Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

Acts 4:29

Saul could easily find people who belonged to The Way because they weren't hiding. These early followers of Jesus weren't keeping their faith private or apologizing for their beliefs. They were boldly proclaiming that Jesus was the risen Lord and the only way to salvation. Their confident declaration of truth was so clear and public that Saul could identify them, hunt them down, and arrest them. You can't persecute people for quiet, private faith that no one knows about.

The reason Saul breathed murderous threats was because these believers refused to tone down their message. They didn't soften their claims about Jesus or apologize for the exclusive nature of the gospel. They boldly declared that salvation was found in no other name, that Jesus was Lord over Caesar, and that He was THE Way to God. This kind of uncompromising proclamation threatened the religious establishment and made people like Saul furious enough to travel hundreds of miles to arrest them.

Today, many Christians have learned to apologize for the very truths that got early believers arrested. We start conversations about Jesus with phrases like "I don't want to be pushy, but..." or "This is just what works for me, but..." We act embarrassed about claiming that Jesus is THE Way and try to make our faith more acceptable by presenting it as one option among many. Instead of boldly proclaiming exclusive truth, we offer timid suggestions that offend no one and transform no one.

The early church turned the world upside down precisely because they refused to apologize for the gospel. They didn't win people by being vague about their beliefs or culturally sensitive about their claims. They transformed the Roman Empire by confidently declaring that Jesus alone could save, heal, and give eternal life. Their boldness wasn't based on their own courage but on the fact that they had encountered the risen Christ and seen His power to change lives completely.

Timid, apologetic faith would never have provoked the kind of persecution Saul unleashed. If the early Christians had whispered about Jesus in private or presented Him as merely a good teacher, Saul wouldn't have bothered chasing them. But their bold, public proclamation that Jesus was THE Way threatened everything the religious leaders stood for. They declared exclusive truth with such confidence that it demanded a response from everyone who heard it. Their unashamed proclamation forced people to either accept Jesus or reject Him, but no one could ignore the message.

Godseekers, the same boldness that made early believers targets should mark your life today. You're not sharing your personal opinion when you talk about Jesus; you're proclaiming the truth that God has revealed to save humanity. Stop apologizing for what the Bible clearly teaches and start declaring it with the confidence of someone who has met the risen Christ. The world doesn't need more timid suggestions about spiritual matters; it needs the bold proclamation of THE Way that actually saves lives. If your faith isn't bold enough to make some people uncomfortable, it probably isn't bold enough to transform anyone's life either.

Prayer

Dear God, forgive us for apologizing for Your truth instead of boldly proclaiming it. Give us the same confidence that Peter had when he declared Jesus as the only way to salvation. Help us stop worrying about cultural acceptance and start caring about faithfulness to Your Word. Fill us with conviction that comes from knowing we've encountered the risen Christ. Transform our timid suggestions into bold proclamations of THE Way that saves. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Personal Reflection

• In what situations do you find yourself apologizing for or softening the claims of Christ?
• How would your conversations about Jesus change if you approached them with Peter's confidence?

Step of Faith

Today, I will share the gospel with someone using clear, confident language about Jesus being THE Way to salvation, without apologizing for the truth.