Being astonishing is the fruit of being filled with the Spirit and walking closely with Jesus.
When we pick up in Acts 3-4, we are 50 days from the resurrection and 10 days from the ascension, and we see the word "astonished" used a couple of times. But how is the word "astonished" used in this text?
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13
The people in this verse were astonished, or filled with wonder, simply by the way that Peter and John lived.
We want to be with Jesus so that we can live in a way that leads people to ask why.
Read Acts 3:11-20 and Acts 4:1-22.
When people saw the courage—
They were astonished that they were ordinary/unschooled.
They took note that they had been with Jesus
The people were astonished at the healing. (Acts 3:11)
The temple leaders were astonished at their courage. (Acts 4:13)
Do people ever say this about our lives?
Here are six takeaways from these chapters to help us live lives that astonish others, not for our sake, but to open the door to Jesus.
1. The Holy Spirit fills ordinary people to act in extraordinary ways. (Acts 4:8)
The Holy Spirit wants to do this work in you. He isn't looking for extraordinary people—He's looking for people who ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
2. The Holy Spirit’s supernatural working always has a purpose, and that purpose is to open eyes to see Jesus.
It's time to ask the Holy Spirit to open doors for Jesus' sake.
This isn't about doing something miraculous; it's about showing others Jesus so that it opens the door for them to follow Him.
3. Astonishing lives lead to questions that open doors, allowing us to tell others about Jesus. (Acts 4:7)
People will be astonished by the way that you live and ask why.
You don't need the perfect testimony to share, but a life that is a testimony.
4. The Holy Spirit fills us with astonishing boldness to speak the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:8)
The Holy Spirit doesn’t fill people so they can talk about the Holy Spirit; He fills people so that they can boldly talk about Jesus.
Being bold doesn’t mean being loud; it means doing whatever and going wherever the Holy Spirit leads you and trusting Him to give you the wisdom you need.
5. Proximity to Jesus leads to lives that look like Him. (Acts 4:13)
These men mentioned in Scripture had been with Jesus.
Being astonishing is the fruit of being filled with the Spirit and walking closely with Jesus.
You don’t wake up and say, "I’m going to be astonishing today." You wake up and say, "I’m going to stay close to Jesus today and walk in step with the Spirit."
6. They prayed for boldness more than protection. (Acts 4:23-31)
God is sovereign and has a mission that cannot be thwarted.
His message and the mission of the Gospel were more compelling to these men than the threats to their safety.
Peter and John walked free from the threats this time, but ultimately, John ended up on Patmos, and Peter was crucified upside down.
Do we live in a way that no matter the cost, we pursue Jesus and live accordingly?
At the end of the day, we want to live lives that cause others to be astonished because our actions are evidence of our time with Jesus.
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"The Holy Spirit isn't looking for extraordinary people, He's looking for anybody who would say to Him, 'Fill me and do through me things that I cannot do on my own.'"
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Louie Giglio
What does living a life that causes others to be “astonished” mean?
Why do you think people were so impacted by Peter and John’s boldness?
How does the Holy Spirit equip us to live extraordinary lives?
What areas of your life feel “too ordinary” to be used by God?
When was the last time someone noticed something different about you because of your faith?
What does it practically look like to “be with Jesus” in your daily life?
How can boldness be expressed without being loud or confrontational?
Why do you think the early church prayed for boldness instead of protection?
What would change in your life if you prayed more for boldness?
How can you start living a life that points others to Jesus this week?
Scripture References
11.While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12.When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13.The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14.You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15.You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16.By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.17.“Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18.But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19.Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20.and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.
1.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. 2.They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3.They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4.But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.5.The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6.Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7.They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”8.Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9.If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10.then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11.Jesus is“ ‘the stone you builders rejected,which has become the cornerstone.’4:11 Psalm 118:2212.Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”13.When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14.But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15.So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16.“What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17.But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”18.Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19.But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20.As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”21.After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22.For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.23.On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24.When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25.You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:“ ‘Why do the nations rageand the peoples plot in vain?26.The kings of the earth rise upand the rulers band togetheragainst the Lordand against his anointed one.4:26 That is, Messiah or Christ’4:26 Psalm 2:1,227.Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28.They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29.Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30.Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”31.After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
About the Contributor
Louie Giglio is the Visionary Architect and Director of the Passion Movement, comprised of Passion Conferences, Passion City Church, Passion Publishing and sixstepsrecords, and the founder of Passion Institute. View more from the Contributor.
