No Other Name Under Heaven (Acts 4)

We continue in the book of Acts for our Summer Reading Challenge of 2022. Today’s reflections from Acts chapter 4, look at the Apostles’ defense before the Jewish Council. 

• Acts 4 has three main movements: (1) Peter and John are arrested and then stand before the council (4:1-22); (2) the believers praying for boldness to keep proclaiming the Gospel (4:23-31); and (3) how the believers cared for one another (4:32-37)
• Today’s episode focuses specifically on Peter’s response to the pressure of the Jewish Council.

Part 1:  What is Going on?

• Acts 4 begins with the priests, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees arresting Peter and John — and the man who had been healed.  The reason is specifically stated in 4:2 – they were greatly annoyed because they were (1) teaching the people (that was their job!) and (2) proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
  • This makes more sense as you learn more about the Sadducees — they denied the resurrection (see Acts 23).  “ESV Study Bible” (https://amzn.to/3azWAlJ) has a helpful article about the “Jewish Groups at the Time of the New Testament”
• This arrest is the first time recorded in Acts that the believers face some punitive measure for their proclamation of Jesus.  While the actions of the Jewish Council were swift, they did not prevent the news from spreading.  In fact, we read that “many of those who had heard the word believed” (4:4).
• The following day, the whole council is gathered and they set before them these men.  And the stage is set for their defense.

Part 2: Peter’s Defense

• The scene must have been quite imposing!
  • You have the most politically powerful and religiously regarded members of your people now questioning you — many of these men have spent their whole lives in the religious system of the temple, they are well educated and wealthy.  
  • And here are Peter and John – a couple of former career fishermen — and (as we learn from 4:14) a former lame man and career beggar from outside the temple.  
• They inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” (4:7)
  • What would be Peter’s answer?
  • Before we get to that… What would your answer be?  How would you respond to this question if you had just spent the evening in jail simply because some powerful people were “greatly annoyed”?  How would you seek to navigate your defense?  It was not that long ago that Jesus was put to death by these people! 
• We read Peter’s response in verse 8 and following:
  • He was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke to them (as a side note, read Luke 12:11-12).
  • Peter sounds off, loud and proud — if we are being examined concerning the man being healed, “let it be known to ALL OF YOU 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 is standing before you well” (4:10)
    • Talk about some boldness!! Peter does not hesitate, he does not seek to soften his words!
  • He continues in 4:11 and declares that “this Jesus” (remember chapter 2) was the stone rejected by YOU, the builders.  Peter makes an unveiled reference to Psalm 118:22.
    • Jesus himself had referenced this passage while teaching in Jerusalem during the Passover week – just before His death and resurrection.  In fact, he had told a parable against the very rules that Peter now was standing before – see Mark 12:1-12.
  • And now, we see Peter take a step further – he says in Acts 4:12 — “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
    • How could Peter say this?!  “Salvation belongs to the LORD” (Psalm 3:8; Jonah 2:9)
    • This is the repeated message of the prophets – “I, I am the LORD and besides me there is no savior” (Isaiah, 43:11); “I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior” (Hosea 13:4).
      • And yet, this is the message of the New Testament — that there is no other way by which God saves people other than through Jesus.  To Peter, and the other authors of the New Testament, this is no conflict — for the LORD, the Eternal Father, saves through the God-man, the Everlasting Son, Jesus Christ.
        • For, as Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).  I would encourage you to look also at John 3:18; 20:30-31; 1 John 5:12.
        • Indeed, Paul would also talk about this name that is above every name.  He will argue that those who call upon that name – the name of the Lord – will be saved! (See Philippians 2:9-11 and Romans 10:13)
        • And we see in the book of Revelation a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9-10)!
    • Peter proclaims to this council of the religious elite — there is salvation in no one else other than this Jesus!  There is no other name by which we must be saved!  If we would be saved it will be by faith in the name of Jesus!
      • It was by faith in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that the man was healed (see Acts 3:6, 16; 4:10) — and it is by faith in that same powerful, and as we just learned, that exclusive name of Jesus Christ that anyone may have salvation!
    • Here, Peter is giving an invitation to the Jewish Council to trust in this cornerstone who they had previously rejected.  How would they respond?

Part 3: What Happens Next?

• Very briefly, I want to consider what happens next.
  • First, the Council’s Response.
    • Ultimately, the council witnessing their boldness and noticing they were unschooled, common men — they were astonished!  And yet they could not say anything in opposition to this man of more than forty years (4:22) being healed!
    • But they did not want their talk about resurrection and this “no other name” business to spread any further. So they charged them not to speak or teach AT ALL in the name of Jesus (4:17-18).
  • Second, the Apostles’ and Believers’ response.
    • Peter and John’s response was simply this – “you decide whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to YOU rather than God” (4:19).
      • And on that note – my friend, I believe these words are meant to stir in US a response.  When we are faced with extreme pressure — even warned / threatened not speak or act in accordance with what we know beyond a doubt to be true and the command of God — what will our response be?  Will we obey those issuing the pressure or will we obey God?  (See Matthew 10:28) 
    • When Peter and John return to the rest of the believers, they rejoice and pray to the Lord.  And rather than praying that the threats which were made against them would not be carried out — look at their prayer in 4:29 – “and now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness“!
      • And the Lord answers their prayer — 4:31 — “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”

Conclusion:

• My friend, I want to pose two thoughts in application and conclusion:
  • First, have you placed your faith in this Jesus – this one name under heaven by which men must be saved?  According to this passage, and the witness of the Scriptures, there is no other way!
  • Second, has the reality of that grasped you?
    • My friend, as I went over these words again, I was faced with a rather difficult predicament.  I find myself longing to be filled with the Holy Spirit and such boldness, and yet my heart recoils at the cost!  What did Holy Spirit-filled boldness look like for the early church?  In this chapter, it looks like jail — in the chapters to come… beatings, family members being killed, beheadings, and all manner of sufferings.
    • And yet, if there is salvation in no other name — this is hardly a cost to pay!  Indeed, when we grasp something of the glory of the Gospel and the Lord whom we serve, we like the Apostles in Chapter 5 will rejoice “that [we are] counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name” (5:41) — more to come in the next episode. 

• I want to challenge you today, if you have not known this great Savior, come to Him today — do business with your Maker!  Further, take the time to today — 10-15 minutes — to talk with someone you know about Jesus.  It can be a fellow believer or not.  Just take the time today to share Him with someone.

---

“ESV Study Bible” (https://amzn.to/3azWAlJ)

_____________________________________

Affiliate links means I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. This helps support Byte-Size Theology at no additional cost to you!