Acts 4:11-12 11 This one is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among humanity by which we must be saved.”
Peter supports his claim in verse 10 by citing a phrase from Psalm 118:22, which the leaders should have easily recognized. The Scriptures would have been highly important to these leaders, but they needed to do more than read them liturgically; they needed to listen, apply, and see their fulfillment. Peter’s application is focused and clear. He was not afraid to confront the leaders with Scripture and historical proof. They were the builders of the nation, the ones the rest of the people looked to. But they had rejected the most important stone in building the nation. The cornerstone was the most important and symbolic in a building. It held up the rest of the building. The leaders saw this great stone but tossed it aside in their construction. Psalm 118 became an important text for early Christians. Peter later reflected on it in 1 Peter 2:7. This experience must have been a significant impact on him as he thought more about how the leaders had rejected Jesus.
Verse 12 is one of the most significant in the book of Acts. It is a clear declaration of the one source of salvation. It serves as Peter’s evangelistic message and offer to the leaders. This was their opportunity to believe. How would they respond? If the lame man was healed by the mighty name of the resurrected Jesus, the evidence is clear that this name represents God’s salvation. Jesus had preached many times about God’s kingdom, and no doubt, many of the leaders gathered to interrogate Peter had heard him. If they refused to believe, it was only their own fault.
Peter made no allowance for religious pluralism in his day or any other time. Some people today believe there are many roads to heaven. Jesus proclaimed himself to be the Way, Truth, and Life (John 14:6). No one can go to the Father except by believing in Jesus. To believe in the name means trusting in Jesus’ claims about himself. He is the only source of salvation. Salvation is an important concept in Acts, with the word itself showing up in various places. It can be translated as “healing” in a physical way, like what the lame man experienced. However, physical healing is only a stepping stone to spiritual healing through the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God. Luke traveled with Paul during some of his journeys and heard his preaching and call to believe and be saved. The message of salvation comes from the Savior himself, the one who gave himself for us that we might receive eternal life.
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