And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
Peter and John were set in the midst before the council as prisoners, called to account for the source of their public work and demanded to tell by what power or in what name they had acted. The questioning took place the day after the healing, with Annas and Caiaphas and the other dignitaries of the temple assembled together. It happened in that very room and before those very men where Peter had shamefully denied his Lord. All this came distinctly before Peter's mind as he appeared for his own trial, giving him an opportunity to redeem his former wicked cowardice.
The this they had done was the remarkable cure of the crippled and helpless impotent man who could not walk. That cure was done in and through the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, through Jesus of Nazareth. The question followed the arrest of the disciples for teaching and preaching the resurrection of Jesus. The priests and rulers had avoided any mention or discussion of His crucifixion and resurrection.
The healing forced the reluctant leaders to ask how it had been accomplished. In asking, they obliged themselves to hear what they most desired not to hear. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, with the Holy Ghost, answered respectfully that the healed helpless cripple stood whole before them through the name of Jesus Christ, whom the rulers had crucified and whom God had raised from the dead. That answer set forth the fact of the resurrection and His power in heaven to perform miracles on earth through His apostles. It set forth that the name of Jesus alone brings salvation.
Peter and John were set in the midst before the council as prisoners, called to account for the source of their public work and demanded to tell by what power or in what name they had acted. The questioning took place the day after the healing, with Annas and Caiaphas and the other dignitaries of the temple assembled together. It happened in that very room and before those very men where Peter had shamefully denied his Lord. All this came distinctly before Peter's mind as he appeared for his own trial, giving him an opportunity to redeem his former wicked cowardice.
The this they had done was the remarkable cure of the crippled and helpless impotent man who could not walk. That cure was done in and through the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, through Jesus of Nazareth. The question followed the arrest of the disciples for teaching and preaching the resurrection of Jesus. The priests and rulers had avoided any mention or discussion of His crucifixion and resurrection.
The healing forced the reluctant leaders to ask how it had been accomplished. In asking, they obliged themselves to hear what they most desired not to hear. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, with the Holy Ghost, answered respectfully that the healed helpless cripple stood whole before them through the name of Jesus Christ, whom the rulers had crucified and whom God had raised from the dead. That answer set forth the fact of the resurrection and His power in heaven to perform miracles on earth through His apostles. It set forth that the name of Jesus alone brings salvation.