Acts 4:5-12 New International Version (NIV)
5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and 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. 11 Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’[a]
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
The most important Jewish rulers met in Jerusalem. Together, the high priest and 70 other men formed the Sanhedrin. The men in the Sanhedrin had to decide whether a person was guilty of a crime. Both Annas and Caiaphas had been at the courts when Jesus died (John 18:12-14, 24). Here, the men in the Sanhedrin met to decide whether Peter and John should have a punishment.
In verse 7, Peter and John stood in front of the most clever and powerful men in the country. The men in the Sanhedrin knew that a miracle had happened. They wanted to know how Peter and John had done it.
Jesus had made a promise to believers. He had said that they must not worry when important people asked them about Jesus. They would know what to say. So, they need not worry (Luke 21:14-15). The Holy Spirit would help them. This is true today, too. Today we talk about our faith in Jesus. And we must not worry when we talk about it. The Holy Spirit will help us, too.
The Holy Spirit helped Peter when he spoke to the rulers. He was bold. And his words were wise and true.
Peter reminded them that they should be happy. A sick man was completely well. He was standing in front of them. That miracle was ‘a kind act’. But Peter and John had not cured the man by themselves. They had done it ‘by Jesus’ authority. That is, Jesus Christ from Nazareth.’ Jesus had cured the man.
Peter said, ‘You killed him on a cross’ (verse 10). Peter was speaking to the men who really were responsible for Jesus’ death. Caiaphas was there. He had sent Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman ruler. Caiaphas had wanted the Romans to kill Jesus.
‘But God made him alive again’ (verse 10). The people had done bad things to Jesus. They had killed him. God had shown to them that they were very wrong. He had made Jesus alive again.
Peter used the word ‘stone’ to describe Jesus. The ‘builders’ were like Israel’s rulers. They did not think that Jesus was important. So, they had rejected him. But he was ‘the most important stone’. He was the Messiah. Now he sits next to God and he has the most important position in heaven.
The Romans and the Greeks had many gods. The Jews had their Law. But these could not save people. Today, there are many other religions. But there is still only one Saviour. Only Jesus can save us from the results of our sin. If we believe him, we have salvation.