23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported everything that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “[ p ]Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them, 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,
‘Why were the [ q ]nations insolent,
And the peoples plotting in vain?26 The kings of the earth [ r ]took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His [ s ]Christ.’27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy [ t ]servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the [ u ]Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and purpose predestined to occur.
Acts 4:23-28 (NLT) 中文
Don’t use that name
Peter and John were thrown in jail for healing a man and preaching that it was done in the name of Jesus. Then they’re tried by the religious leaders. To these leaders Peter preaches Jesus, the man whom they killed, as the only way of salvation. The Jewish religious leaders had feared a riot so commanded them not to preach about Jesus then released them.
Together with one mind
So they went back to the group of this early church and told them what happened. Everyone immediately called out together for God’s help. They quoted God’s own words back to Him (first is from Ex 20:11; the second is Psalm 2:1-2, a Psalm of King David). This is always a good idea in our own prayer.
They raised their voices to God with one mind. “Voice is in the singular. This means that they did not all pray individually, speaking at the same time. One person prayed and all agreed with that one, so that they were really praying with one voice.” (enduringword.com)
Prophecy fulfilled
When reading the prophecy from this Psalm in the past, the wording makes me think of a world-wide opposition to Jesus. This will indeed happen in the end times, at Armageddon (Revelations 16:16). So when we see it here quoted by the early church, it catches my attention. And sure enough, as they explained in their prayer to God, Kings and nations did oppose Jesus – to the point of crucifying Him! This prophecy, like others, has multiple fulfillments.
Providence proclaimed
In v28, we see their collective thinking about Christ’s death in the context of God’s will. “Because they saw their circumstances in light of God’s Word, they could recognize that the wrath of man never operated outside of the sphere of God’s control; these enemies of Jesus could only do whatever the hand of God allowed.” (enduringword.com)
RЯeflection
- Consider quoting God’s own Word back to Him when you pray. Moses did this as well (Exodus 32:11-14). It’s not a way to force God to do what we think is right. It’s knowing who God is and proclaiming it back to Him, to His glory. Or, take a prayer of Paul, like Colossians 1:9-14 and pray that back to the Lord, with thought and understanding.
- Are we in one accord with our brothers and sisters in the Lord? If you are at odds with anyone now, consider how to reconcile. Humble yourself and pray. Know that it will be a pleasure to our Lord.
