Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13
What made Peter and John the powerful witnesses that they were? It wasn't social standing or extraordinary natural ability. The people around them knew them as just common fishermen. They were Galilean country folk, now changing the city of Jerusalem. What got the attention of the Jewish rulers before whom they now stood? Peter and John had been with Jesus.
Discipleship had worked. What was remarkable about Peter and John... the thing that made them the bold preachers and Spirit-led healers was that they had been with Jesus. Everything else about them was common, but they were extraordinarily and undeniably like Jesus. And the rulers who executed Jesus now recognize Jesus in His men.
The effect of being men who had been with Jesus was powerful. The Jewish authorities were astonished to see these two average guys boldly preaching the gospel and doing the kinds of miraculous things that Jesus did. It was undeniable... they had been with Jesus and now acted like their Master. Disciples are known by their likeness to Jesus. And that is the measurement of successful discipleship we should all seek.
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