Read Introduction to Acts

 

⁹ If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, ¹⁰ let it be known to you all, 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 stands here before you whole. ¹¹ This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ ¹² Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

 

4:9

If we this day are judged [legal or judicial examination] for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,

Peter’s question had to do with the reason for their trial. He and John had healed a lame man, which is an ethical act, not a legal act. The apostles’ ethical acts were a measure of mercy.  

4:10

let it be known to you all,

The “you” here are the rulers over Israel.

and to all the people of Israel,

Peter took the occasion of their trial to speak to everyone, not just to the rulers of Israel. 

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

The term “name” refers to the character or nature of the person.

whom you crucified,

Peter put the council on trial by charging them with crucifying the Lord Jesus. That was a true crime, not the one of which the council accused the apostles. That crime is quite a contrast to the so-called crime of healing a person, which caused a disturbance.

whom God raised from the dead,

The significance of proclaiming the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead rests on the truth that those events resolved the problem of human sin; the healing of the lame man was only a tertiary factor legally. The healing demonstrated the authenticity of the foundational message of the apostles. 

by Him this man stands here before you whole.

Peter and John answered the council’s question about authority here. It was by the authority of the resurrected Christ that the man lame from birth was healed.

4:11

This is the

The apostle now quoted the Bible from Psalm 118:22. Peter used Scripture in all his speeches. He used a passage here that Jesus referenced while going to a Jewish festival.

‘stone which was rejected by you builders,

Peter presented Jesus as the Messiah as a “stone which was rejected by you builders.” The Crucifixion of Jesus was like a stone that builders of an edifice rejected and threw away (1 Co 1:23).

which has become the chief cornerstone.’

The “cornerstone” was the most important stone of a building. This stone graphically illustrates the significance of Jesus Christ’s rejection by the nation Israel.

4:12

Nor is there salvation in any other,

“Salvation” here is the eternal salvation of the soul. “In any other” is an absolute and universal claim to truth, the truth that only Jesus and His work can save a soul.

for there is no other

The words “no other” is a double negative in Greek, making an emphatic statement. There is nothing relative or measured about this statement. Moses could not save a soul; neither could Abraham. Jesus is the exclusive Savior; there is no other.

name under heaven given among men

The emphasis on the “name” of Jesus has significance. During the New Testament period, the idea of personal names meant more than the labels whereby people are identified. The concept carries thoughts of authority, power, character, and status.

We do not use the name of Christ as a magic formula. His name represents the fact that He is the Son of God who became the Son of Man on our behalf. The salvation of souls depends entirely and exclusively on knowing Him personally and accepting His work on our behalf.

by which we must be saved.”

“There is no other name under heaven among men by which we must be saved.” The name of Mohammed, referencing Buddha, or being a Baptist will not do. It is the reference to the “name” whereby Peter told the lame man to get up and walk.

“Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I unto you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” 

PRINCIPLE:

The Son of God became the Son of Man so that those who believe in Him might become the sons of God.

APPLICATION:

Not just any religion can save a soul; in fact, no religion can deliver people from their sin. There is one, and only one, way people can receive salvation; that is by believing that Jesus paid for their sin/s on the Cross. The Resurrection verifies that Jesus died for sins, but He rose to establish that He had justified those who believe in Him (Ro 4:25). Salvation revolves around who and what Christ is and did. It is an either/or issue.