The boldness of Peter and John in Acts 4 might not be what you’d first think. We read the account of these disciples being questioned by the rulers of their day after being arrested for healing a crippled beggar and preaching the Good News of Jesus and think, we are so far removed from this type of scenario. And you’re probably right, the chance of you being arrested for sharing the Gospel and serving the poor is unlikely, therefore, we conclude I won’t be asked to speak where this level of boldness is required.
But look more closely. We tend to think that boldness is for the BIG scary situations. We tend to think that boldness equals loudness. We even think that boldness is only for those who are naturally outgoing and gifted.
Peter and John were bold because they were clear. They spoke, when presented with an opportunity, with confident clarity. In fact, Acts 4:13records maybe the most comforting sentence in all of Scripture for the fearful, timid, wimps among us: “Now 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.”
The remarkable thing about the boldness of Peter and John was not in their crafty words, or fancy sentences (they weren’t educated), but from their proximity to Jesus. They were bold because they had been with Jesus — and people noticed! A little later the frustrated leaders were fed up and tried to silence them from speaking anymore to which they replied, “we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
They were released and made a beeline to their support system, the gathering of other believers. They reported all that happened and instead of cowering in fear or keeping a low profile for a few days until things blew over, they prayed FOR BOLDNESS.
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to Your servants to continue to speak Your word with all boldness, while You stretch out Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the Word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:29–31)
As you are surrounded with opportunities this week, don’t be afraid to be bold. But that doesn’t mean you need to be loud, it means you need to be clear. Remember, Gospel boldness begins by spending time with Jesus and then asking Him to make you bold! That’s a prayer God is waiting for you to pray so that He can fill you with confident clarity to speak the Good News of Jesus.
Written by: Dave Nicodemus, Grace Students Pastor
Based on: Acts 4
Passion Week Devotional 2026: Day Two