Seen And Heard

But Peter and John answered and said to them, whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 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 no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.  

Acts 4:19-21

Certain things live forever in our memory. Many of these things derive from what we have seen and heard. If we close our eyes we can see exactly what happened even though decades may intervene. We have heard things that ring in our ears long after the speaker has ceased. These contribute to the sum of all our experiences. The apostles had lived in the presence of Christ for three years. They went where He went, saw what He did, and heard what He said. These left indelible marks on their memories. The Holy Spirit filled them on the day of Pentecost and gave them boldness to preach Christ. When they did, they drew on their memories of all they had seen and heard. When they stood up to preach, they made much of Christ. This brought them into conflict with the religious authorities. Our text is Peter’s answer to their demand that they speak to no man in this name. Peter would not cease because he had a charge from Christ to be His witness. His choice was to obey God or man. Peter chose God. He had a commission to preach Christ and felt the burden of that responsibility. He and the others could not but speak the things that they had seen and heard. We have also seen and heard things by Christ of which we also must speak. Christ is our lived experience. 

Our God of Grace and Glory, 
we rejoice at what You have shown us of Christ, 
We praise You that we have the privilege 
to declare to others what we have seen and heard. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning