Acts 4:8-12 Peter, the Rock
“With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose, ‘Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is “the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.” Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given by which we can be saved, only this one’” (MSG).
Wow! Peter certainly earned his name, the “Rock” this day. He and John, upon entering the Temple for a meeting, raised a man, crippled from birth, to his feet and gave him the gift of walking through the name of Jesus. None of the religious leaders liked it, so they arrested Peter and John. When they were questioned by the religious leaders, the most powerful people of Israel, as it says above, Peter let them have it. He held nothing back. He not only said that they healed in the name of Jesus; he reminded them that they had killed Jesus, and that God had brought Him back to life. He also took away their authority by saying that Jesus was the only name by which anyone could be saved.
Jesus had changed Peter’s name from Simon to Peter, the Rock, and Peter certainly earned his changed name that day. The leaders threatened Peter and John never to speak in the name of Jesus again. We all know how well that worked. Because of the rock-hard strength given to the disciples of Jesus through the Holy Spirit, we today are blessed to proclaim, as they did, “Jesus is the only way to salvation!” Lord, help us to speak in the same strength they had on behalf of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.