Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Following the great response to the gospel at Pentecost (Acts 2:41), Peter and John again seize an opportunity to proclaim the good news, this time at Solomon's porch (Acts 3:11). His message on this occasion was like that of the former: you put to death the Son of God; God raised Him from the dead; repent and be converted, so as to receive the forgiveness of sins. Although the apostles were arrested and led away by the Jewish leaders, a great many people turned to the Lord (Acts 4:4).

The following day, Peter and John stood before the rulers, and again proclaimed the death and resurrection of Christ. It is at this point where our text is found. The apostles spoke with confidence, though they were not formally educated. It apparently was recognizable that they were "uneducated and untrained", but regardless, those who heard their message marvelled. They knew that these men had been with Jesus.

How did they know? They may have remembered seeing them with Jesus, but more likely, it was the zeal with which they rallied the cause of Christ, and the miracle which attended their message. They had sought to silence Jesus, but did not succeed, for His message continued through His followers.

Friend, when people hear you speak, what do they think? Do they detect a measure of the boldness which was in the early Christians? Is it your education in the wisdom of the world that impresses, or is it your understanding of and desire to proclaim the wonderful words of God? Do those who meet you and hear you know that you've been with Jesus?

Click here for this week's Answering The Atheist
What did the soldiers give Jesus to drink? Matthew 27:34 says vinegar and gall, Mark 15:23 says wine and myrrh, and John 19:29 says vinegar and hyssop. Is there a contradiction?