Acts 4:5-12

This week presents a most-challenging Scripture reading: Acts 4:5-12. This is one of those places where the pre-eminence and singularity of Jesus Christ is attested. In our tolerant era, it seems a most intolerant word. Is it?

It helps to go back and read the first four verses of Acts 4, in order to understand the context.

Why do you suppose the religious leaders ask the apostles, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Why “by what name”? See if you can find any commentary on how names were understood by people in the Old and New Testaments.

Peter is unsparing in his blunt condemnation of the religious leaders (“…Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified…”). What effect does he hope to have in calling them out like this?

Peter concludes, regarding Jesus Christ, by saying, “There is salvation in no one else…” Do you believe this?