Acts 4:1-22

Courts have a high standard of proof.  In order to convict anyone of a crime, there has to be evidence.  Prosecutors make their living finding and presenting facts that prove beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant is guilty.  This is true no matter what the offense.  The process is the same for a charge of jaywalking as it is for murder.  If it were criminal to be a follower of Jesus, the evidence would show Peter and John were guilty.

Many witnesses would testify that they had heard Peter and John claim that God resurrected Christ.  They also claimed to know the resurrected Christ.  The belief in, and relationship with, a resurrected savior is the cornerstone definition of a Christian.  However, by itself, this is not enough for a guilty verdict.  There must be more evidence than just a self-incriminating claim.

Next, people would testify that the disciples were doing good works.  Good works are not proof of Christianity.  Many non-Christians do good works; doing good works in the name of Jesus makes it Christian.  Anyone claiming the name of Christian, but who never does anything good, is a liar.  Christians, always do good things, although they try to do it without fanfare.

The testimony would show that Peter and John, when forced to choose between God’s will and earthly authority, chose God.  They were law abiding in everything, until man’s law contradicted God’s law.  Christians fear and obey God over human authority.

The prosecutor would also present evidence of Christian fellowship.  Communing with nature or meditating is not evidence of Christianity.  There was also evidence that they took part in the Christian sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and baptism.

There was proof that they were followers of Jesus, but that was not yet against the law, so the leaders threatened them and let them go.  When the law changed, Rome convicted and crucified Peter in 66 A.D.  It did not require a trial; Peter’s Christianity was self-evident.  Followers of Jesus become self-evidently guilty of being Christian.