It seems that we don’t get dressed up as much anymore, so I bought this dress to improve my personal style. In this passage, however, Peter needed no personal image improvements for the message to be effective.
In contrast, Peter was given supernatural ability (filled with the Holy Spirit), to answer the high priest’s question (prompted by the Sadducees’ concern) about what authority had been used to do this miracle and subsequently teach about resurrection from the dead.
It was by the name of ONE (Jesus Christ of Nazareth) who was given for the salvation of all mankind, meaning for both men and women alike.
The historicity of Jesus’ life, death, burial and resurrection, authenticates His claim as the Son of God. “…there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” #deliveredfromsin
What a great hope to hear those words. The people were weighed down with religious burdens. In fact, the very leaders who enforced those requirements had rejected the cornerstone of God’s building (the Church).
Lord, help us today to open our hearts to your authority. May we experience salvation and begin life anew in Your name. -Teresa #freetolove
Acts 4:1-14 (ESV)
4 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus[a] is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.[b] 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men[c] by which we must be saved.”
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
Footnotes
a. Acts 4:11 Greek This one
b. Acts 4:11 Greek the head of the corner
c. Acts 4:12 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women
d. Acts 4:25 Or child; also verses 27, 30
e. Acts 4:26 Or Christ
Reconnection 