We had another day off with the snow and icy road conditions. Though the sun has hopefully melted much of what was on the backroads, I would ask, Father, that You would keep us safe as we head out in the morning. Amen.
Acts 4:8-12 (<<click here to read the passage)
I’ll tell anyone right up front, that I’m not a good debater. If I’m called on the carpet to defend something, I might do a passing job, but probably not a good job.
If someone corresponds with me via email, unless it needs a very simple reply, for the most part I won’t give an off-the-cuff response. I may not reply until much later in the day or even the next day. I’ll type out what I want to say and read over it a few times to make sure it is thought through and given the attention it needs. I take important things seriously. I strive to make myself crystal clear and am determined to be honest and straightforward at all times.
Now the Apostle Peter was much better at on-the-spot retorts. Granted at this point, he was working fully under the direction of the Holy Spirit. God was using him in a mighty way!
It’s obvious as we read this passage that Peter was being crystal clear. He took this whole interaction with the Jewish High Court very seriously. No falsehood slipped over his tongue, and he minced no words but went directly to the core of the issue at hand.
Verse 7 tells us that Peter and John were repeatedly asked by the High Court, “By what sort of power, or in what name [that is, by what kind of authority], did you do this [healing]?”
Peter clearly broke his answer down, spelling it out for them.
…if we are being put on trial today [to interrogate us] for a good deed done to [benefit] a disabled man, as to how this man has been restored to health, let it be known and clearly understood by all of you, and by all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene… vs9-10a
Did he leave any base uncovered? He missed nothing! But he wasn’t quite done! He wanted to make sure they understood who he was referring to when he said Jesus Christ the Nazarene – though you’d think that that was pretty obvious.
…whom you [demanded be] crucified [by the Romans and], whom God raised from the dead—in this name [that is, by the authority and power of Jesus] this man stands here before you in good health. v10b
He then quotes Psalm 118:22,
This Jesus is the stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief Cornerstone. v11
They may have held themselves to be the pillars of Judaism, but Jesus was the Chief Cornerstone and the building stood on Him and Him alone!
And he drove home that point by proclaiming at the end,
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].” v12 AMP
Needless to say, his audience was speechless! And that in itself was quite an accomplishment!
Jan 25th, 2022, Tues, 6:16 pm
