Acts 4 Devotional: Witness the bold witness of Peter and John before the Sanhedrin. Explore the foundational truth that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus, and see the power of a praying, Spirit-filled Church.Â
Dear brothers and sisters, peace in Christ. Welcome to Acts Chapter 4. The miracle of the previous chapter has landed Peter and John in a prison cell, yet the Gospel cannot be chained. Today, we see what happens when the "unstoppable force" of the Holy Spirit meets the "immovable object" of religious opposition. Let us be emboldened by the courage of those who knew that obeying God is more important than fearing man.Â
The Unstoppable Name and the Boldness of the Spirit
Acts 4 brings the early Church into direct conflict with the religious authorities. Peter and John are interrogated for healing a lame man, but instead of apologizing, Peterâfilled with the Holy Spiritâdelivers a stinging sermon. He declares that the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. The chapter concludes with a magnificent prayer meeting where the ground shakes, and the believers are unified in heart and soul, sharing everything they have.
What can we learn from this today? This chapter contains the heartbeat of our Salvation . Peter boldly proclaims in verse 12: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." As your Statement of Faith affirms, salvation is a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ alone. We also see the essential role of the Holy Spirit , who regenerates, dwells in, and empowers believers. The "boldness" the disciples displayed was not a personality trait; it was a result of being filled with the Spirit. When we face pressure to stay silent about our faith, Acts 4 reminds us that we serve a sovereign Lord who hears our prayers and gives us the strength to speak His Word with confidence.
4 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priestâs family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: âBy what power or what name did you do this?â
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: âRulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is
ââthe stone you builders rejected,
  which has become the cornerstone.â
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.â
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 âWhat are we going to do with these men?â they asked. âEveryone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.â
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, âWhich is right in Godâs eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.â
21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. âSovereign Lord,â they said, âyou made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
ââWhy do the nations rage
  and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
  and the rulers band together
against the Lord
  and against his anointed one.
27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.â
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And Godâs grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostlesâ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means âson of encouragementâ), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostlesâ feet.
The believers raised their voices together in prayer, saying, "Sovereign Lord, you made the heavens and the earth." Let us join our voices with theirs as we approach the throne of our Creator.Â
Dear Heavenly Father, We praise You as the sovereign Lord of all things. We believe that You are the Creator of the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christâthe Chief Cornerstoneâand for the truth that salvation is found in His name alone.
Lord, I ask that You would fill me with the Holy Spirit today, just as You filled Peter and John. Grant me a holy boldness to speak Your Truth and to demonstrate Your love in a world that often rejects You. When I face opposition or feel pressured to compromise my faith, remind me that You are the final authority for all Christian life. Help me to live in such a way that others can see "I have been with Jesus."
We pray for our local church and the universal Church, that we would be of one heart and mind. May we be a community that holds our possessions loosely and cares for the needy among us with great generosity. We lift up our brothers and sisters around the world who are currently facing threats and imprisonment for the name of Jesus; stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through them. May Your Word continue to spread with power until every nation hears that Jesus is Lord. Amen.
The religious leaders noted that Peter and John were "unschooled, ordinary men," but they took note that they "had been with Jesus." What is one way someone could tell that you have "been with Jesus" by the way you interact with others today?Â
What does it mean that Jesus is the "Cornerstone"? In ancient building, the cornerstone was the first stone set, ensuring the entire structure was straight and stable. To call Jesus the cornerstone means that the entire plan of God and the life of the believer must be built entirely upon Him.
Why were the authorities so upset about the "resurrection of the dead"? The Sadducees (the party in power) did not believe in a bodily resurrection. Peter's message directly challenged their theology and their political authority by proving Jesus was alive.
Was the "sharing of all things" a requirement? No, it was a voluntary response to the Holy Spiritâs work of love and unity. It showed that the believers valued the Kingdom of God and the needs of their brothers and sisters more than their own earthly wealth.
Thank you for joining us for Acts 4. May the boldness of the Spirit and the peace of the Cornerstone stay with you throughout the day. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow for the challenging and powerful events of Acts Chapter 5.Â
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