Acts 4:1-22
No Other Name
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
The priests, captain of the temple guard, and Sadducees arrest Peter and John because they are teaching the people and proclaiming resurrection in Jesus. The next day the leaders ask by what power or name the man was healed.
Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit and speaks plainly. The leaders see the courage of Peter and John and recognize that they had been with Jesus. The healed man is standing there, so the evidence cannot simply be dismissed.
The authorities order them not to speak in Jesus' name. Peter and John answer that they cannot stop speaking about what they have seen and heard. The church's boldness is not aggression; it is truthful witness under pressure.
The leaders are confronted by a healed man who is standing beside the apostles. They cannot deny that something remarkable has happened, but they still want to control the name attached to it. Peter's answer is not that the apostles possess a special technique. He says the man stands healed through Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the one the leaders rejected and God raised from the dead.
The council notices that Peter and John are ordinary, unschooled men, yet their courage is unmistakable. The leaders also recognize that these men had been with Jesus. That is not a claim of academic superiority; it is the source of the apostles' public confidence. They speak about a visible act and a known Lord, and the authorities cannot make the facts disappear by issuing an order.
Questions
1 Why were Peter and John arrested?
AnswerThey were teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection of the dead in Jesus.
2 What did the leaders ask?
AnswerThey asked by what power or name the man had been healed.
3 What did Peter say about salvation?
AnswerHe said salvation is found in no one else and in no other name.
4 Why could Peter and John not stop speaking?
AnswerThey could not stop speaking about what they had seen and heard.
What This Means for Us
Christian boldness is not volume or hostility. It is the willingness to tell the truth about Jesus when obedience is costly, while keeping your conduct clear and your words free from needless provocation.
Prayer
Jesus, you alone save. Give us courage to speak truthfully about you and wisdom to do so with humility, patience, and love. Amen.