They began to understand the effect Jesus had

Acts 4:13 says: The council members were astonished as they witnessed the bold courage of Peter and John when they discovered that they were just ordinary men who had never had religious training. They began to understand the effect Jesus had on them simply by spending time with him (Passion Translation).

This last sentence struck me when I read it this morning. The council members were struck with astonishment when they saw and heard Peter and John. The apostles had been arrested and was brought before the Jewish council to explain a miracle that had taken place through their hands. God had used them to heal a man that had been crippled from birth. The Jewish leaders, the religious scholars, and the elders of the people had arrested Peter and John and made them stand in front of the council as they questioned them: "Tell us, by what power and authority have you done these things?"

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answered them. Boldly he proclaimed the truth to them, charging them of crucifying the Lord Jesus Christ, whom God had raised from the dead. With great conviction he declared that there is no one else than Jesus who has the power to save: "There is only one name to whom God has given the power by which we must experience salvation: the name of Jesus!" 

It was then the members of the council began to understand the effect Jesus had on the disciples. Even though they were just ordinary men, simply spending time with Jesus had an effect on them. They had no religious training. They never attended any seminary. They never had any university degree. But simply spending time with Jesus had a deep and profound effect on them. The members of the council could not deny the effect Jesus had on those ordinary people who simply spent time with him.

May people around us began to understand the effect Jesus has on our life when we simply spend time with him. The secrete is to spend time with Jesus. It has an effect that people will begin to understand more and more.