A NEW PETER

The priests had tried not to mention Jesus' crucifixion or resurrection. But now the priests asked Peter and John by what power they had healed the crippled man.SRme 1.1135

Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter answered the leaders with respect. But he spoke without fear. Peter said, "'Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well.SRme 1.1136

"'This is the stone [person] which was rejected by you builders [people], but which has become the head of the corner [leader]. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved'" (Acts 4:9-12).SRme 1.1137

Peter's face was shining because it was brightened by the Holy Spirit. The crippled man who had been so wonderfully healed stood beside Peter. Only a few hours earlier the man had been helpless. Now the man stood in perfect health and strength. Now the man knew the saving power of Jesus. The healed man's new appearance proved that the words of Peter were true. Priests and rulers and people were silent. They could say nothing to show Peter was wrong. The people had been forced to hear what they did not want to hear--Jesus Christ lives! Jesus has power to work miracles through His apostles on earth.SRme 1.1138

Peter's words terrified the leaders. Peter boldly told the leaders where he got the power to heal. Peter talked about the temple cornerstone [Jesus] that the builders had rejected. This meant that the church leaders should have known the value of Jesus whom they had rejected. The leaders had refused to accept Jesus. But Jesus still had become the leader of all men. Peter directly referred to Jesus as the foundation stone of the church.SRme 1.1139

The people were amazed at the boldness of the apostles. The people thought the apostles were not educated. The people thought the apostles would not know what to say when the priests asked questions. Everyone present realized that Jesus changed the apostles' lives. The apostles spoke with powerful words that silenced their enemies just as Jesus had done.SRme 1.1140

The priests and rulers wanted to hide their confusion. The ordered the apostles to be taken away. The priests and rulers wanted to meet alone. The leaders agreed that they could not say that the crippled man had not been healed. The leaders could not say that the apostles had not healed the man in the name of Jesus. The priests wanted to hide the miracle with lies. But the work was done in daylight before a crowd of people. Thousands of people had already heard about the healing.SRme 1.1141

The leaders felt the apostles' work must be stopped immediately. The leaders felt that if the apostles' preaching was not stopped, Jesus would gain many more believers. If there were more believers, the leaders knew that the leaders themselves would be found guilty of murdering Jesus. The leaders were eager to destroy the apostles. But the priests were afraid to do anything more than threaten the apostles. The priests threatened Peter and John with heavy punishment. They wanted the apostles to stop teaching and working in the name of Jesus.SRme 1.1142

Peter and John answered bravely by saying their work had been given to them by God. Peter and John could not stop telling of the wonderful things they had seen Jesus do. They could not stop telling of the wonderful things they had heard Jesus say.SRme 1.1143

The priests and rulers would gladly have punished Peter and John for their faithfulness to their sacred work. But the priests and rulers were afraid. They "saw that it was impossible to punish them, because the people were all praising God for what had happened' (Acts 4:21). so with repeated warnings and threats, the rulers let the apostles go free.SRme 1.1144