Peter's Holy Spirit's power amazed the educated religious snobs
Peter's Denial by Rembrandt, 1660. Jesus is shown in the upper right hand corner, his hands bound behind him, turning to look at Peter. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The priests and elders were “astonished” (marveled, wondered) when they saw the “courage” (Gk. parrēsian, confident openness and freedom in speech) of Peter and John; they perceived they were “unschooled,” not having attended a rabbinical school47 or having sat under a great rabbi like Gamaliel,48 and were “ordinary men,” nonprofessionals, laymen, amateurs. This does not mean they were totally unschooled. They had gone to the synagogue schools in their hometowns, but they were not professional teachers or trained speakers like the scribes and lawyers. Ordinary laymen did not speak with authority like this. It must have been hard for Peter and John to face such snobbishness. But the key to their courage and freedom in speaking was not their own talent or ability. It was, of course, the new fresh filling with the Spir