“Acts 4:1-22”

Monday, December 21, 2015

“As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, ‘By what power, or in what name, have you done this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.’ Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, saying, ‘What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.’ And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.’ When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.”

---End of Scripture verses---

As you can see, teaching people about Jesus can get you into trouble. It’s getting bad now but it was much worse then. After Peter and John were arrested, the Jewish religious leaders asked them by whose power and authority they were acting and teaching. If they didn’t know the answer to this question, they should have. Peter told them everything they did and said was by God’s authority through the name of Jesus Christ (verse 10). Shouldn’t it have been obvious that only God could miraculously heal a man who had been lame his entire life?

Not only were all those things done and said in the name of Jesus, Peter went on to boldly tell those hypocrites that all of heaven’s authority is derived from the very One they had recently put to death. Notice what exclusive rights Peter ascribes to Jesus when it comes to eternal salvation. Peter said in verse 12 that, “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” That kind of restrictive statement doesn’t sit well with our politically correct culture today, and it didn’t go over very well in first century Jerusalem either. But the truth is still the truth even if the majority is offended by it. Unless you believe that Jesus is the Only Begotten Son of God, and unless you obey His supreme authority, you can’t be saved and go to heaven (John 8:24; 14:6). The apostles didn’t apologize for such an absolute, exclusionary statement. No one should.

When the council saw the boldness with which Peter and John spoke, they “recognized them as having been with Jesus” (verse 13). It was only their association with Jesus that could have equipped these men, who had no formal education or training, to speak with such eloquence and authority. Friends, when you spend considerable time with the Master, the changes should be visible to the people you come in contact with. Please avail yourself of the power that is packed within the word of the God. The Bible is the expression of the very mind of Christ. When you pour yourself into it, the truth will transform you like nothing else can (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 3:20-21; 2 Corinthians 3:12-18).

In verse 18 the rulers told Peter and John to stop speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus. Their response is classic: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge” (verse 19). It is always better to obey God and be declared “Faithful” by Him on Judgment Day, then to be condemned with the people who would have you defy Him on earth. The apostles would have rather been killed in the line of duty than to save their own skin avoiding persecution. Most of them actually were killed because of their obedience to Christ. Jesus said: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:25-26)

Peter went on to say, “For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (verse 20). I pray that my faith will one day be this strong.

Please read Acts 4:23-37 for tomorrow.

Have a great day!

- Louie Taylor

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