There is a repeated word that functions as the main theme of Acts 4:13-31 and it can be found in vv.13, 29 (translated confidence) & 31. Now when you think of boldness, don’t think of loud, brash or argumentative speech; think instead of one who speaks freely, unfettered by anything but conviction. This means that the street preacher with a megaphone, loudly condemning all sinners to Hell, is not bold, but offensive. Instead, the college student who stands for Christ in a room full of skeptics is bold; the employee who points to Christ as the only reason he or she works honestly and diligently is bold; the one who gently brings a corrective statement after an erroneous comment is made about God is bold; the one who pleads with someone to repent from a sinful lifestyle is bold.
We can obtain more of an idea of the NT meaning of boldness when considering Paul’s request in Eph. 6:19 and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. The reason Paul is making a request for boldness is because boldness is being unfettered from fear of man and it’s unfettered from thinking acceptance of the message is based upon one’s persuasiveness and eloquence of speech. In the NT, boldness is not the result of any type of positive reception. That is clear in Acts 4, as it also is in Acts 14:1 In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. 2 But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. 3 Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands. So instead of rising or falling based upon the reception of others, boldness is directly tied to the sovereignty and authority of the author of the message and of the one who commissioned the proclamation of the message. This means that rejection of the message is actually a rejection of the Author and Commissioner of the message.
So the factors that should affect boldness have nothing to do with circumstances, but rather are based upon the realization of whose jurisdiction we find ourselves under—God Almighty!
The apostles understood this and so did the early church and thus God used them to shake up the world through faithful, bold gospel proclamation.
The boldness of the early church
