Acts 4:12 “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
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Peter and John Arrested
Acts 4 describes the aftermath of the healing of a lame man by Peter and John at the temple gate called Beautiful, which was narrated at the end of Acts 3. Here’s what happens in chapter 4:
• Peter and John are arrested by the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees for preaching about Jesus and the resurrection. They are disturbed by the apostles teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
• The next day, they are brought before the Sanhedrin, where Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly declares that the healing was done in the name of Jesus Christ, whom the leaders had crucified but God had raised from the dead.
• Despite recognizing the boldness of Peter and John and seeing the healed man standing with them, the leaders were at a loss about what to do since the miracle was well known. They eventually release them after threatening them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
• Upon their release, Peter and John return to their own people, where they all pray for boldness to continue speaking God’s word. After this prayer, the place where they were meeting was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
• The chapter concludes with a description of the early Christian community’s unity, sharing everything in common, and the apostles performing many signs and wonders.
The overarching theme of Acts 4 is the boldness of faith amidst opposition. This chapter highlights:
• Courage in Witness: The apostles’ courage in proclaiming the gospel even when faced with threats and imprisonment.
• Divine Empowerment: The Holy Spirit’s role in empowering believers to speak and act with boldness.
• Community and Unity: The communal life of the early church, characterized by generosity and unity, which stands in stark contrast to the opposition from the religious leaders.
This chapter thus serves as an encouragement to believers to stand firm in their faith and testimony, relying on God’s power in the face of persecution.
