Daily Scripture Reading Acts 4:8-31
The dominant belief in the modern world is that all religions are equal and there are many ways to heaven. People who espouse this view will claim Yahweh and Allah are two different names for the same deity. Even many Christians are confused on this topic, being either unwilling or unable to argue against this prevailing mindset.
In today’s reading we will see that Peter made a declaration regarding Jesus that contradicts the notion that all religions are equal. His declaration needs to be the foundation on which Christians approach the task of world evangelization.
We read yesterday that after Peter and John healed a man who had been lame since birth, Peter told the astonished crowd to repent. Some priests and Sadducees, along with the captain of the temple guard, arrested the apostles, put them in jail for the night, and brought them before the Jewish authorities the next morning. The rulers asked the apostles by what power they were doing what they were doing.
Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people,
Acts 4:9 if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick man, as to how this man has been saved from his sickness,
Acts 4:10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health.
Peter began by giving Jesus the credit for the healing of the lame man.
Acts 4:11 He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone.
The pronoun “you” refers to the Jewish leaders. Peter did not try to be nice or diplomatic. He stated bluntly that Jesus, who was rejected by the Jewish leaders, was actually the chief cornerstone.
Peter did not say he was quoting scripture, but his statement about a rejected stone becoming the cornerstone is from Psalm 118:22. The Jewish leaders knew the Psalms and probably understood he was referring to the Psalm.
The author of Psalm 118 did not specify who was the rejected stone. He simply stated a rejected stone would become the chief cornerstone. However, Peter clearly applied the concept to Jesus.
Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
This is an important statement regarding the doctrine of salvation. Jesus is the only way to be saved.
There are many in our world who claim all religions are equal and there are many paths to salvation. There are many so-called Christians who waffle on the exclusivity of Christianity.
However, Peter preached very clearly that Jesus is the only way. Yahweh and Allah are not two different names for the same deity. Yahweh is the true God. Allah is a false god. We Christians must stand strong on this doctrine. Eternal destiny is at stake. Anyone who does not believe in Jesus will spend eternity in hell.
Acts 4:13 ¶ Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and comprehended that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.
Take note of the word “confidence”. Peter and John were no longer the timid men who were slow to grasp what Jesus had been teaching them while Jesus was on earth. Instead, they were 100% convinced about the deity of Christ and committed to serving Him.
Notice the words “uneducated” and “ordinary”. Peter and John were not products of the rabbinical schools; thus, they did not have the “proper” education to do what they were doing.
We see the word “marveling”. The Jewish religious leaders were surprised Peter and John had such confidence in light of the fact that they were uneducated.
At the end of the verse we see the phrase “began to recognize”. Apparently, when Peter and John were arrested, the authorities did not connect Peter and John with Jesus. At this point they made the connection.
Acts 4:14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.
Acts 4:15 But when they had ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they began to confer with one another,
Acts 4:16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy sign has happened through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
Acts 4:17 But lest it spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.”
Acts 4:18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
Acts 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to hear you rather than God, you be the judge;
Acts 4:20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Elsewhere, the Bible commands us to obey the government and church leaders. However, if the commands from the government or church leaders contradict commands from God as found in the Bible, then we need to obey God, not man.
Acts 4:21 And when they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened;
Acts 4:22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this sign of healing had occurred.
Acts 4:23 ¶ So when they were released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
Acts 4:24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Master, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM,
Acts 4:25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,
‘WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE,
AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE VAIN THINGS?
Acts 4:26 THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND,
AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER
AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’
Verses 25 and 26 are quotes from Psalm 2. The Psalmist wrote about earthly rulers taking a stand against Yahweh and His Christ. That is what the Jewish leaders were doing to Jesus.
Acts 4:27 For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
Acts 4:28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.
Take note of the word “predestined”. Predestined does not merely mean God knew it would happen a certain way. Predestined means it had to happen that way.
Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your word with all confidence,
Acts 4:30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders happen through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed earnestly, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with confidence.
This is the third time the word “confidence” was used in today’s passage. The apostles had doubts about Jesus when Jesus was on earth. However, after Jesus went back to heaven, the doubts were gone. The apostles were 100% convinced about the deity of Jesus.
Peter confidently preached that Jesus is the only way to salvation. There are many religions in the world, but the God of the Bible is the one and only God.
What do your relatives, friends, and acquaintances believe regarding the validity of all the religions in the world?
Do they agree with our society that there are many ways to heaven, or are they convinced that Jesus is the only path to salvation?
How strongly do you believe Jesus is the only way to heaven?
What are the positives and negatives about how your church addresses the exclusive claims of Christianity?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”