They Had Been With Jesus

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."  Acts 4:13.  Those men whom Jesus called to be His disciples were understood by the enemies of Jesus to be "ignorant and unlearned."  But one thing was clear and it was that these had been with Jesus.  Formal learning did not make them who they were.  Jesus had transformed their lives. The influence of Jesus had changed them into men of boldness and purpose. Jesus has a profound influence upon those who have been with Him.  Jesus changes attitudes and dispositions.  Those who have been with Jesus think differently and act differently.  Those who have been with Jesus become bold instead of fearful.  The enemies of Jesus were not going to turn these disciples from the charge that had been given to them.  Jesus was the reason that Peter and John were standing in the presence of these enemies.  Jesus had drawn them into His way of life and into the mission for which He had come to earth.  The world of evil needs those who have been with Jesus.  This world needs those who are learned in the way of right, goodness, and holiness.  This world needs those who will stand for truth and principle.  They who have with Jesus are such.