The Sadducees were the ruling class of Jews. They didn’t believe in the resurrection. They arrest the apostles for teaching contrary to their teaching.

When the apostles were set before those gathered to judge them, Peter speaks for the group. It says, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…” That doesn’t have to mean that the Holy Spirit filled him in that moment. He was full of the Holy Spirit. It’s pointing out that this isn’t Peter talking. This is a new man. The Holy Spirit is speaking through him. We partner with the Holy Spirit. He does all the real work. We give ourselves to Him to do His work.

They are astonished at Peter for several reasons. The man was healed. What could they say against that? Also, they understand that Peter is uneducated, yet he’s speaking to this group of respected, educated leaders and talking brazenly. He tells them that they rejected and crucified the one who had the power to heal the man.

There is salvation through Jesus Christ alone. That’s Peter’s message. And he won’t stop saying it.

They order them not to speak in Jesus’ name any more.

Peter and John answer that they must obey God, not man, and explain that they must share what they have seen and heard. They have been sent out as witnesses. They will fulfill their job in the Holy Spirit’s power to do so.

The believers gather and pray together. They pray a psalm about rulers gathering against the Lord’s anointed.

Satan is not after us. He’s after Jesus.

The apostles know that those who killed Jesus only were able to do what God had predestined would happen. They fulfilled God’s redemptive purposes.

The apostles prayed for boldness by asking God to perform signs and wonders and to heal. The room they were praying in was shaken. They didn’t ask for the Holy Spirit to come. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. We’re to live filled with the Holy Spirit.

You can ask for the Holy Spirit, but if you think you are lacking, I think the issue is not that you need more Spirit. It’s likely that something needs removing from your life that’s blocking His filling or flowing.

The Holy Spirit is love poured out. If we are all full of love, we will have one heart and love one another. We just need self out and Love poured in to achieve the unity believers are supposed to be walking in.