Paul speaking of himself: 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 11:29)) Unlike the painting by Raphael above where Peter’s expression is dour and angry, I expect that Peter had tears in his eyes and a patient pleading tone when he asked Ananias and Sapphira about the money.įurthermore, the apostles are united in their exhortations to gentleness. (“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt. When Peter rebuked Ananias and Sapphira, we should expect that he was following in the footsteps of his master and imagine Peter speaking a word of sharp rebuke with complete patience and teaching, gentleness and love. When Jesus turns to rebuke Peter with sharp words, we should picture complete patience and teaching, gentleness and love. Given this apostolic injunction, surely it is unreasonable to imagine the Creator of all things losing his temper with Peter. “Preach the word be ready in season and out of season reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Tim. Now I grant that this is partly speculation, but it seems reasonable that Jesus would model for his disciples what he would later command from leaders in the church through Paul’s pen. I think that we would be in error if we imagine Jesus having lost his temper and using a harsh tone to rebuke Peter. Because of Jesus’ example, Peter learned the value of loving rebuke. Mark 8:33) Jesus did not allow Peter’s mind-set-on-the-things-of-man to derail his message of cross-bearing. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matt. Jesus told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. When Peter was opposing Jesus’ mission to go to the cross for sins, Jesus gave Peter a rebuke as sharp as one could imagine. Peter was the one whom Jesus rebuked most sharply. In this devotion, I want to suggest that Peter’s boldness when it came to rebuking sin was part of what he learned from Jesus. Peter was bold to speak a sharp word of rebuke to Simon the sorcerer. Peter was not timid when this man offered earthly treasure as though gifts may be bought. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.”” (Acts 8:20–23) 22 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. “ 20 Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
Peter sees the deadly error in Simon’s thinking when he offers to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit.
(In my own judgment, Peter had no idea that the Holy Spirit would strike Ananias dead on the spot.) Peter was bold to speak a sharp word of rebuke to Ananias.Īcts 8:9–25 tells of Simon the sorcerer whom Peter also rebukes sharply.
Peter doesn’t fear the loss of Ananias’ giving or the impact on Peter’s reputation if he made Ananias mad. Peter rebukes Ananias when he lies about the proceeds from the sale of his property. Acts 5:1–11 tells of Peter’s interaction with Ananias and Sapphira. If we had, we would have encountered several accounts about Peter that make us a little more uncomfortable. We didn’t have time on Sunday to keep going and look at the next few chapters. What the world needs from you more than anything else is boldness with the Gospel. Brothers and sisters, every age of this world is desperately in need of Christians who are bold with the Gospel, and our age is not an exception. In the book of Acts Luke focuses our attention on the power of the Holy Spirit of God to fill Christians with boldness in proclaiming the Gospel. Last Sunday, we considered the origin of Peter’s bold gospel proclamation.
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