Text; Act 4: 10-12
“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, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Oxford English Dictionary defines a name as the title by which any person or thing is known or designated, but the name of Jesus and the person answering the name means the same thing.
Salvation is not found in any other name than the name of Jesus Christ, and everything about Jesus has the same meaning, action, and result.
Jesus has all power and authority in heaven and on earth to do everything that represents his character.
Summary of Act 4
The scene in Act 3 unfolds itself even into Act of the Apostle 4.
Peter and John, when passing through the beautiful gate of Solomon’s porch, met a man lame from birth and, in Jesus’ name, commanded his healing.
This miracle caused a stir, and Peter, encouraged by the Holy Spirit, preached the resurrection of Jesus Christ as God’s plan for man’s redemption. The Sadducees, who do not believe in the resurrection of the dead, did not take it kindly with the disciples.
They got beaten and imprisoned until the following day since it was in the evening. About five thousand men who heard them preach believed their message.
The following day, the rulers, elders, scribes, Annas, the high priests, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and many of the high priest relatives, including the Sadducees who gathered together in Jerusalem, demanded the disciples be brought out for hearing according to their law.
Standing before the Sanhedrin court, which was the ruling body of the Jews, the leaders asked Peter and John what power and name they had used to heal the lame man. Peter, despite the threat, continued to preach to them that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they crucified and whom God resurrected, was the miracle brought to reality.
Peter went on to explain to them why God so honored Jesus, saying Jesus was the figure described by the psalmist in Psalm 118:22
“ The stone which the builders rejected is become the chief cornerstone”.
He called upon them to “repent and turn to God” so that their sins could be blotted out ( Act4:12)
The rulers heard Peter and marveled at his boldness. They saw him as an “unschooled and ordinary” man who had not learned the art of public speaking and how to build an argument based on the opinions of the Revered Rabbis, but they also realized they were with Jesus.
To avoid public criticism not long after Jesus was killed, the council ordered them to preach no longer with severe threats in their tertiary.
Peter and John were committed to bringing souls into fellowship with Christ. Not intimidated by their threat continued to preach, saying their higher obligation was to obey God.
Act 4:19 “ Which is right in God’s eyes, to listen to you or him? You be the judges”
After they refused to stop preaching in the name of Jesus, the Sanhedrin desired to punish the apostles greatly but feared the multitude who had seen the miracle and were praising God. They let the disciples go after further threats.
Illustration of Act 4:1-22
Peter and John were not intimidated by the Sadducees’ and the priest’s threat and pressure; they allowed themselves to be used by the Holy Spirit to reveal Christ’s identity and personality to the people. Jesus has the power and authority to do miracles and make himself known in heaven and earth.
(Matthew 28: 18) “ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth”.
Jesus has promised the disciples that he will accompany them on their earth walk in power and might of his name (Matthew 28:19).
This explains to the believers that despite the opposition, they should keep on preaching the gospel of Christ and witnessing to others. The word of God cannot be bound.
2 Timothy 2: 9 ” Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bond”
This story illustrates that the disciples were persecuted not by those who had never read the scriptures but by the priest (the descendant of the Aaronic priesthood) and the Sadducees ( The religious and political liberals of Christ’s day).
The religious leaders, for sentiments, greed, and fame, maybe the enemy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
To faithfully and boldly represent Jesus, believers should be able to confront religious hypocrisy and false doctrine not with pride or rudely but with the fruit of the Holy Spirit, which includes gentleness and kindness, and would spend enough time with Jesus in prayers and studying the scriptures to be able to speak out when God’s truth is compromised, fearing God more than we fear social custom or what the religious leaders think of us.
The disciples were equipped with the Holy Spirit. God quickly came to Peter’s rescue. God’s spirit was ready to take over and give Peter the words to say. Any believer who is prepared to proclaim Christ will never be left alone.
The Holy Spirit will be present to speak through them. Jesus told the disciples,” You will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you will speak. For it will be given you in that hour what you should talk in you” Matthew 10:18-20, Mark 13:11 (NKJV).
The Sanhedrin could not dispute that this man was born a disabled person, but now he was standing in their presence whole (Acts 4: 14). However, they acknowledged the miracle. Still, they rejected the authority and the name used in doing the gift (Acts 4:16-17). Amazing! Benefits are not enough to convince those whose hearts are hardened against God. But we can still testify to the credibility of the eyewitness testimony of those who saw those miracles.
If people refuse to believe the testimony, they want to continue in their sins, not because the evidence is lacking.
The disciples’ attitude was one of devotion and total commitment to the work of God.
In Acts 4, verse 18, when the Jewish leaders tell them to stop preaching about Jesus, they probably would have given up fairly quickly. But their lives were not more important to them than the NAME OF JESUS represented by the gospel they preached.
They answered them in verse 20 “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. The disciples could not stop talking about what they had seen and heard.
They have seen the risen Christ; they saw him ascend into heaven; they had heard him explain the many passages about himself from the scriptures. They had seen him heal this lame man with power, so they spoke confidently. Can we be bold, devoted, and resilient to Jesus Christ?
The name “Jesus” was quite popular in the first century Judea; for this reason, our Lord was often referred to as “Jesus of Nazareth,” distinguishing him by his childhood home, the town of Nazareth in Galilea (Matthew 21:11, Mark 1:24, Luke 18: 37).
Despite its commonness, the name of Jesus is remarkably significant. God sent Jesus for a particular purpose, and his name bears witness to that mission – victory over sin and spiritual enemy (John 3:16-20). God sent his son to save and deliver (Galatians 4:4 – 5) and his identity as the savior of the whole world.
Because the work of salvation is wholly and only wrought in HIM, no part is reserved for any creature in heaven or the earth.
The name of Jesus testifies of his humanity ( Colossian 4:11). Though Jesus is a human name, its meaning suggests that in this man, God has come to us, for God says,” I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me, there is no savior “(Isaiah43:11, 45: 21).
The son of God emptied himself of his glory to become a humble man ( Philippians 2:6 – 8)
Lessons From Acts 4: 1-22 Sermon
1. BOLDNESS.
Even though Sadducees were known for not believing in the resurrection, Peter didn’t hesitate to confront them with the truth.
He boldly told them, “Let it be known to all of you and all people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead- by his name, this man stands here before you whole (Acts 4:10-11).
God’s ever-abiding presence gives confidence.
2. RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.
The disciples centered their message on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, without which our message of salvation makes no meaning to the world. Titus 3:5-6 tells us that we are not saved by our works of righteousness which we have done, but by his mercy in Christ Jesus.
No one can work to salvation; all one needs is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and his resurrection power.
3. THE NAME OF JESUS IS CHRISTIAN AUTHORITY.
The disciples healed the lame man in Jesus’ name.
Mark 16:17-20 says
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover—-“
John 16:23-34 says
“And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the father in my name, he will give it you—-“.
Acts 4:10. Our Christian doctrine’s power and authority are treasured in Jesus’ name. There is no short- cut.
4. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR ENABLER.
Acts 4:8-9
“ Then Peter; filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, ye rulers of people, and elders of Isreal.9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what mean he is made whole.”
Jesus had already told them in Luke 12:11-12 and Luke 21:12-15 not to worry about what they will say because the holy spirit will teach them what to say and the wisdom on how to say it.
So Peter’s witness before the Sanhedrin was not due to his natural boldness or brilliant oratory but to the filling of the Holy Spirit.
5 OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S COMMAND.
Peter didn’t care what the threat of the Sadducees was. What he knew was to obey his master’s command of preaching the gospel of salvation. Acts 4:19 Spirit-filled children of God should be bold enough to obey God rather than the religious establishment, even in the face of persecution.
CONCLUSION
Peter and John operated confidently before the Sadducees and the high priests, the elders, and the scribes because of their knowledge of the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST.
The name of Jesus is the authority and the power of Christ. Jesus gave the church a power of attorney to use his name.
This legal act is expressed in John 15:16 “You did not choose me, but I choose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide, that whatever ye shall ask of the father in my name, he may give it to you.”
The disciples are commissioned to go and bear fruit, and they are given the legal right to use the name of Jesus and to have the same authority that Jesus exercised while on earth.
At Pentecost, the disciples were baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit; they carry divinity in them, thus, boldness. The father will get glory from our use of Jesus’ name to heal the sick, cast out demons, and work miracles.”. As Jesus’ representatives, we do business for the father in Jesus’ Name.
Jesus is given the highest position in the universe. He has a name above every name, with God’s authority. That name has been shown to the church to use. In that name, we rule over every demon and its activities ( Philippians 2: 5-11).
Jesus’ name tells us about his personality and character.
Revelation1: 8
“ I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty”.
JESUS IS THE WORD OF GOD-MADE FLESH (John 1:1-3, Ephesians 1:19-23, Revelation 19:13). The name Jesus carries all the promises of God to man. Jesus is our birthright as Christians, and we are to use the word with faith to enjoy a victorious life in every facet of our life. Peter manifested his sonship before the Sadducees and the religious leaders.
