In case you missed a week or two, shortly after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, appeals were presented in an effort to overturn the decision of the “court.” Although the sentence of “death” could not be retracted, at least there was a chance that the opinion of those who made up the “court” could be reversed. And that’s exactly what Peter and John attempted to do in Jerusalem shortly after Jesus’ ascension.  

Last week, we looked at Peter’s second “appeal” to the Jewish people on the day of Pentecost, and today, we will focus on Peter’s third appeal, which occurred shortly after the lame man was healed, and after he and John were released from prison. At this “appeal,” the “big guns” were present, namely, the rulers, elders, scribes, and even the high priest himself, along with others of high priestly descent. Not only that, but they placed Peter and John in the center of this austere bunch of religious leaders. They began their interrogation with a question,

“By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” (Acts 4:7).

They were asking about the healing of the lame man, and just as they had done with Jesus, they were questioning whether it was done by the power of God or of the devil, or of some other imposter. Peter, being filled with the Holy Spirit, responded,

“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” (Acts 4:10).

It was all about the Name, but more importantly, it was what was behind the Name which provided the authority to do what Peter and John had done. Remember Jesus’ commission to His disciples to go into all the world and make disciples, and then to baptize and teach them to observe all of His commandments? Well, Jesus prefaced His Great Commission by saying,

“All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth…” (Mt. 28:18).

Jesus had given His disciples (now apostles) the authority to perform miracles and to take the Gospel to the world. Peter and John were saying that although it was through their hands that this miracle occurred, the power and authority to do so came through none other than Jesus Christ. Peter went on to quote a passage from the Psalms by saying,

“He is the Stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the very cornerstone” (Acts 4:11).

Peter was using this Old Testament prophecy to let the rulers know that the One whom they have rejected (Jesus was not the “cornerstone” that they wanted nor the one they were looking for) has become both Lord and Christ, and the Cornerstone of the Church, the New Covenant Temple of God. And now Peter, once again, provides the way of salvation for all those listening,

“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” (Acts 4:12).

In this statement, Peter echoed what Jesus said about Himself in the Gospel of John,

“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (Jn. 14:6).

I am convinced that one of the reasons why Christians around the world are maligned and persecuted is because of their “exclusive” stance on the only way of salvation, which is not through works or religious ritual, but through a Person, and His name is Jesus, just as Peter made abundantly clear.

And years later, the Apostle Paul would more fully explain what Christ did on the cross for our salvation,  

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly….For God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:6-8).

So, what happened to Peter and John after Peter made this clear statement about salvation being found in no other person that in Jesus? Listen to what Luke records about the reaction of the religious leaders,

“Now as they observed the boldness of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, 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” (Acts 4:13-14).

The healing of the lame man was followed by boldness in their proclamation of Jesus’ power and authority to not only heal, but to also forgive sins. The forgiveness of sins is Jesus’ greatest gift to anyone who asks Him to do so. Not only that, but when “sins” are taken away, the gift of “life” is imparted to the one who is forgiven. This is God’s great gift to anyone who asks Him. If you haven’t already done so, maybe it’s time. The Bible says,

“Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

If that’s true, which it is, then why not take advantage of the time God has given you? May God richly bless each one of you.