Acts 4:1-22
No Other Name
Read the passage
1While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,
2greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
3They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day.
4But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
5The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,
6along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priest’s family.
7They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people!
9If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed,
10then let this be known to all of you and to 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.
11This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’
12Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.
14And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in response.
15So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.
16“What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it.
17But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.”
18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.
20For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened.
22For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Peter and John are arrested while proclaiming the resurrection in Jesus. Many hearers believe, but the authorities hold the apostles overnight. The next day they ask by what power or name the man was healed.
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter answers that it is by Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they crucified and God raised. He uses Scripture's picture of a stone rejected by builders that becomes the cornerstone. The leaders rejected Jesus, but God has given Him the decisive place.
Peter then speaks beyond this man's healing: salvation is found in no one else. Jesus' name represents the Savior Himself. The apostles do not claim a special technique; they announce the One through whom people must be saved.
The council sees their boldness and recognizes that these ordinary men have been with Jesus. The healed man stands beside them, and the leaders cannot deny the remarkable act. Instead, they order the apostles to stop speaking in Jesus' name.
Peter and John ask whether it is right to listen to these orders rather than God. They cannot stop speaking about what they have seen and heard. After further threats, they are released. Their witness is costly, but the truth they have received is too important to hide.
Questions
1 Why were Peter and John arrested?
AnswerThey were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead, which challenged the leaders’ control of the religious message.
2 What did the leaders ask?
AnswerThey asked by what power or in whose name the crippled man had been healed, forcing the apostles to identify the source of the sign.
3 What did Peter say about salvation?
AnswerHe said salvation is found in no one else, because no other name under heaven has been given to humanity by which we must be saved.
4 Why could Peter and John not stop speaking?
AnswerThey could not stop speaking about what they had seen and heard, even when obedience to the authorities would have required silence.
What This Means for Us
Peter's claim about salvation gives us a reason to speak of Jesus clearly. He is more than one helpful influence among others. We depend on Him as Savior and invite others to know Him.
That confidence should lead to humility. We need the same rescue we are telling someone else about. Speak plainly about Christ without treating the other person as an opponent to defeat.
The apostles' refusal concerns a direct command to stop their God-given witness. It does not make every preference of ours a reason to disregard authority. Ask what obedience to Jesus actually requires in the situation before you.
Prayer
Jesus, you alone save. Give us courage to speak truthfully about you and wisdom to do so with humility, patience, and love. Amen.