Boldness: A Call to Live with Courage and Conviction

By David Norfleet

The Book of Acts is more than just an account of the early days of the church.  As the second volume of Luke’s writings, it captures the continuation of Jesus’ work through His disciples after His resurrection and ascension.  In Acts, we witness the powerful movement of the Holy Spirit and the spreading of the gospel despite intense opposition and persecution.  It reveals a striking pattern of boldness—boldness in message, boldness in action, and boldness in the face of danger.  This pattern serves as a model for believers today, calling us to boldly live out our faith with courage and conviction.

The Purpose of Acts: History, Guidance, and Triumph

At the heart of Acts lies a clear and significant purpose.  Luke’s goal was not just to tell a story, but to lay down a historical foundation for the church, demonstrating the origins of our faith and its miraculous spread across the Roman world.  As G. Campbell Morgan aptly put it, this book shows how God’s supply to humanity meets its deepest needs.

More importantly, Acts is a guide for the church.  It provides essential principles that guided the apostles through challenges, persecutions, and triumphs.  These same principles remain applicable to the church today, offering wisdom and direction on how to navigate the complexities of living out our faith in a hostile world.  Finally, Acts highlights the triumphant growth of Christianity, showcasing how the gospel not only survived under harsh opposition but thrived, making its way from Jerusalem to the far reaches of the Roman Empire.

Acts and Boldness: A Hallmark of the Early Church

Throughout Acts, one characteristic stands out: boldness.  The book begins and ends with the bold proclamation of the gospel.  Acts 2:29 and Acts 28:31 both describe the unwavering courage with which the apostles boldly preached the message of Christ.  The Greek word parrhesia, meaning “boldness,” is used consistently throughout the book, underscoring its central role in the early church's mission.

So, what is boldness?  It is the courage to take risks, to speak the truth even when it may lead to danger or opposition.  It combines integrity—honesty and moral uprightness—with courage—the strength to stand firm despite fear or adversity.  In Acts 4, we see a vivid portrayal of boldness in action as Peter and John boldly proclaim the message of Jesus, despite being threatened by the religious authorities.  This boldness was not born of arrogance or self-confidence, but from their deep conviction in the truth of the resurrection and the power of the Holy Spirit.

What Made the Apostles Bold?

In Acts 4, we see a powerful example of this boldness.  After Peter and John healed a man who had been lame from birth, they were arrested and questioned by the Jewish authorities.  The response they gave was a testament to their boldness: they spoke openly about the resurrection of Jesus, declaring that it was through Jesus’ name that the man had been healed (Acts 4:8-12).

What made these apostles so bold?  It was their unshakable conviction in the message they carried—the message of Jesus' resurrection and the hope of salvation through Him.  They had witnessed firsthand the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and now they were empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry that message to the world.  Despite being untrained in the ways of the rabbinical schools, their boldness was evident to everyone, even the Jewish rulers, who could not deny the miraculous healing and the courage of these men.

Boldness in the Face of Opposition

The boldness of the apostles did not go unchallenged.  As we read through Acts, we see that opposition to the gospel grew increasingly intense.  The apostles were not only questioned and threatened, but they were also beaten and imprisoned.  Yet, their resolve did not waver.  When the authorities ordered them to stop speaking about Jesus, Peter and John responded, “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

The early Christians faced real and immediate danger.  Today, while we may not face the same level of violent opposition, we still encounter challenges and resistance in different forms.  In many places around the world, Christians risk their lives simply by sharing the gospel.  Even in more open societies, there are cultural and social pressures that seek to silence the message of Christ.

We live in a world where speaking about Jesus can sometimes bring ridicule, rejection, or even legal consequences.  Yet, just as the apostles were bold in the face of opposition, we too must find the courage to stand firm in our faith.  In Matthew 10:16-23, Jesus prepares His followers for such opposition, reminding them that they will face persecution but assuring them of God’s presence and protection.

God Desires Boldness for His People

The boldness we see in Acts was not just a human effort.  It was the result of God’s power at work in the apostles.  After their release from prison, the believers in Jerusalem gathered to pray for boldness.  In Acts 4:29-31, they prayed, “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”  God answered their prayer, filling them with the Holy Spirit and empowering them to speak with even greater courage.

Just as God empowered the apostles, He is still at work in His people today.  He desires boldness in His followers.  The apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6:19, asked the church to pray for him, that he might speak the gospel boldly.  Likewise, we are called to seek God’s strength to live with courage in the face of challenges.  As we trust in His power, we can boldly proclaim the gospel, just as the apostles did.

A Personal Call to Boldness

Boldness is not a trait reserved for the apostles or for those with a certain personality type.  It is a characteristic of all who follow Christ.  Proverbs 28:1 tells us, “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”  As followers of God, we are called to be bold, standing firm in our faith and declaring the truth of the gospel.

However, this is not always easy.  There are moments when fear, doubt, or a desire to please others can cause us to shy away from speaking the truth.  Like many, I have faced moments of hesitation, moments when I was worried about what others would think or feared the consequences of standing firm in my beliefs.  But we are not called to live in fear.  Instead, we are called to trust in God, to remember that He is with us, and to speak boldly for His glory.

As we close, let us remember the words of Isaiah 50:7, “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.”  With God’s help, we can face opposition, speak with boldness, and live out the truth of the gospel in every situation.