Acts 4:1-31 Only One Way
In October 2025, 20 surviving Israeli hostages were released, as were 1900 Palestinians, many of whom had been associated with the violent Palestinian organisation, Hamas. It has been widely said that their freedom has been brought about by the drive of one man, Donald Trump. People everywhere are talking about Trump, would he do the same for Ukraine? Whatever you think about him he is undoubtedly a major factor, he has power.
Yet there has been an even greater rescue in the history of the world that one man has achieved, yet there is much pressure on people not to talk about him.
Today you often hear people say,
“We are not allowed to talk about Christian things at work”
Astounding, this is in a country with laws about freedom of religion and free speech.
Throughout the book of Acts the one central defence of Christian leaders, which arraign ed before the authorities, whether Jewish or secular was ‘What we are teaching is true, really true’
This account is of the first public examination of what the church was teaching. Note what had happened. Peter and John had just healed a man, over 40 years old, who had been a paraplegic since birth. Onlookers were astonished and gathered in the Court of Gentiles of the temple to hear Peter explain that this miracle was done through Jesus. He didn’t mince his words:
“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.” Acts 3:13-15
He finished this talk with an appeal:
“Anyone who does not listen to him (Jesus) will be completely cut off from their people.” Acts 3:23
That is blunt and uncompromising. In the listening crowd were a group of Sadducees, the rulers of Israel who controlled the Sanhedrin. They did not accept there was a resurrection or an after-life.
“They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.” Acts 4:2
What was even worse was that people were believing what Peter and John were saying:
“But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.” Acts 4:4
The Sanhedrin felt something had to be done so they had Peter and John arrested and kept in prison until a hearing before the full Sanhedrin took place the next day. Remember this was the body that had had Jesus crucified just 7 weeks before. There was no charge, just a question:
“By what power or what name did you do this?”
Did they mean ‘preach publicly’ or did they mean ‘heal the paraplegic man’? They already knew the answers to both. Peter did not need a permit to speak in the Court of Gentiles. They wanted to see if Peter would crumble under extreme pressure and deny Jesus. Instead Peter gives a remarkably bold uncompromising response emphasising the exclusivity of the Christian message.
The audience - the Sanhedrin
Amongst these rulers was Caiaphas, the ruling High Priest between 18-36 AD. He had been responsible for the execution of Jesus. Annas was also there (v.6). He was a fascinating powerful figure. He had been the High Priest between 6-15 AD and was now father-in-law of Caiaphas. Four of Annas’ sons had been made High Priest and now it was his son-in-law’s turn. This dynasty reeked of nepotism. They were all Sadducees.
The trial took place in the temple, the centre of Judaism. This place represented the presence of God, it was where people sought God’s pardon through the sacrificial system. The temple was meant to be where God’s truth was declared to the people and it was in this very place that Peter talks boldly about Jesus. The core of his answer is seen in verse 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.” Acts 4:12
There can be no doubt what they are doing. They are boldly saying to the rulers of Israel:
“You have made a terrible mistake in not recognising who Jesus is”
Note the audacity to speak like that before this audience.
The defence - the Truth
Peter’s defence was to tell the truth so he pinpoints Jesus, ‘the bête noire’ of the Sanhedrin. Look at what he says:
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 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, 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.” Acts 4:8-10
Note how wise the Christians were. They had arranged for the healed man to come as a witness and he was standing there with them.
The word ‘healed’ can also be translated ‘saved’. Salvation was the purpose of the temple. The temple had been built so that salvation and peace with God could be obtained. The temple was the centre for teaching how God wanted his people to live. However now all this was being changed. Jesus the man they crucified had risen from the dead to show that he had now replaced their religion. New wine cannot fit in old wineskins. He is now the only way to be saved, it is only through Jesus that can people find peace with God. It is now through Jesus and his apostles that we know how he wants us to live.
Christianity is not a religion, the means by which we try to satisfy God. The word ‘religion’ is derived from the Latin ‘re-ligare’ to try to tie ourselves back into God’s favour. Religion is what we do to try and satisfy God but whatever we do can never satisfy him. All of us have sinned and fall short of his glory. Our only hope is if God himself can come and pay the price for our sin. That is what Jesus has done. The Christian faith is not a philosophy like Hinduism or Buddhism, it is not a symbolic idea, it is not a set of rules..
Christianity is the only religion that is based on the work of one man, Jesus - God’s Messiah, or God’s Chosen King who lived and died on that cross so we can be put right with God. He did miracles and rose from the dead to prove his claim. No-one else has done that. Furthermore he fulfilled all those 330 Old Testament prophecies about the future Messiah. Christianity is based on one man who lived and died at a fixed time in the world’s history.
This is why Peter pinpoints Jesus. Jesus is the heart of his speech. It is significant that he quotes from Psalm 118:
“Jesus is “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else . .” Acts 4:11-12, Psalm118:22
This Psalm is one of the famous Messianic passages in the Old Testament. It was one of the psalms sang by pilgrims as they walked towards Jerusalem for one of the festivals., it would have been recently sung as they approached Jerusalem for the recent ‘Feast of Pentecost’. This is what it says:
“I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes.
The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.
Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.” Psalm 118:21-26
Peter is saying that Jesus has fulfilled this prophecy about the Messiah. Remember what the crowd shouted on Palm Sunday? Jesus has come to save us. This should be a day of great rejoicing, not condemnation.
Did you notice a subtle change in the quote Peter used? Psalm 118 says ‘the stone the builders rejected’ whereas the bold Peter said, ‘The stone you builders rejected’. This is remarkable, to talk about your judges in this way. They could only get away with it if it was true.
In ancient large buildings everything depended on the massive ‘cornerstone’. It was immovable and gave security to the whole building.
Peter is actually saying to the High Priest and the other dignitaries present:
“The death and resurrection of Jesus fulfils the Old Testament prophecies and proves that Jesus is Lord of all. More than that, he is now the foundation stone on which God is building the future. In Jesus alone are all of God’s eternal blessings. Reject Jesus and you prove yourself to be outside of God’s eternal purposes.”
To talk like that takes guts, but God’s Spirit had emboldened him, just as he emboldens all of us to speak about Jesus.
The temple had represented God’s revelation to man, it was where sacrifices were offered to satisfy God but now Jesus had taken these role to himself. He was the ultimate sacrifice. Within a generation that temple was destroyed, and never rebuilt. However Jesus had said early in his ministry:
“Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days.” John 2:19
Neither the Jews nor the disciples had understood this but later John wrote:
“But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.” John 2:21-22
Jesus is the only means by which men and women of any nation or religion can be saved. This is the substance of Peter and John’s defence. He is asking the Sanhedrin to come to Jesus.
Come to Jesus, Jesus is God’s revelation
Come to Jesus, come under his rule, take his yoke upon you
Come to Jesus and receive God’s pardon for all your sin
Come to Jesus, he and now his Spirt are God’s presence
Come to Jesus and receive God’s eternal blessing.
A 10 year old schoolboy asked his form teacher,
“Sir, have you ever seen God?”
The teacher wisely replied,
“No, but if I had lived in Israel 2000 years ago I could have done.”
That is what Jesus and his apostles taught us. It is never what we do, our moral behaviour, our commitment to our religion that can put us right with god, it is what God has done in Christ to save us.
The Outcome
This story is full of irony. In it the power and authority of the temple and its rulers are gradually slipping away. It was similar to what happened at the Berlin Wall in 1990. Gorbachov’s Soviet Union was collapsing because of the boldness of those who believed in democracy. Similarly it was the boldness of the Christians that caused the power of Judaism to ebb away. History shows that truth always wins eventually. Look t the sequence:
v.13 The elite are astonished at the disciples courage, ‘They took note that these men had been with Jesus.’
v.14 They were silenced because of the evidencc. The healed man was standing there.
v.16 They were forced to admit defeat, ‘What are we going to do’
v.17-18 They resorted to the abuse of power, ‘Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.’
As the Christians speak up about the truth of Jesus so opposition withers. Peter and John’s reply was magnificent:
“Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20
Were the disciples arrogant?
How dare these formally uneducated men stand up against God’s chosen authorities in the land? These disciples are insisting that there is a higher authority and that is God’s truth. The facts about Jesus, his crucifixion and resurrection could so easily have been investigated and witnesses called for. But if confirmed it would mean everyone would have to recognise Jesus’ claim to be God’s only son, the Messiah. His claim to be the ultimate sacrifice for sin, who carried on that cross God’s judgment, would mean that Judaism as a religion was finished. No, it wasn’t truth that mattered to the authorities it was political expediency.
In Jesus we have the final revelation from God for mankind. He is our one true ruler:
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
Graciously speaking the truth is never arrogant.
Today there are many who suggest that all religions are essentially the same. The Baháʼí temple near Chicago is a nine-sided structure with nine doors that symbolize the Baháʼí belief in the unity of all religions. The temple is designed to be a place of worship for people of all backgrounds and religions.
Some Christian cathedrals and churches have even organised multi faith services. Doesn’t truth matter any more to Christians?
Henry Martyn (1781-1812), Anglican missionary, was the guest of a Muslim friend for dinner. His host described for him a painting he had seen of Jesus bowing down before Muhammad.
“I was cut to the soul at this blasphemy. Mirza Seid Ali perceived that I was considerably disordered and asked what it was that was so offensive? I told him
‘I could not endure existence if Jesus was not glorified; it would be hell to me if He were to be always thus dishonoured.’
The Muslim was astonished and again asked ‘Why?’ Martyn replied,
‘If anyone pluck out your eyes, ‘there is no saying why you feel pain; it is feeling. It is because I am one with Christ that I am thus dreadfully wounded.'”
We are not arrogant to graciously insist that Jesus be highly honoured because the evidence shouts that he really is God’s one and only Son who entered his world. No other religion recognises Jesus to be God who came to be the only Saviour of the whole world. They are all opposed to the deity of Jesus and to deny this difference is simply wrong.
The authorities told Peter and John not to talk about:
“Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:18-20
Christians must be bold
The Sanhedrin recognised the reason Peter and John could answer them with such boldness:
“. . . they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13
They threatened the disciples again, giving them one last chance to obey them, but they had to let them go as undoubtedly a miracle had been performed that everyone knew about, the previously paraplegic man was standing there healed.
Today there is great pressure on Christians from the secular elite and from other religious groups for us to keep quiet in spite of the laws of this country. They want to silence the claims of Jesus, claims that are so challenging.
When Peter and John related these events to others in the young church, they reminded each other that this opposition was to be expected. They reminded the believers of Psalm 2. Note that even in this early days, the Word of God was the foundation of the church:
“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.”
Yet the Psalm goes on:
“The one enthroned in heaven laughs . . .” Psalm 2:4
Notice their reaction to these threats, a reaction that should be ours today. They all prayed:
“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” Acts 4:29
As they prayed the place where they were meeting was shaken. God blessed them all:
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
Hugh Latimer once preached before King Henry VIII. Henry was greatly displeased by the boldness in the sermon and ordered Latimer to preach again on the following Sunday and apologise for the offence he had given. The next Sunday, after reading his text, he thus began his sermon:
"Hugh Latimer, do you know before whom you are this day to speak? To the high and mighty monarch, the king's most excellent majesty, who can take away your life, if you offend him. Therefore, take heed that you do not speak a word that may displease. But then consider well, Hugh, don’t you know from where you came - upon Whose message you are sent? Even by the great and mighty God, Who is all-present and Who sees all you do and Who is able to cast your soul into hell! Therefore, take care that you deliver your message faithfully."
He then preached the same sermon he had preached the preceding Sunday--and with considerably more energy.
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
“As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” Acts 4:20
Do you remember the words the Lord said to Joshua that keep being repeated in the Bible,
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
So let us all determine to leave here determined to be bold and courageous on behalf of our Lord and Saviour.
BVPalmer
