"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13)
There is something about being with Jesus that takes men from a low estate to a greater place.
In the original Greek, "unlearned" means unschooled, and "ignorant" is literally "idiot."
What is interesting especially is that the people who listened to Peter and John thought that they were unschooled idiots. They judged by appearance, and boy were they wrong!
Jesus instructed the Israelites during His earthly ministry:
"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." (John 7:24)
Notice that because of Jesus, these two apostles--no longer are they disciples, since they have received Jesus' life and standing before God the Father (cf. John 20:22)--were bold! They knew the truth and they declared it without fear:
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)
This perfect love comes from being established in Jesus' righteousness (Isaiah 54:17; 1 John 3:7, 4:17).
The same holds true for wisdom and honor. Peter and John were not ignorant idiots in any way. Why?
Because of Jesus!
"But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30)
Jesus transforms us from dead in our trespasses to alive and seated in heaven places in Him (Ephesians 2:4-6) so that we are in His standing, and God our Father sees us in His Son!
"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17)
Hang out with Jesus--and You will become more like Him, all by the power of His Holy Spirit:
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18)
