The Company You Keep

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

How could this be? How could the two men standing before the Supreme Court of Jewish culture and religion speak with such calmness and confidence? Instead of shaking in fear and stumbling for words, their defense had been a bold proclamation and a biting accusation—“It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed”(Acts 4:10).

How could this be? “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished”(Acts 4:13). The elders, teachers, and priests composing the prosecution and jury each boasted several decades of learning and training under their belts and in their brains. They had spent years reading and memorizing the Old Testament scriptures, along with countless hours studying centuries’ worth of commentary and opinions written about the texts. However, the two common fishermen on trial had no such education and experience. Given their current occupation, Peter and John had likely failed to advance beyond synagogue grammar school, and yet their words were eloquent and effective, exuding divine authority and citing God’s Word.

How could this be? There was only one explanation—“They were astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Been with Jesus. That’s why He had called them close at the start—to be with Him. “He appointed twelve…that they might be with him, and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons”(Mk 3:14-15). The chief desire of God is intimacy. Our activity—the preaching and healing and all the other things we, or the apostles, might do—does not come first, but instead flows from our friendship with Him.

“Been with Jesus.” We are transformed when we spend time with Him. Our perspective and priorities change. The ways we view ourselves and others change. By His Spirit and through His Word, we become a lot more like Him and a lot less like us. His influence affects our actions and attitudes, and our relationship with Jesus becomes the reason for our confidence and competence.

The company we keep makes all the difference.
Don’t just be for Jesus. Be with Jesus. And people will take note.