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Peter’s preaching is interrupted by the priests, temple-guard, and Sadducees, who are outraged about his message that Jesus was raised from the dead. They put Peter (and probably John, but unknown how many others) in chains to await trial the next day. You may remember that Peter and John arrived at the temple at 3pm, healed the begging lame man, and then entered the temple. It has become evening and now we have to wait until tomorrow morning to find out what happens next – although Luke informs us that another 5000 men believed (or possibly another 1-2000, to bring the total number to about 5000).
When the religious leaders gather together, they bring Peter and John in to be examined, and ask them how they were able to heal the lame man. Peter’s answer is bold (cf 4:13) and clear, as a result of him being filled with the Holy Spirit. His response is that the lame man was healed by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom the leaders had crucified, and whom God raised from the dead.
Peter then moves from the facts to an interpretation of the events by citing Jewish Scripture once more, this time Psalm 118:22, which he sees as fulfilled in Jesus. In fact, Peter had already heard Jesus quote that verse with reference to himself (Lk 20:17, cf 1 Pet 2:6). The cornerstone was a stone that was oddly shaped, not a rectangular prism, so that it wouldn’t fit as part of the regular wall-structure but only in a prominent position. In the metaphor, the builders are the Jewish leaders and Jesus is the rejected stone who is raised to the prominent position, enthroned at the right hand of God.
His conclusion is one of those famous verses which should be memorised: “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name … by which we must be saved”. It helps to note that the word used for healing the lame man (v9) is the same Greek word which is translated as ‘save’ here. This is a common feature of New Testament Greek, where the line between healing and salvation is not at all clear. More important is the implication of this statement of Peter’s: there is no other way to be saved.
When you live in Asia, surrounded by committed Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and people of other religions, it is challenging to believe this. Are we Christians arrogant to believe ours is the only way? Actually, it depends on the destination we envisage, and what we are saved from and for. Technically, Hinduism and Buddhism do not believe in the survival of individual souls. The Jewish faith has no consensus on heaven or an afterlife, and the Muslim conception, although similar to ours, is not the same. Thus each religion indeed has its own way, but not necessarily to the same destination about which the New Testament speaks. If we want to go to the heaven which the Bible teaches, we do well to follow the road it prescribes to get there. That is, not by works or gaining merits, but by believing in the name of Jesus to save us from sin and death.
Prayer: Oh God, it is sometimes hard to understand and believe according to your word. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me confidence and boldness; help me know with certainty that Jesus died, was raised again, and opens the way for salvation for everyone who believes in him.
ReadtheWordwithJessica 