Acts 4:18-20
So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."
As a kid I remember going to an amusement park and riding the "Whirlpool." It wasn't very safe by today's standards, but it sure was fun.
The ride essentially involved centrifugal force. Kids would step down into a cylindrical "tub" which basically looked like a big round washing machine. The "whirlpool" would then begin to turn.
As speed increased, riders were pressed against the outer wall. Eventually the floor would drop away as everybody "stuck" to the wall like flies to flypaper. You could try and throw off your baseball cap, but it would just fly back and stick also.
After becoming sufficiently sick to our stomachs with dizziness, the floor would slowly return, spinning would decrease to a stop, and we'd all go weaving down the exit ramp only to do it all over again.
Forces in nature have a strong influence. Electromagnetism, gravity, friction, and weather are not easily resisted by any of us. In the whirlpool, an Olympic athlete would be as helpless as a 98-lb weakling. Gravity, as Galileo demonstrated from the Leaning Tower of Pisa, will bring a bowling ball to the ground just as fast as a ball bearing.
Spiritual forces are strong too.
Opponents of the Gospel of Christ call on forces of intimidation, fear, and threat to silence and kowtow Christians. Such forces are real even if they don't outwardly look that imposing.
More deplorable is the extent of our weakness.
A young girl in a courtyard once identified Peter as a follower of Jesus. All she said was, "This fellow was with Jesus." A petite, inconsequential young girl by a single remark revealed how spineless a grown man can be. Peter denied his Lord.
She didn't reduce this big, strapping, manly guy into a weakling. He already was one and just didn't know it.
The threshold is so low in our sinfulness. The slightest pressure, the least duress—often the smallest possibility of peril will shove us against a wall and convince us that anything we toss out by way of forgiveness or forbearance will just come back at us, so why try?
As the sinful world spins, the centrifugal force of evil continually wants to direct us outward from the center, away from where the hub and heart of life is. Away from Christ.
What can be so strong to draw powerless men back? What can be so strong to overcome the elemental defects and weaknesses of sin in us?
In Acts 4, probably some of the same temple guards who had arrested Jesus now come to bully Peter and John. Other imposing, powerful men command the apostles never to speak or teach in the name of Jesus ever again. The threat is real. Our preferred word for such a thing today is "terror."
But Peter and John reply, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
What they had seen was Christ in the flesh, the spear scar and the nail marks visible, yet He was risen. They had seen the Lord of Glory ascend to the heavens. They had seen God the Holy Spirit like tongues of fire rest upon their heads. They had seen three thousand baptized on a single day in the name of Jesus.
They had heard Jesus declare, "Peace be with you! Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven." Jesus too had promised them, "I will be with you always to the very end of the age."
They heard the sound of the rushing wind on Pentecost, the sound of a myriad of languages all proclaiming the wonders of God. (Acts 2). It was a miracle. No one was kept from hearing the glorious Gospel of Christ that day. No force on earth nor any force of foul spirit can restrain the sound of Jesus' Name.
Peter said we cannot help but speak of Christ.
By this he doesn't mean to explain himself as simply a powerless pawn in an agitation cycle between good and evil. The work of the Holy Spirit is not just to "stir" people up into spiritual fever. Peter and John were as steady and confident as men can be.
They had the solid floor beneath them!
They stood upon the Gospel, and it was now the centripetal power of the resurrection, the drawing influence of the truth of Jesus, and the magnetic authenticity of His victory which made them unassailable because nothing can silence the Word of God.
We confess too. We can't help it. We can't help the Gospel.
Luther once said, "I simply taught, preached, wrote God's Word; otherwise I did nothing. And then, while I slept, or drank Wittenberg beer with my Philip and my Amsdorf, the Word so greatly weakened the papacy that never a prince or emperor did such damage to it. I did nothing. The Word did it all."
What did Peter or John ever do except receive this wonderful gift of Christ and then have the privilege to share their Savior with others? What have we ever done except be given God's pardon, life, peace, and love? We couldn't help it.
And now, by His Holy Spirit, how can we help but speak the things we also know?
To speak and live the life of a Christian today--- by the world's standards may not be very safe. But it sure is fun!
There is nothing like the drawing power--- the centripetal power of the cross!
Drawn to the cross, which Thou hast blessed
With healing gifts for souls distressed,
To find in Thee my life, my rest,
Christ crucified, I come.
Wash me and take away each stain;
Let nothing of my sin remain.
For cleansing, though it be through pain,
Christ crucified, I come.
And then for work to do for Thee,
Which shall so sweet a service be
That angels well might envy me,
Christ crucified, I come.
LSB 560 (vs. 1, 3-4)
