Morning Grace

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”). He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ~ Acts 4:32-37


Every human interaction offers you the chance to make things better or to make things worse. ~ Barbara Brown Taylor


Things had already been worse.

The teacher had been killed. The followers scattered.

And before that even, the Romans had subjected …

So (the chief priests and elders) called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge; for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old. After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ~ Acts 4:18-23
Grace has been out of hand for more than 2000 years now. We best get used to it. ~ Rachel Held Evans
For the leaders of the temple things had gotten out of hand. The people were on board with these Jesus followers. They could see it happening. They didn't know how to stop it. They gave in - at least for now - and…

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand. ~ Acts 4:1-4


Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen. ~ Brene Brown



The disciples - now apostles - weren't hiding any more.

Remember that Peter had denied knowing Jesus? So really, he had denied who he himself was.

Remember that it was the women - not the disciples - who showed up at the foot of the cross.

Remember that it was the disciples - Peter included - who hid in a room after Jesus had died.

And now they were showing up.

They had been so scared to be arrested after Jesus' death. And now? Now they were arrested for teaching about the risen Chr…

(Peter said) "In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets. Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you. And it will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out of the people.’ And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, also predicted these days. You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ When God raise…