Acts 4:5-12 - The only Name that saves

Having locked up Peter and John for the night, they brought them out for questioning the next day. Members of the Sanhedrin present were rulers and scribes or teachers of the law and Annas, the father-in-law of Caiphas.

Although at this point Annas had already stepped down and was no longer the reigning high priest, he still had influence. Hence, He maintained the title as High priest. Also present was Caiphas, who was the reigning high priest.

Who was the John among the Sandherin? He was probably Johnathan, the son of Annas. He was the high priest after Caiphas had stepped down. Alexander was the otherwise unknown person. He could well be another member of the high priestly family.

Members of the high priestly family were all linked to the temple. Hence they were in opposition to the messiac movement which preached that the crucified Jesus who died, but now was resurrected and alive.

They must have sat in a semi circle and placed Peter and John in the centre and questioned them, wanting to know who gave them the power to do what they did. They wanted to know who gave them the right to bring disruption to the temple. So they asked, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”

Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit Who had filled him, was given special wisdom  for the occasion. The Lord had promised them that at the right time, they would be given the ability to answer any query.

Respectfully and boldly Peter addressed the Sanhedrin, "Rulers and elders of the people", and forthrightly told that it was in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, that the cripple was healed. He even told them that this Jesus was the Same One they crucified and God had raised Him from the dead. What boldness!

Peter then went on to cite Psalm 118:22 and applied it to Jesus. He told them that Jesus was the very stone they had rejected but had now become the chief corner stone. Fearlessly, he declared that Jesus and Jesus alone was and still is the only name given by God under heaven where a person could find salvation. In no other name can salvation be obtained.

Peter’s assertive declaration came from his conviction that God has raised Jesus and seated Him at the right hand of all power. This  position would not be shared with anyone else. Therefore it's only in that Name that blessing would flow.

The Sanhedrin did not believe in the exaulted Lord Jesus or had any knowledge about Him, they couldn't accept what Peter had said. But Peter's words solemnly warned that there would be no hope for them nor Israel if they kept on rejecting Jesus. For this is the only Name where salvation could be found.

Look at the aggression of Peter! In essence He was saying Christ or nothing! Christ or judgment! For us who have found faith in Christ we can assertively declare that we are heaven bound. Meanwhile, we need to live a life of gratefullnes not arrogance. While we declare the only Name that saves, we must also walk circumspectly.