I've Been With Jesus

August 17, 2025 a.m. Acts 4:1-13 “I’ve been with Jesus”

As you all probably know, school has already started or is getting ready to start. I read about a little boy who got into a lot of trouble. The teacher asked the students what they’re favorite animal was. And when it got to the little boy he said it was a chicken because he LOVED FRIED CHICKEN. The other kids laughed and the teacher didn’t think it was funny so she sent him to the principal’s office. The principal told the little boy he kind of agreed with him and thought it was funny but he ended with, “Don’t do it again.”

So the next day the teacher asked the children what they’re favorite LIVING ANIMAL WAS. The kids answered a dog, cat and so on and when they go to the little boy he said his favorite living animal was a CHICKEN because you can FRY CHICKENS. The kids all laughed and the teacher didn’t and so back to the principal’s office he went. The principal said, “Now I see your point and it’s kind of funny but ... “Don’t do it again.”

And so the next day back in class the teacher asked the children who they’re favorite PERSON was. The kids answered that it was their mama or daddy or grandma. And when it came around to the little boy he said ... “Colonel Sanders because he makes the best fried chicken!!!” And back to the office he went.

You know, if you spend any amount of time with people, it doesn’t take too long to figure out some things about them. What they LIKE and what they don’t LIKE.

What’s IMPORTANT in their life and what doesn’t matter.

I guess there can be no doubt that FRIED CHICKEN was pretty important to this BOY. It was all he could think about.

And hey, I get that, I like fried chicken too. It seems like young people now-a-days like their Chick Filet. But give me a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken Original Recipe and I am GOOD TO GO. They can keep their Chick Filet.

But getting down to business here, we’re gonna read out of the Book of Acts, Chapter 4. And we’re gonna see what was important to the Apostles Peter and John. What made a HUGE IMPACT in their lives. So let’s begin reading at Verse 1 and we’ll read through Verse 13.

“And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,

2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,

6 And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”

Chapter 4 is a continuation of the story we find in Chapter 3, Peter and John are walking up to the Temple and they are entering in at the Gate called Beautiful. And setting there at that gate is a fellow who has NEVER been able to walk. No doubt it’s what we would call today Cerebral Palsy. He has been carried there by someone who must have cared about him.

And he is BEGGING for ALMS. He’s asking people to have PITY on him and give him money. And so as Peter and John approach the man he asks them to give a little. But here’s the deal. They had NONE to give. ZERO. They were BUSTED BROKE!!! But they knew a GOD who owned everything. They knew a GOD who would SUPPLY every NEED they had. Man I love this story. Verses 4-6 of Chapter 3 tell us,