Helpless

“We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20

“I just can’t help it!”

Most often this phrase is used as flimsy justification for unseemly behavior, but when stated by Peter and John, the words weren’t an excuse but were the very reason they couldn’t keep quiet about Jesus. “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard”(Acts 4:20).

In a quandary about what to do with the men who had “done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it”(Acts 4:16), the Jewish Sanhedrin had issued a gag order on the disciples in hopes of suppressing the message of Christ. “To stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in the name of Jesus”(Acts 4:17), so they called in Peter and John and “commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus”(Acts 4:18). But the men were non-compliant—responding with a cutting challenge and an emphatic assertion. “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard”(Acts 4:19-20)

Even if they tried, they couldn’t keep quiet. What they had seen was too amazing not to talk about. They had seen Jesus walk on water, cast out demons, and calm stormy seas. They had seen Him serve the Passover, pray in the garden, and die on a cross. They had seen the empty tomb, the vacant grave clothes, and the Risen Lord. And a few weeks later, as Jesus lifted His nail-scarred hands in blessing, they had seen Him ascend to heaven and send a promise of return back to earth. And what they had heard was too astounding not to tell. They had heard His call—“Come, follow me.” His claim—“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” And His command—“Go into all the world and make disciples.”

Silence was no longer an option. Jesus was more than just a story; He was life. He was their joy, their hope, their purpose, their peace, and His name would never leave their lips. No matter what anyone else said, they knew what they would say. They just couldn’t help it.

May we be as helpless.