Wednesday, May 03, 2006
The Ministry of John
After the ascension of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit, we still see Peter and John together.
"One day Peter and John were going to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon. Now a crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate ..., where he was placed every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ... Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.' ... He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. ... The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day." (Acts 3 NIV)
Peter and John would eventually be set free. While Luke, the author of Acts, continues to tell events concerning Peter, John is not mentioned much after the above events. However, John must have known of Ananias and Sapphira, the stoning of Stephen, the conversion of Saul, and many other events recorded by Luke. We do see John and Peter working together once again.
"When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit ..." (Acts 8:14, 15)
However, John would eventually experience something that must have been very painful.
"It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also." (Acts 12:1, 2)
You know that John assumed he was going to not only lose his brother, but Peter as well. However, God was not ready to see Peter, and an angel miraculously led him out of the prison.
"One day Peter and John were going to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon. Now a crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate ..., where he was placed every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ... Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.' ... He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. ... The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day." (Acts 3 NIV)
Peter and John would eventually be set free. While Luke, the author of Acts, continues to tell events concerning Peter, John is not mentioned much after the above events. However, John must have known of Ananias and Sapphira, the stoning of Stephen, the conversion of Saul, and many other events recorded by Luke. We do see John and Peter working together once again.
"When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit ..." (Acts 8:14, 15)
However, John would eventually experience something that must have been very painful.
"It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also." (Acts 12:1, 2)
You know that John assumed he was going to not only lose his brother, but Peter as well. However, God was not ready to see Peter, and an angel miraculously led him out of the prison.
# posted by Wesley Son of Cornelius @ 11:12 PM 
