Topic: Boldness of Peter

In Acts 8:32-43, Peter—the former fisherman turned foundational stone in the church—is moving to and from Jerusalem. Peter is a perfect example of ministry with a personal touch. He is not just preaching to the crowd, but loving people with a personal touch of Jesus. People would observe an outward boldness in the manner he carried out his ministry.

Peter’s boldness in his calling to serve Christ is marked by:

1. Availability (v. 32, 38). It’s a cliché I know, but God is all about your availability rather than your ability. Peter was not fishing. He was not cheerleading, hunting, or even preparing sermons, he was out and about waiting for God to guide him to the next ministry opportunity. Peter was actively involved in ministry. He was checking on churches and caring for “the saints” as stated in his letters (I & II Peter). But he wasn’t so tied to a schedule that ministry couldn’t be worked in (Acts 9:32-43).

2. Sensitivity (v. 33, 39). Peter was sensitive enough to the moving of the Spirit to stop what he was doing and go a different direction. In the first incident he checked on the saints, and sensed a need with an unbeliever. In the second incident, he is ministered to one town and received a request to go to another town, and went.

3. Dependence (v. 34, 40). Peter attributes everything to Jesus Christ. In the first incident he pronounced that Jesus healed Aeneas. In the second incident, Peter (following Jesus’ example in Mark 5, then John 11) put everyone out of the room, and prayed, and even spoke almost the same words. So not only was he dependent in faith, but also in action—he acted like Jesus. Peter didn’t start a TV ministry to heap up followers to himself. He wanted to exalt Jesus Christ.

4. Evangelism (v. 35, 42). Notice the two statements “all who lived in Lydda…many who lived in Joppa.” People saw God working through the personal ministry of Peter, and they were moved to believe. There was probably preaching going on, some sort of instruction and exhortation to believe the gospel, for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word. The miracles brought forth a boldness of faith.

Peter’s life gives evidence of boldness in the gospel of Christ. Does your life?

See you Sunday!

Dr. Scott Kallem