Observation

The persecution of Peter and John after the healing of the lame man. (Acts 4: 1-31)
This question was less popular among the candidates and a higher percentage of those who attempted it lacked mastery of this passage and their performance was below average. Points candidates ought to have pointed out are;

1. After the healing of the cripple at the Beautiful Gate, the lame man demonstrated his cure by leaping and praising God, as he accompanied the disciples into the temple
2. Many people recognized the cured man and they were amazed
3. As they gathered, Peter and John preached and about 5,000 were converted
4. Peter attributed their ability to heal the man at the Beautiful Gate to the resurrected Christ
5. There was so much noise in the temple that Peter and John were arrested by the Priests, the Sadducees and the captain of the temple
6. They were put in custody and tried by the council the following day
7. During the trial, they were asked to tell the source of the power they used to heal the cripple
8. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit answered that it was through the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they crucified but God raised from the dead
9. Peter also said that apart from Jesus, there was no other name by which men would be saved
10. Peter added that Jesus is the stone which the builders rejected but has become the corner stone
11. The Sanhedrin upon seeing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving that they were uneducated, common men, realized that they had been with Jesus.
12. The Council saw the man who had been healed standing with them and they could not press any charge against them
13. The captain of the temple and the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection were annoyed because the disciples were proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection from death
14. Thus the Sanhedrin decided to restrain Peter and John by commanding them not to speak in the name of Jesus again
15. But Peter and John resolutely insisted that they would obey God rather than man
16. They were then set free and they joined the other apostles to pray, thanking God and asking for more boldness to speak the word of God and perform miracles
17. As they prayed, the place where they stood shook and they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

B. Lessons that can be learnt from the reaction of Peter and John

1. We should be bold and resolute in doing God’s work/perseverance
2. -It is better to obey God than men/ have faith in God
3. Opposition and persecution can never stop God’s work
4. It is only God who equips one for his work
5. We should be willing to die for our beliefs
6. We should pray and thank God in every situation
7. We need to value our principles