SALVATION IS ONLY FOUND IN JESUS
Acts 4:1-22
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (12)
chapter 4
1. The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.
2. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
3. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.
4. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
5. The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.
6. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family.
7. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"
8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people!
9. If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed,
10. then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
11. Jesus is "’the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’
12. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
13. When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
14. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.
15. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.
16. "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it.
17. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name."
18. Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19. But Peter and John replied, "Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!
20. As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
21. After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.
22. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. The religious leaders recognized that their authority over the people was in great jeopardy. The priests, captain of the temple guard, and Sadducees came to Peter and John, while they were speaking to the people, and had them arrested and put in jail. The devil was working through the religious officials to suppress the truth.
2. Though Peter and John stood trial before the most powerful people in Jerusalem, they were not afraid or second guess their ministry. Instead, filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter rebuked them. They had crucified Jesus. But their rejection did not stop God’s salvation work. God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus became the cornerstone of our salvation. Because Jesus conquered sin and death through his own death and resurrection, salvation is available to anyone who believes. In fact, no one else can save us – only Jesus can save us (12)!
3. The religious authorities were confounded. They couldn’t deny the healing of the man. They ordered Peter and John to stop speaking but the apostles refused. They were simply obeying God when they shared the gospel. Pray for such courage to tell others about Jesus, even in the face of opposition.
Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus who alone saves us from our sins. Please fill me with your Spirit to boldly speak in Jesus’ name.
One Word: Jesus saves