By What Power, Or By What Name Have You Done This? - Part 936

And as the apostles spoke unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them being grieved that they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead, and they laid hands on them and put them in hold unto the next day -- for now it was evening.

Howbeit, “many of them which heard the Word believed, and the number of the men was about five thousand.” And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and elders and scribes and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power, or by what name, have you done this?”

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, “Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him does this man stand here before you whole.” (Acts 4:1-10)

Note the prophecy from Psalms 118:22 and Isaiah 28:16 that is repeated here. “This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the Head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11-12; I Peter 2:4-8; I Timothy 2:5-6)

Herein, they were pointing to the same Jesus Christ of Nazareth who had healed the man. Now when the rulers of the people saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled, and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.

Why? Because they behold the man which had been healed standing with them, which was evidence enough. Nothing could be said that could take away the man`s healing. However, the situation was enough to confer among themselves about how to stop this preaching in Jesus`name. So, what did they do? They commanded Peter and John not to speak at all or teach in the name of Jesus.

But what did the apostles do after being released? They lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, “Lord, Thou art God, which hast made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that in them is; who by the mouth of Thy servant David hast said, `Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The Kings of the earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ ... for of a truth against Thy holy child Jesus whom Thou hast anointed.” (Acts 4:27)

Both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together, for to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done. (Acts 4:24-28)

”Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know; Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God -- ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain; whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death; because it was not possible that He should be holden of it.” (Acts 2:22-24)

The Kings of the earth and the rulers were gathered together against Thy holy child Jesus whom Thou hast anointed. Jesus -- the King of kings and Lord of lords. The Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

But the apostles did not stop there. They continued praying, ”Ànd now, Lord, behold their threatenings, and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness,they may speak Thy Word, by stretching forth Thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy holy child Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-30)

And when these had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and they spake the Word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul, neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked.

This is why we trust Jesus today by faith. Therefore, boldly proclaim His Word with boldness because there soon will come a day when you will have to make a decision between submitting to the devil of this earth and his false teachings and our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ, whose sole purpose is to seek and to save that which is lost. You and I. He paid the price when He shed His precious blood on the cross. Let him who has ears to hear, hear. Stand in His offering plate.