Paul’s “Southern Accent” and Peter’s “Northern Accent”
Over the years, I have often been teased about my southern accent. While it is not as pronounced as it once was, I realize that when I speak a common question is, “Where are you from?” Now before you think that being southern is all that bad, may I remind you that Paul said “you all” thirty-one times in his writings!
Your speech tells more about you than you think. As Peter watched the trial of Jesus, those that stood by said he was with Jesus because they knew he was from Galilee (Luke 22:59). Matthew gives the reason for their charge, “Certainly you too are one of them, for you accent betrays you” (Matt. 26:73, ESV). (By the way, maybe those from northern Galilee did not say “you all” for Peter only uses it only once in writing his epistles. 
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Our speech does reveal our character. Have you noticed what Peter did to convince them he had not been with Jesus? “Then he began to curse and swear, saying, ‘I do not know the Man’” (Matt. 26:74). Cursing and swearing is not part of the character of those who have been with Jesus.
There is another event in Peter’s life which should be noted. After Peter repented of his wrong, God used him in a mighty way on the day of Pentecost. It is his message that day which is recorded in Acts 2. The next chapter tells Peter and John’s healing of the cripple man at the gate of the temple and the powerful message Peter spoke at Solomon’s porch in the temple. They were arrested and these two men stood before the highest Jewish council, the Sanhedrin. Once again the spokesman was Peter. He did not waver this time as he did when he warmed himself at the “devil’s fire.” He was no longer ashamed to be known as one who was a follower of Jesus.
Study carefully Luke’s recording of this event. “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). They had been with Jesus! Being with Jesus changes the way you speak!
So what about your speech? Do you cower and fail to speak up for that which is right? Is there timidity in standing for that which is right? Perhaps you need to spend more time with Jesus.
Jesus was bold and forthright. He did not hesitate to rebuke the hypocrisy of the Pharisees in Matthew 23, nor did He hesitate to rebuke Peter when He said, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me” (Matt. 16:23). His boldness was tempered with kindness, but He spoke truthfully.
May God help each of us, whatever our accent, to spend time with Jesus and speak so that others always know we have been with Jesus!