A Study of Acts: Peter Answers an Interrogation with a Call to Salvation
Acts 4:5-12; John 14:6 - There is only one Name under Heaven through which we are saved.
“On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 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. He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 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.””
Acts 4:5-12 NASB1995
Peter and John were brought before the religious leaders after spending the night in jail. Many of the most senior leaders were there, including Annas, Caiaphas, John and Alexander (many of high priestly descent). So who were some of these leaders? Let’s look at Caiaphas, from Gotquestions.org; believers should be familiar with him from the persecution and trial of Jesus:
Joseph Caiaphas was the Jewish high priest during the time of Jesus’ ministry and a few years afterwards. He was a strong opponent of Jesus and His message.
Caiaphas was the son-in-law of Annas, the former high priest, which may have accounted for his own rise to power. Caiaphas was also a member of one of the ruling Jewish sects, the Sadducees. Sadducees were often wealthy men of high position and, as they sought to appease their Roman rulers, were heavily involved in politics. They held the majority seat in the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court, over which Caiaphas ruled for the 18 years he served as high priest. In terms of theology, Sadducees denied the afterlife and any existence of the spiritual world (angels, demons, etc.). Because of these things, they were often at odds with Jesus due to His teachings about humility, heaven, and His own deity.…
When the Jewish leaders had Jesus arrested at Passover, they first brought Him before Annas (John 18:13). After he had questioned Jesus, Annas sent Jesus to his son-in-law Caiaphas, who as the high priest would be the one to rule on Jesus’ fate. When Jesus stood before Caiaphas and the entire Sanhedrin, many false witnesses were brought forward, but nothing was found to warrant a death sentence (Matthew 26:59–60). Finally, Caiaphas stood up and addressed Jesus directly, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God” (verse 63). Jesus replied just as directly, “You have said so. . . . But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (verse 64). Caiaphas had what he was looking for; he tore his robe and cried, “Blasphemy!” (verse 65). The result of the sham trial was that Jesus was pronounced “worthy of death” and beaten and mocked (verses 66–67). However, since the Jews could not legally execute prisoners, Caiaphas sent Jesus to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate.
According to other commentary, it is thought that John (the priest, not the apostle) and Alexander were two other sons of Annas. This was obviously a powerful and corrupt political family. Someone who would know the members of the Sanhedrin and report those facts to Luke much later when Luke was writing this account was also probably there interrogating the apostles - a zealous Pharisee named Saul!
The elders and priests address Peter and ask him by what power or in what name he has done this healing. Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit as he replies. He politely addresses them and asks if they (Peter and John) are on trial for doing a good deed (healing a paralyzed man) and, without waiting for an answer, states that the man was healed by the power of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom they crucified and who rose from the dead. This is obviously a much different Peter than the one who denied Jesus. He is standing there in front of the very men who ensured the death of Jesus a mere 7 or 8 weeks previously and could send him to his death, yet he boldly speaks in His name, calling Him the Christ (Messiah).
I like this commentary in Precept Austin from Pastor Alan Carr on why the name of Jesus is so special:
At the mention of that precious Name:
Lives are altered.
Fevered brows become cool.
Blinded eyes open.
Deaf ears unstop.
Sin’s bars open and the shackles of spiritual bondage fall away.
Night turns to day.
Defeat is swallowed up in victory.
Hope replaces despair.
Dead men live.
The lost are found.
Devils tremble.
Sinners are broken.
Saints shout.
Angels bow.
More has been done through the agency and power of that Name than of all the names of all other people combined. There really is just something about that Name!
The name Jesus is the sweetest Name ever to fall upon human ears!
That Name is a cause for celebration in Heaven.
That Name strikes fear into the hearts of the inhabitants of Hell.
That Name changed my life, opened my eyes and saved my soul!
That name obviously wasn’t welcome among the high priests and elders. Peter continues by telling the ultimate truth: He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 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.
We live in a world of relative “truth”. So many people cherish their own emotional and mental states as “truth”. You have your truth, I have my truth. Christians are reviled because we believe that we have the only path of truth for salvation and eternal life. It is not found in Buddha, the Hindu Gods or a certain “prophet” who came after Jesus. It is not found in New Age mysticism, science, sex, entertainment, politics, saving the Earth, or in war OR peace. It is not to be achieved through good works, memorization of creeds, going to church or wishful thinking. When I was wandering in the wilderness of unbelief, I deeply resented the Christian claim to TRUTH. But the Holy Spirit works wonders in the mind and this TRUTH is now believed and cherished by me and I proclaim it is the TRUTH.
The words in the photo above from John 14:6 were spoken by Jesus as He comforted the disciples shortly before His arrest. Christianity is exclusive, requiring belief in Jesus, but the saved could include as many people as possible if we follow Jesus’ commands to preach His message to the far corners of the Earth. Here is some excellent commentary from Enduring Word on Peter’s words; David Guzik also addresses the grace and justice of our Lord for infants who die or others who have never heard the word (an example would be someone who is profoundly disabled mentally and cannot comprehend the story). His Grace and Mercy exceeds your dogma and He alone determines who is welcome in Heaven.
Nor is there salvation in any other: Peter didn’t merely proclaim Jesus as a way of salvation, but as the only way of salvation. The idea that there is no salvation in any other, and that there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved is hard to accept for many, but is plainly stated.
“Oh, how the world hates such statements! If you want to be laughed at, scorned, hated, even persecuted, testify to the exclusive claims of Jesus Christ.” (James Montgomery Boice)
Instinctively, man responds: “Isn’t there some way that I can save myself? Isn’t Jesus just for those ones who can’t save themselves?” No. If you are going to be rescued; if you are going to be made right with God, Jesus is going to do it.
Does this mean that everyone must make a personal decision for Jesus Christ to be rescued from eternal peril? What about the infant who dies? What about the person who has never heard about Jesus? We can say that God will deal with them fairly and justly, and those who are saved will be rescued by the work of Jesus done on their behalf, even if they lacked a full knowledge of Jesus. But what about you who have heard and perhaps reject?
If someone wishes to believe that all are saved or that there are many roads to heaven or that one can take the best of all faiths and blend them into one; fine. Believe so and bear the consequences; but please do not claim this is the teaching of the Bible.
The attempt at inclusivity of some denominations (like one I used to attend) flies in the face of the teachings of the Bible. They believe that everyone is welcome, but no one needs to repent of their sins or believe that Jesus died for those sins and rose from the dead to give us eternal life. They want to be “nice” and “kind”; the exclusive message of Jesus is too judgmental. You can come to a hearty potluck (with vegetarian options) and listen to the latest sermon on social justice and pray to “Mother” God and even have communion, then go do your own thing. That is a rejection of what our Lord preached and the eternal consequences are dire. Take heed!
In my next devotional, I will examine Acts 4:13-22, wherein serious threats are made by the Sanhedrin but the apostles are released for the time being.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord - May I have the courage of the apostles when reaching out to others about salvation through Your Name only. Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Gotquestions.org was accessed on 8/19/2024 to answer the question, Who was Caiaphas?
Precept Austin was accessed on 8/19/2024 to review commentary for Acts 4:5-12.
Enduring Word commentary by David Guzik is used with written permission.