Acts 4:8

Acts 4:8 declares, Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,  Verse nine adds, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;  Peter as always was willing to answer their question.  He clarified by asking if they were referring to the disciple’s good deed in healing the impotent man.   If we are being accused of doing something that someone sees as wrong, we need to make sure that we are talking about the same thing when we answer them.  Verse ten continues, Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.  Peter, whom we had been told was filled with the Holy Ghost, then said that by then name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom the religious leaders had crucified, and God had raised from the dead, they did these things.  This is the same risen Savior that we serve today, and the Holy Spirit empowers us as well.  Verse eleven concludes, This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.  Peter said Jesus Christ was the cornerstone of salvation and the religious leaders had rejected Him.  Verse twelve says, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. This is the cornerstone of Christianity and can never mean anything else.  As Christians, we are not following a way, but we are following the only way.  The world may attempt to discredit this belief, but as followers of Christ, we can never comprise it.  If anyone tells us they are a Christian but that is not the only way to God, then they have not found the truth of salvation. This doesn't mean we are to act superior to those who do not follow Christ. Quite the opposite is true. We are to reach out to them in love, as our only claim is that we are sinners saved by grace.  Sometimes we have to rock the boat.  Jonah learned a lot when the boat was rocked.  He couldn't outrun or hide from God.  The disciples learned a lot when the boat was rocked.  Jesus could calm any storm and for Peter, even lead him out on the water as long as the focus was on Jesus.  It may be today that we have our focus on the storm, all those things that are wrong in the world, instead of the One Who calms the storm.  We may need to have the boat rocked to get our focus back on Jesus.  Verse thirteen adds, Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.  The council noted the fact that the disciples were uneducated men and marveled at their understanding.  We need to acknowledge that true knowledge comes from God and not from worldly education.  How can the world discredit the miraculous works of God? That was what the religious leaders were asking themselves.  Verse fourteen continues, And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.  The man who had been healed was standing there.  They couldn't deny that fact.  We can be sure that if God does something miraculous in the world today that most people will attempt to discredit it.  We must be careful that as Christians, we don't discredit it.  Verse fifteen says, But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,  Peter and John had acted for all to see, but the council withdrew to act in private.  Verse sixteen adds, Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.  The council didn’t know what to do.  They could hardly say that they were looking for a way to stop Peter and John from doing good works in Jesus's names. God’s truth will still leave people who want to discredit Hin today confused as how to do so.  Verse seventeen continues, But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.  The council acted by threatening them secretly, but they couldn't punish them because of the people. Today, we might not find enough people to stand with us as Christians to keep the world from being afraid to punish us.  Verse eighteen concludes, And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.  They decided the best course of action was to threaten them to speak nor teach any more in the name of Jesus.  They had already crucified Jesus to prevent the spread of the gospel, and now they thought threats would work.  There may come a day when the same thing happens to us.  If it does, how would we react.  We have Peter and John’s answer.