The Book of Acts
Salvation Is In Jesus Alone
Acts 4:1-12
Verse 1
Acts 4:1
“Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the
temple, and the Sadducees came upon them.”
NKJV
Because a large crowd had gathered at Solomon’s
Colonnade, the religious authorities came to see what was going on.
The Sadducees were the religious aristocracy, the wealthy,
upper-class. They believed only in the first five books of the
Bible and denied the resurrection of the dead. The captain of the
temple guard was considered second in authority; only to the high
priest.
Verse 2
Acts 4:2
“being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in
Jesus the resurrection from the dead.”
NKJV
The Sadducees were incensed that Peter was preaching the
resurrection of the dead right in the temple area. Whenever the
early church talked about Jesus, they emphasized His resurrection.
Why? The resurrection means He is the Son of God and His word can
be trusted. It means our Savior is alive and can help us in times
of need. It also means that one day we will also be resurrected.
(I Corinthians 15:20-22) “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and
has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For
since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the
dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made
alive.”
NKJV
Verse 3
Acts 4:3
“And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next
day, for it was already evening.”
NKJV
Even though they had done nothing except heal a lame man, they were
still arrested and put in jail until morning. The Law would not
allow trials in the evening even though this had not stopped them
from doing so with Jesus.
Verse 4
Acts 4:4
“However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number
of the men came to be about five thousand.”
NKJV
The church grew despite Peter and John being put in jail. Two
thousand males were added, not counting women and children. It’s
possible there were as many as fifteen thousand Christians now in
Jerusalem. This was a high percentage of the population.
Note: Telling others about Christ is risky. You
could be rejected, ridiculed, gossiped about; you might lose
friends. But it is worth it! Nothing done in the name of Christ is
ever wasted.
Verse 5
Acts 4:5
“And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders,
and scribes,”
NKJV
The Council – the Sanhedrin, was the same one that
had condemned Jesus to death. The Council had seventy members plus
the high priest with the Sadducees having a majority. They were the
ruling government of Israel. Even though they were the prominent
religious leaders, they were lost! They had crucified the Son of
God and were trying to silence His messengers.
Verse 6
Acts 4:6
“as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander,
and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered
together at Jerusalem.”
NKJV
Luke lists the power players of Israel who were at the trial.
Caiaphas was Annas’s son-in-law.
Verse 7
Acts 4:7
“And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, ‘By what power
or by what name have you done this?’ ”
NKJV
The Council surrounded Peter and John. Doing the same act in the
name of someone is doing it by that person’s power and authority.
(Luke 24:46-47) “Then He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus
it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead
the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.’ ”
(Matthew 28:19-20) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age.” Amen.
NKJV
Verses 8-10
Acts 4:8-10
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of
the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a
good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made
well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel,
that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified,
whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before
you whole.’ ”
NKJV
Jesus had previously told His disciples this.
(Matthew 10:16-20) “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of
wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But
beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge
you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and
kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But
when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should
speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should
speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father
who speaks in you.”
NKJV
Peter declared the irony of John and him being arrested because they
had done an act of kindness. He attributed the healing to Jesus
Christ, whom they had crucified. Now Peter put the Jewish leaders
on trial!
Verse 11
Acts 4:11
“This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has
become the chief cornerstone.”
NKJV
Peter quoted a familiar Old Testament passage. (Psalm 118:22)
“The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief
cornerstone.”
NKJV
He proclaimed Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone. Jesus had
identified Himself as the chief cornerstone. (Mark 12:10-11)
“Have you not even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the
builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone? This was the
Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
NKJV
(Romans 9:30-33) “What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did
not pursue righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but
Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the
law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith,
but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at the
stumbling stone. As it is written: ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a
stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him
will not be put to shame.’ ”
NKJV
(I Peter 2:7) “Therefore, to you who believe, He is
precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The stone which the
builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.’”
NKJV
The cornerstone was the most important stone in a building.
Verse 12
Acts 4:12
“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name
under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
NKJV
Peter’s argument reached a climax. That same Jesus, who had healed
the lame man, is the only source of spiritual healing. There is
salvation in no one else! (John 14:6) “Jesus said to him, ‘I am
the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through Me.’ ”
NKJV
Jesus alone is able to provide access to God because He alone paid
the penalty for sin. (Hebrews 1:3) “who being the brightness
of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all
things by the word of His power, when He had by himself purged our
sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”
NKJV
People claim we are being arrogant and narrow-minded when we say
salvation is found in Christ alone. But that is the simple truth.
(I Timothy 2:5) “For there is one God and one Mediator between God
and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”
NKJV
The way to salvation is truly narrow. (Luke 13:22-24) “And He
went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying
toward Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, ‘Lord, are there few who
are saved?’ And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the
narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not
be able.’ ”
NKJV
Bobby Stafford
June 14, 2015 [Evening]
Lesson 14 Acts 4:1-12
