Acts 4:29

And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,

'LOOK UPON'-Could mean, simply take note of. Or it could involve of ideas of frustrating and hindering the plans of wicked men. 'It is beautiful to notice how, in the heat of the unjust persecutions, the Church hands over her quarrel to her Lord, and is only careful that she be not stopped in her work by the threatenings of her enemies.' (P.P. Comm. p. 125)

'THEIR THREATENINGS'-i.e. the threats just issued by the Sanhedrin.

'GRANT..TO SPEAK THY WORK WITH ALL BOLDNESS'-'with all fearlessness' (TCNT); 'with fearless courage' (Wey); 'confidently' (Knox).

Points to Note:

They had already been very bold (Acts 4:19-20), but they realized that this was just the beginning of persecution and not the end.

Notice how the apostles didn't pray for obstacles to be removed. But rather for the courage to face them. It is unreasonable for. Christian to expect that God will protect them from opposition (Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:12).

The Gospel message deserves to be presented in. confident manner, without apology or embarrassment (Romans 1:16).

The apostles were remembering two very important things: (a) The God they served was all-powerful. (b) All human rebellion is futile. In the end, God always wins, and in the end, His purposes are always fulfilled.

'The Sanhedrin might threaten, but their threats called not for fear and silence but for increased boldness of speech.' (Bruce pp. 106-107)