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Peter and John had healed a lame man who was sitting at the gate of the temple begging for money (3:1-10). Upon performing this miracle, Peter spoke to the crowd which had gathered to see by what power they had done this thing. He quickly deferred attention from himself to God (3:12-13) who had empowered them through the Holy Spirit to do this great work, but also was calling them to repent of sin and believe in Jesus Christ (3:14-26). Not everyone was happy that Peter and John had brought healing to this lame man and were preaching repentance to the people. The "priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead" (4:1-2). Because of their displeasure, this group arrested Peter and John; however, Luke writes that still "many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand" (4:3-4). This was a huge choice for the people to make considering that preaching this message had landed Peter and John in jail. In the days of the early church, placing your belief in Jesus Christ could result in going to prison or possibly even result in death.
The day following the apostles' imprisonment, the Sanhedrin (ruling body of the Jews) gathered together and asked the apostles, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" They wanted to know who gave them permission to heal this lame man. Instead of apologizing for their offensive message and the power given to them by the Holy Spirit to heal the lame man, Peter declares that there is not "salvation in any other, for there in no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (4:12). This was an extremely bold statement considering that they were already being held captive for their radical message. It would have been easier for them to back down, but they knew the resurrected Christ had given them a mission to spread the message of salvation to all people. Apologizing for their exclusive claims of salvation through Christ alone would have destroyed this very important message to the world.
The Sanhedrin reacted to the courage of Peter and John by recognizing that they were uneducated and untrained men; however, "they had been with Jesus" (4:13). The apostles time with Jesus had provided them with a bold faith and commitment to the truth. These men realized that there was something different about these men even though they were not educated according to worldly standards. The Sanhedrin decided that they could not deny the miracle which had taken place, but they also wanted to make sure that the message Peter and John were spreading would go no further. Luke writes that the Sanhedrin "called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus" (4:18). Peter and John answered that they would not stop preaching Christ (4:19-20). The Sanhedrin threatened them a little more thinking they would give in, but Peter and John remained committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ and were released (4:21-22).
The two apostles returned to their friends reporting what had happened to them and praised God for His power and protection (4:23-28). They prayed together with other Christians that God would give them more boldness to speak the truth and that He would continue to enable them to perform miracles in the name of Jesus Christ (4:29-31). This incident should empower us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) to those who need to repent and place their belief in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin. In a world which scoffs at the exclusive claims of Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation (John 14:6), we must be bold in our witness of His death, burial, and resurrection for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-7). Most of us who live in the United States do not even have to fear physical persecution for our faith in Jesus Christ, but we fear what others may think if we speak up. May God grant us boldness to call people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as He gave the apostles courage.
Dear God, grant me the courage to speak up about the salvation which is offered through Jesus Christ. Help me not to give in to the inclusiveness around me, but may I speak the truth in love.
The day following the apostles' imprisonment, the Sanhedrin (ruling body of the Jews) gathered together and asked the apostles, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" They wanted to know who gave them permission to heal this lame man. Instead of apologizing for their offensive message and the power given to them by the Holy Spirit to heal the lame man, Peter declares that there is not "salvation in any other, for there in no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (4:12). This was an extremely bold statement considering that they were already being held captive for their radical message. It would have been easier for them to back down, but they knew the resurrected Christ had given them a mission to spread the message of salvation to all people. Apologizing for their exclusive claims of salvation through Christ alone would have destroyed this very important message to the world.
The Sanhedrin reacted to the courage of Peter and John by recognizing that they were uneducated and untrained men; however, "they had been with Jesus" (4:13). The apostles time with Jesus had provided them with a bold faith and commitment to the truth. These men realized that there was something different about these men even though they were not educated according to worldly standards. The Sanhedrin decided that they could not deny the miracle which had taken place, but they also wanted to make sure that the message Peter and John were spreading would go no further. Luke writes that the Sanhedrin "called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus" (4:18). Peter and John answered that they would not stop preaching Christ (4:19-20). The Sanhedrin threatened them a little more thinking they would give in, but Peter and John remained committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ and were released (4:21-22).
The two apostles returned to their friends reporting what had happened to them and praised God for His power and protection (4:23-28). They prayed together with other Christians that God would give them more boldness to speak the truth and that He would continue to enable them to perform miracles in the name of Jesus Christ (4:29-31). This incident should empower us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) to those who need to repent and place their belief in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin. In a world which scoffs at the exclusive claims of Jesus Christ as the only way to salvation (John 14:6), we must be bold in our witness of His death, burial, and resurrection for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:1-7). Most of us who live in the United States do not even have to fear physical persecution for our faith in Jesus Christ, but we fear what others may think if we speak up. May God grant us boldness to call people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as He gave the apostles courage.
Dear God, grant me the courage to speak up about the salvation which is offered through Jesus Christ. Help me not to give in to the inclusiveness around me, but may I speak the truth in love.
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