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Acts 4:1-10 (4/28) Apostle for Tuesday of the Week of Thomas
Responses to the Gospel II ~ Witnessing: Acts 4:1-10, especially vs. 10: "....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."
St. Peter preached Jesus, the exalted Christ, at Pentecost, identifying Him as the Divine Giver of
the Holy Spirit. 3,000 joined the Church (Acts 2:14-41). Later, he healed a man lame from birth
(Acts 3:1-10) and preached to an amazed crowd, appealing to them to convert and embrace the
Gospel (3:19-26). Another 2,000 became followers of the "Way" (Acts 4:4; 9:2).
Mass conversions of this magnitude in a nation's religious, cultural, and social capitol is a
noteworthy phenomenon. Predictably, the Apostles' preaching caught the attention the governing
Council of the Jews, already opponents of the Church and her message. The authorities "laid
hands" on the Apostles "...and put them in custody until the next day..." (Acts 4:3).
God the Holy Spirit had used the Apostle's preaching to enlarge the Church, but effective
witnessing did not gain entirely favorable responses. Still, Christ is kind - if blunt - and warns of
the possibility of negative reactions to the Gospel (Mt. 24:9; Jn.16:2-4).
To sanctify a nation - Christianize its people - or convert a person requires reaching the highest
level of decision-making. The Apostles had the opportunity to speak to the Sanhedrin, the
nation's highest Council, that had found the Lord Jesus worthy of death and pressed Pilate for
crucifixion. Now this Council had the opportunity to accept or reject their true Savior and
Messiah. This was a moment in which Peter and John could well be found guilty of civil
disobedience, subversion, or reliance on illegal, occult powers, and themselves face death.
St. Peter made seven points before this Council, guided by the Holy Spirit (vs. 8). He began with
objective facts: a verifiable healing of a "helpless" man (vs. 9). Then, he confronted the Council
with this accomplishment, as a "good deed"- a beneficent, humane act. How could they avoid the
objective evidence of such a positive social achievement?
Next, St. Peter addressed the real issue: the "means" by which the healing was accomplished
(vss. 7,9). Was it demonic? Did St. Peter blasphemously claim it was done by God? Yes, he
identified Jesus, the alleged blasphemer they had executed, as God's means of the healing. Peter
declared that it was by the "Name," authority, and power of Jesus (vs. 10).
Notice that the Apostle specifically emphasized the Person of Jesus: the healing was the work
that very Man Whom the Council had found guilty. Peter asserted what the Church teaches: that
He Whom they executed, has eternal, effective, and present power (vs. 10).
Most startling for the Sanhedrin was the implication that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ or
Messiah of God (vs. 10). This very point had been explored during the trial of Jesus (Lk.
22:67-70), and was the basis for convincing the Roman overlords that He was an insurrectionist.
St. Peter boldly acknowledged that the Lord Jesus was crucified. More important, he announced
His Resurrection: that "...God raised [Him] from the dead..." (Acts 4:10); and he linked Jesus to
the healing of the paralytic man - a man evidently and hopelessly crippled from birth.
In his final, two points, the Apostle faced the Council with staging and effecting the Messiah's
death. Further, he declared Jesus to be the "cornerstone" of the New Jerusalem. Thus, he asserted
that Jesus alone is the Source of personal and national salvation (vss. 11,12).
As a member of the Church - or perhaps not - what does St. Peter's teaching mean to us? Do we
stand with the Apostles or side with the Sanhedrin? Is Jesus Lord or not?
Shine, New Jerusalem, the glory of the Lord has shone upon you. Exult and be glad!
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