1 “And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being sore troubled because they taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they 3 laid hands on them, and put them in ward unto the morrow: 4 for it was now eventide. But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 5 “And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and 6 elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest. And when they had set them in the midst, they 8 inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto 9 them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders, if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man, 10 by what means this man is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even in Him doth this man stand here before you 11 whole. He is the stone which was set at naught of you the 12 builders, which was made the head of the corner. And in none other is there salvation; for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved.”
Golden Text.—“There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Verse 12.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) As Peter and John were speaking unto the people, who came upon them? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) Why did these men thus disturb the apostles? Verse 2. (3) What did these officials do to Peter and John? Verse 3. (4) Notwithstanding this interruption, what followed the preaching of the Word? Verse 4. Note 2. (5) What action was taken the next morning? Verses 5, 6. (6) Who were brought before this council? What question was asked of the prisoners? Verse 7. Note 3. (7) What prompted Peter’s reply? How did he address the members of the council? Verse 8. Note 4. (8) How did Peter characterize the miracle that had been wrought? Verse 9. Note 5. (9) Did Peter make his reply merely for the benefit of the council? To what power did he accredit the “good work”? Where was the man who had been healed? Verse 10. Note 6. (10) To what scripture did Peter refer as applying to the action of the Jewish rulers? Verse 11; Ps. 118:22. Note 7. (11) How only did Peter say men must be saved? Verse 12. Note 8.
NOTES.
1. The indignation aroused by the influence gained for the apostles by the healing of the lame man at the temple gate was intensified by their attributing the miracle to the power of Jesus’ name, and the declaration that He was raised from the dead. This was what excited the Sadducees, as it was a direct blow at their doctrine that death ended all. For this reason we find the Sadducees more prominent in their opposition to the apostolic church than they had been to Christ, who was more directly opposed by the Pharisees.
2. The power of the Word spoken by the apostles was not counteracted by their arrest and imprisonment. Some seed had fallen on “good ground” as well as in “stony places,” and “by the wayside,” and “among thorns.” Many believed, and the number of disciples in the city was increased to about five thousand men. This did not include the women and children.
3. The rulers and elders and scribes had endeavored to quash the idea of Jesus’ being raised from the dead, but their question was calculated to bring that subject to the front. To ask the apostles by what power or authority they had wrought a “notable miracle,” would give them just the opportunity they desired, that of proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus.
4. “Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost,” was a different man from the unconverted Peter who had basely denied Jesus before that same council a short time before. He no longer feared the threats of man, or the power of man. “The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Prov. 29:25.
5. The reminder that the miracle was a “good deed,” which could not be denied, would naturally forestall any just pretext for punishing the apostles for crime. This was so plain that the commonest mind could comprehend the principle.
6. To add force to the defense of the apostles, the man who had been healed stood with them before the council. There could be no question that a poor man who had been a cripple all his life (“above forty years”) had been restored to “perfect soundness,” and there had been nothing illegal connected with the “good work.” As the apostles were common men, with no unusual power of their own, and never had claimed any, their giving credit to the name of Jesus, who had been well known as a worker of miracles—even to raising the dead—could not be regarded as unreasonable.
7. Jesus Himself had quoted the prophecy of David concerning the rejected Stone, to these very chief priests and elders while he was yet alive. Matt. 21:42. The “Head of the corner” is Christ, the foundation stone of the church, which the “builders”—church authorities—had rejected.
8. The rejection of Christ leaves even the builders without hope; for there is hope in no other name, salvation in no other way. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life.” John 3:36.
