For Thursday, November 5, 2026:
Acts 4:31 NLT: “After they prayed, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.”
It’s important to understand the context of this scripture. I’ll try to give you the Reader’s Digest condensed version.
Jesus had been falsely accused, arrested and eventually crucified. Later, two of his disciples, Peter and John, healed a man near the Temple entrance. The man was well known to be lame from birth. They healed him using Jesus’ name, were arrested for doing so, and brought before the Jewish council. The council perceived anything “Jesus” to be a threat against their established religion. Nonetheless, the lame man was indeed healed! So what to do? The best solution was to just send the disciples away, instructing them to never do it again.
Those disciples immediately returned to the other believers, who were overjoyed at their release, and began praying: “O Sovereign Lord, Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and now the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
As their prayer ended, the ground shook as if God was adding his 2¢, agreeing with what had taken place. The Holy Spirit filled the believers and empowered them with needed boldness to continue preaching the Good News, despite the council’s directive.
If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you too can boldly share the Gospel with those hungering for a Savior!
Pastor Norton Lawellin
The Father’s House
Jesus In the City Fellowship
Truth & Freedom Church
