago: Moody.
Kent, Jr., Homer A. 1972. Jerusalem to Rome. Grand Rapids: Baker.
Longman III, Tremper, & David E. Garland, eds. 2007. Revised Expositor’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 10, Luke-Acts. Acts, by Richard N. Longenecker, 663-1102. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Morris, Leon, gen. ed. 1980. Tyndale New Testament Commentary. Vol. 5, Acts, by I. Howard Marshall. Downers Grove: InterVarsity.
NEXT SUNDAY: Teach Us to Pray, Part 8, How Long, O LORD, Psalm 13