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"THE THINGS WHICH WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD" "And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done." (Acts 4:18-21)Preaching the Gospel was always the main thing topic of conversation with those fearless first century Christians. If they weren't thrown in jail for their witnessing, then they'd be threatened and beaten and commanded not to speak in the name of Christ. Not only did those folks have God, but they had some guts within them as well. They feared no one!During their 3 years of following Jesus, there were times when those disciples weren't very good ambassadors for Him, were they? More than once they'd put their foot in their mouth by blurting out something which revealed they were but mere men who were often vulgar, vain, and vengeful. Like many of us, they would be yakking away when they should have been listening and would remained silent when they should have spoken up. See them run for the hills like scalded dogs when their testimony was tested that night in the Garden of Gethsemane. Ah, but the Lord stuck with them and sent His Spirit Who transformed them from being cowardly onlookers wanting a seat of leadership to courageous out-lookers for the Saviour of the lost. It seems strange to us that this priceless treasure of knowing Christ should be given to ordinary human beings; people who were beset by troubles and imperfections, doesn't it? Yet, that is God's method (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). We simply give the Gospel and He gets the glory. We learn from this 4th chapter of Acts that the Priests and Sadducees, along with some big shot who was known as the captain of the temple guard, started giving Peter and John a hard time after that healing miracle had been performed on that over 40-year-old lame fella in the preceding chapter. They demanded where they got their power to do such things. Peter took that as an opportunity to preach Christ. He delivers that short memorable sermon of his recorded for us in verses 8 thru 11 and closes it with that wonderful truth found in verse 12, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." What boldness those keepers of the law replied! Even though the disciples, who were considered as simple layman and thought to be unlearned and ignorant in Old Testament things, as far as those religion lovers were concerned, yet we read that those old phonies came to the conclusion that Peter and John "had been with Jesus." How true, how wonderfully true! They HAD been with Jesus alright. They had listened to His Words, learned His commands, and leaned on His promises. Yes, "they had been with Jesus", and the result, "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." Friends, you and I have also heard His Words in the Scriptures, learned His commands, and leaned on His promises. As children of God, may it be known by those, who after hearing our bold witness for Christ say, "they have been with Jesus." When THAT is true, then THIS also will be true, "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."