Peter took his stand, he raised his voice, and he pleaded with people to listen to him.
I like Peter. I like Peter a lot! He gets a bad rap, well-deserved, for his denial, for being impetuous, for being, well, himself. But that same “himself” was the leader Christ put in charge by declaring him the rock upon which He would build His church. This apostle, a lowly fisherman, made choices that allowed God to use Him in spite of his flaws and weaknesses. He and the others are so foundational to our faith, what great role models they are.
The Spirit had just descended to the upper room of believers, and the Gospel was being heard in different languages, each foreigner in town for Pentecost heard the message in his/her native tongue. To the onlooking naysayer, the apostles were accused of being drunk at 9:00 a.m. Peter sets them straight.
He quotes Scripture. QUOTES IT! He did not have a lesson prepared, he had no notes, no copy of Scripture in front of him actually. He did not say “everyone, please open your scroll to the writing of the prophet Joel.” He saw and experienced what happened, and recalled what he must have heard and read many, many times. And he nailed the message.
He quotes Joel. He quotes David, applying each writing perfectly. Granted, we read Scripture and know Luke was inspired to write it, and at this time, Peter was indwelled with the Holy Spirit. And throughout the Bible we find God using people’s talents, skills, and willingness to do great things for Him. God directed Peter’s speech, no doubt. And still God knew that Peter knew His Bible. I firmly believe Peter recited the prophecies so well because they were so much a part of him and his walk. God helped him recall the words, no doubt there either.
Peter took the initiative among his group, and the Lord used that to see thousands accept Christ. So what did it for Peter? His knowledge? Or his action? YES! Peter could not have done what he did without his knowledge of Scripture, and that necessarily meant he had to be willing to learn, continually, never stop growing through knowledge. He also needed to be willing to step up, take a stand, and act on what he knew. There would have been no message from him that day without that.
Knowledge puffs up, but only if no action accompanies it.
Zeal without knowledge is sin.
Basically, one without the other is just plain foolish. Not my words.
Christians today can typically fall prey to an imbalance in these two aspects. We must take a stand today for God’s truth, who else will? We must be willing to be the one who will challenge the false teacher, the godless bureaucrat, and defend our Savior. We must be the one who will learn and ever grow in knowledge, never shying away from something to be learned.
Knowledge with action makes for a servant of the Most High God. I am thankful to Peter for demonstrating both. Do I know my Bible well enough to quote it to people when the situation applies? Do I seek out those situations? Am I willing to learn more and more of what I don’t know, in order to be come a better “doer”? Are you?
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