Acts 4. “Now when they [the rulers, elders, and scribes] 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.” (4:13)

Imagine the boldness of Peter and John, speaking with clarity and power to large groups of people, some of them exceedingly well-educated. Peter’s sermon in chapter 2, his speech on Solomon’s porch in chapter 3, and now his address to the religious council in chapter 4 are masterpieces. Peter draws in Old Testament prophecies, pieces of the psalms, and more – crafting convicting and clear messages about who Jesus Christ was and what it meant for everyone. The sophisticated elite in chapter 4 knew immediately that they were not educated men, but then were astonished at their speaking capacity. Their abilities were because they had been with Jesus and the Holy Spirit was working through them.

This passage always reminds me of the woman who discipled me – she poured into me, challenged me, and trained me for two years. She was a gifted speaker, teacher, and leader. She was discerning, able to identify spiritual gifts and cast a vision for what it would look like to allow the Spirit to work through you in those ways. She was committed to mentoring and training up the next generation. She spent a great deal of time in prayer, read a lot of books, and she knew her Bible like no one I had ever met – it was all marked up, had duct tape on the cover, and she could find anything in it. My life’s goal has been to know my Bible like she did. Surprisingly, she did not have a college degree, but that did not seem significant because she had spent decades walking closely with Jesus. I remain eternally grateful for her investment in my life and spiritual walk.

I moved into a new office this week. As I was staring at the stack of diplomas in frames that represent all my years of education, I was torn. Should I hang them all on the wall? For what? We often gain more knowledge with education, but how does that shape our spiritual walk?! It’s not a classroom education that makes us more like Christ – it is walking with him, spending time with him by reading the scriptures and prayer, and living with integrity in Christian community. When I meet with people, I want them to recognize that I have been with Jesus, not that I have fancy papers hanging on my wall. In the end, I just hung up my seminary diploma and my ordination papers – mostly because it’s still a challenge to be a woman in leadership.

When we read of all the growth and the amazing signs and wonders in the early church in Acts 1-4, let’s remember two things: They spent lots of time in prayer, and they spent time with Jesus. That is how they were ready for the Holy Spirit to work through them and grant them boldness, clarity, and peace even when they got thrown in prison and dragged into court.

How are you spending time with Jesus these days? And in prayer? How are you pouring into the lives of others, encouraging their spiritual development?

What stood out to you from Acts 4?