Bold Witnesses

The Spirit equips and emboldens the Church to bear witness to Jesus, especially concerning his sacrificial death and resurrection from the dead.

At the start of the Book of Acts, Jesus told disciples they would be “baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence,” and they would “receive power” enabling them to become “My Witnesses to the uttermost parts of the Earth.” Receiving the Spirit equipped his saints to proclaim his message and empowered them to bear witness “with boldness” despite opposition.

In his sermon in Caesarea, Peter explained how God “anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil.” Peter and his compatriots were “witnesses” of these things, not only of the miraculous deeds done by the Nazarene but also of his crucifixion “on a tree” and resurrection from the dead – (Acts 10:38-40).

[Photo by Mitch Mckee on Unsplash]

The English term “witness” translates the Greek noun ‘martur’ (μαρτυρ), the same word from which the English word ‘martyr’ is derived. The summons to become “witnesses” is central to the purpose and theology of Acts. While the presence of the Spirit often enables a believer to engage in supernatural acts, even that serves to confirm the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is the Spirit that empowers disciples to be effective witnesses. As Peter reiterated in his sermon on the Day of Pentecost - “This Jesus did God raise up, of which we are all witnesses,” especially of his resurrection from the dead - (Luke 24:46-49, Acts 2:29-32).

It began with the first disciples who were “eyewitnesses” of Christ’s life and resurrection. The fundamental requirement for being an apostle was that he had been with Christ from his baptism until God raised him from the dead - (“Having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets” - Acts 1:21-23, Ephesians 2:20, 4:11-13, 1 Corinthian 12:28).

When the Church found itself under pressure from the Temple authorities, rather than flee Jerusalem or seek relief from persecution, the assembled saints prayed for God to enable them to proclaim the Gospel despite the threats of the Sanhedrin:

• “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were assembled; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul… And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all” – (Acts 4:31-33).

The Apostles were “witnesses” of Christ’s resurrection, and though supernatural miracles did accompany their preaching, far more important was the “boldness” of speech received from the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Gospel despite opposition ("boldness", ‘parrésia’, παρρησια).

Not many days later, Peter and the Apostles were hauled before the High Priest and ordered to cease preaching Jesus. To this, Peter responded:

• “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. And we are witnesses of all these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to them that obey him” - (Acts 5:30-32).

The claim that God raised His Messiah from the dead was central to their message, and with the empowerment of the Spirit, the Apostles were “witnesses” of this very thing.

OF THE RESURRECTION

Years later, when Paul and Barnabas arrived in Antioch of Pisidia, the Apostle spoke before the local synagogue, where he declared to his audience:

• “And when they had fulfilled all things written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead. He was seen for many days of those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who were his witnesses to the people. And we bring you good tidings of the promise made unto the fathers, that God has fulfilled the same for our children, in that he raised up Jesus” - (Acts 13:30-31).

Paul not only referred to the testimony of eyewitnesses of the resurrection he affirmed that many others saw Jesus alive after God had raised him from the dead.

“Signs and wonders” do occur in the Book of Acts. Supernatural miracles confirmed that the promised Gift of the Spirit had been granted. However, such things were a means to an end, not the end itself. The Spirit-empowered Church attests to all men what God has done through His Son, especially in his Death and Resurrection.

At the end of the Book of Acts, we find Paul under house arrest where he “received all that went in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness” - (Acts 28:31).

Regardless of his chains, the Spirit of God would not allow Paul to remain silent. The proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the resurrected Christ must continue no matter what. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “I am under compulsion, for woe to me if I preach not the gospel!” – (1 Corinthians 9:16).

The call for the Body of Christ to proclaim the Gospel, and boldly so, is foundational to the Book of Acts, and to do so in times of peace and persecution with or without confirming “signs and wonders.”

Thus, the Holy Spirit summons Christ’s disciples to be “his witnesses” by proclaiming him “with all boldness,” even to the “uttermost parts of the Earth.”

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SEE ALSO:

• The Hope of the Nations - (The Good News of Jesus Christ and his victory over death offers hope, life, and salvation and life to men and women of every nation)

• Salvation for All! - (The Good News announced by Jesus of Nazareth offers salvation and life to men and women of every nation and people)

• No Other Name! - (Jesus of Nazareth fulfills the promise to bless all nations in Abraham. Christ is the Patriarch’s Heir, and the only source of Salvation)