Salvation Is Jesus

Acts 4

Acts chapter 4 picks up the story right where chapter 3 left off, with Peter and John preaching the resurrection of Jesus to the people gathered in amazement at the healing of a crippled man. The Sadducees, a group of Jewish religious leaders who did not believe in a resurrection of the dead, arrested Peter and John for their preaching and put them in prison for the night.  Nevertheless, a good number of men believed in the message that Peter and John preached and the number of believing men in Jerusalem grew to about five thousand (v. 4).

Verses 5-22

The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 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. He is

“‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ (quoted from Psalm 118:22)

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

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. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

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. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

In this narrative we can see the arrogance and power driven leaders of Israel at the time. They felt that their power and influence over the people was threatened and so instead of leading the people in truth, as their position was created for, they rebelled and oppressed the truth. But even in the face of oppression, Peter uses the scripture that Jesus’ crucifixion had fulfilled and then plainly says that Salvation is only available through Jesus.

Just like the rulers of that day that feared the Gospel would somehow weaken their power over the people, powerful rulers all over the world try to restrict the spread of the Gospel. Satan is actively working to restrict the Gospel and salvation of as many as he can, and no doubt puts it in the heart of many to reject truth, just as the Pharisees and Sadducees did.  Over 40 countries worldwide imprison, torture, and kill those who want to spread the truth out of love. Ironically, the people who are being persecuted and the full message they bring say nothing about usurping power form the leaders. In fact, Biblical Christianity teaches that we are to obey and submit to the rulers that are over us. The only instance when Christians are to disobey is when we are told to do (or not to do) something that is contrary to God’s law. In Acts, this rebellion against authority is shown in verse 19 when Peter says, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.” But even in that instance, nothing that Peter or John was preaching dealt with rebellion or usurping of power from the leaders.

The leaders that were interrogating Peter and John could not deny the miraculous and good work that they had done in healing a 40 year old crippled man, and the people were all praising God for the healing, so the two Apostles were threatened and released.

Peter and John return to the believers and give an account of what happened, and another prophecy from Psalm 2:1-2 is given to explain what had taken place.

Acts verse 25-30:

You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
” ‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the Lord
and against his Anointed One.

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Again, scripture shows that God had purposed the salvation of man through Jesus since the beginning.

The chapter closes with a look into the lives of the first Christian church in Jerusalem. They continued to preach the resurrection of Jesus and many people sold some of the extra they had in order to share with believers who were in need.