Acts 4:12,13 – “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”
Today’s passage is a defense given by Peter concerning the miracle of the lame man at the Gate called Beautiful. It provides for us a clear message in the 21st century: Jesus Christ is the only means to eternal life. This statement is divisive and creates havoc in the realm of public opinion and politics. Why? Because we don’t want to make anyone mad at us. But as Christians we must not back down from this verse and sell out because we want to become all-inclusive. God has a plan…that plan is salvation through Jesus…there is no other plan…Jesus said if you try to make it in any other way you’re a thief and a robber (John 10:1-9). This won’t make friends across the spectrum of religious thought.
Peter said these words being “full of the Holy Ghost”
(verse 8). Our text says in verse 13 that the religious leaders saw the boldness of Peter and John. When you become full of the Holy Ghost you will become bold. When you are bold you will be emphatic about the teachings of scripture and you will defend them even if it makes you unpopular and stand among the minority. Globalism seeks to suck in religious ideals as well. Should the Lord tarry I believe there will be an assault on basic teachings that are the underpinnings of the Christian faith. It has already begun dear friends. A key to maintaining doctrinal purity to prevent the word of God from becoming watered down is the last sentence in our text today: “And they realized they had been with Jesus.” May this be said of each and every one us.