Text: Acts 4:1-12
I. Opposition to the teaching and preaching of the Apostles.
A. They taught the people.
B. They preached through Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
C. Five thousand people believed.
A. They taught the people.
B. They preached through Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
C. Five thousand people believed.
II. The arrest of Peter and John.
A. Priests, captain of the temple, Sadducees, rulers, elders, scribes.
B. High Priestly family including former High Priest Annas and current High Priest Caiaphas.
C. Numbers 11:16-17, And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.
D. Matthew 26:3-4, Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
E. John 18:13-14, And led (Jesus) away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
A. Priests, captain of the temple, Sadducees, rulers, elders, scribes.
B. High Priestly family including former High Priest Annas and current High Priest Caiaphas.
C. Numbers 11:16-17, And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.
D. Matthew 26:3-4, Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
E. John 18:13-14, And led (Jesus) away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.
III. The rulers' question: by what power, or authority, or name, have you done this?
A. Matthew 12:23-25, And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.
B. Matthew 21:23, And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
A. Matthew 12:23-25, And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.
B. Matthew 21:23, And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
IV. Peter's answer: by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
A. You crucified Him.
B. God raised Him.
C. By Him this man was healed.
A. You crucified Him.
B. God raised Him.
C. By Him this man was healed.
V. Citation of Psalm 118: the rejected stone has become the corner stone.
A. Psalm 118:22-23, The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
B. Isaiah 28:16, Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
C. Matthew 21:42-45, Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
D. 1 Peter 2:6-8, Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
E. 1 Corinthians 3:11, For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
F. Ephesians 2:20, And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.
A. Psalm 118:22-23, The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
B. Isaiah 28:16, Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
C. Matthew 21:42-45, Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
D. 1 Peter 2:6-8, Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
E. 1 Corinthians 3:11, For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
F. Ephesians 2:20, And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.
VI. Conclusion: there is no salvation (to deliver into a large, free, open space) in any other.
A. No other name under heaven.
B. By which men must be saved.
C. "Our salvation is not in ourselves, nor can be obtained by any merit or strength of our own; we can destroy ourselves, but we cannot save ourselves." Matthew Henry
D. "The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation." Charles Spurgeon
E. "Trust wholly in Christ; rely altogether on His sufferings; beware of seeking to be justified in any other way than by His righteousness. Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient for salvation." John Wycliffe
F. Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 86: What is faith in Jesus Christ? Answer: Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation, as He is offered to us in the gospel.
G. "God resolved in His purposes and decrees, in His council and covenant, upon the salvation of His chosen people; and He appointed His Son to be the salvation of them, and determined He would save them by Him, and by no other, and in no other way; wherefore, whoever are saved, must be saved by Him." John Gill
H. "Is it not wonderful news to believe that salvation lies outside ourselves, and in Him?" Martin Luther
A. No other name under heaven.
B. By which men must be saved.
C. "Our salvation is not in ourselves, nor can be obtained by any merit or strength of our own; we can destroy ourselves, but we cannot save ourselves." Matthew Henry
D. "The greatest enemy to human souls is the self-righteous spirit which makes men look to themselves for salvation." Charles Spurgeon
E. "Trust wholly in Christ; rely altogether on His sufferings; beware of seeking to be justified in any other way than by His righteousness. Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient for salvation." John Wycliffe
F. Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 86: What is faith in Jesus Christ? Answer: Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation, as He is offered to us in the gospel.
G. "God resolved in His purposes and decrees, in His council and covenant, upon the salvation of His chosen people; and He appointed His Son to be the salvation of them, and determined He would save them by Him, and by no other, and in no other way; wherefore, whoever are saved, must be saved by Him." John Gill
H. "Is it not wonderful news to believe that salvation lies outside ourselves, and in Him?" Martin Luther
"There are among men many names that pretend to be saving names, but really are not so; many institutions in religion that pretend to settle a reconciliation and correspondence between God and man, but cannot do it. It is only by Christ and His name that those favours can be expected from God which are necessary to our salvation, and that our services can be accepted with God. This is the honour of Christ's name, that it is the only name whereby we must be saved, the only name we have to plead in all our addresses to God. This name is given. God has appointed it, and it is an inestimable benefit freely conferred upon us. It is given under heaven. Christ has not only a great name in heaven, but a great name under heaven; for He has all power both in the upper and in the lower world. It is given among men, who need salvation, men who are ready to perish. We may be saved by His name, that name of His, The Lord our righteousness; and we cannot be saved by any other. How far those may find favour with God who have not the knowledge of Christ, nor any actual faith in Him, yet live up to the light they have, it is not our business to determine. But this we know, that whatever saving favour such may receive it is upon the account of Christ, and for His sake only; so that still there is no salvation in any other." Matthew Henry
"This is the Lord's doing. The exalted position of Christ in His church is not the work of man, and does not depend for its continuation upon any builders or ministers; God Himself has wrought the exaltation of our Lord Jesus. Considering the opposition which comes from the wisdom, the power, and the authority of this world, it is manifest that if the kingdom of Christ be indeed set up and maintained in the world it must be by supernatural power. Indeed, it is so even in the smallest detail. Every grain of true faith in this world is a divine creation, and every hour in which the true church subsists is a prolonged miracle. It is not the goodness of human nature, nor the force of reasoning, which exalts Christ, and builds up the church, but a power from above. This staggers the adversary, for he cannot understand what it is which baffles him: of the Holy Ghost he knows nothing. It is marvellous in our eyes. We actually see it; it is not in our thoughts and hopes and prayers alone, but the astonishing work is actually before our eyes. Jesus reigns, His power is felt, and we perceive that it is so. Faith sees our great Master, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; she sees and marvels. It never ceases to astonish us, as we see, even here below, God by means of weakness defeating power, by the simplicity of His word baffling the craft of men, and by the invisible influence of His Spirit exalting His Son in human hearts in the teeth of open and determined opposition. It is indeed 'marvellous in our eyes,' as all God's works must be if men care to study them. The more we study the history of Christ and His church the more fully shall we agree with this declaration." Charles Spurgeon