Standing on the Promises, Literally
11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
12 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.”
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another,
16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
Acts 4:11–16 ESV Read More
This is not your typical social media argument. This counsel is the same counsel that eventually got Jesus onto the cross. Peter has already said more to them than Jesus did at His trial.
The argument doesn’t win them over, but it does freeze them in their tracks. You see, these guys would know every single Rabbi that had studied with them like UE season ticket owners know each other. They didn’t know Peter and John. They could tell that they were uneducated commoners.
But the way they spoke! Such boldness! Such confidence before important people! Surely they must have been educated somewhere by someone?! They knew that someone was Jesus from previous encounters.
Then there was the man that was once crippled. There he was. They all knew him. When I was growing up around Covert and Vann on the Southeast side of Evansville, there were a few known crazy guys. One would stand at the corner of Lombard and Washington and talk nonsense all day long. When I started bouncing from church to church in my 20s, every once in a while I’d wonder what I’d do if I showed up at a church and he was the preacher. I’d tell all the guys I grew up with. I’d tell my mom.
That is what is happening in Jerusalem while Peter and John talk to the council. Everybody that used that entrance would know that guy. Plenty of folks had probably given him alms over the years. What can you say if he’s now up and walking except that some kind of power was real and present in Jerusalem?
Matthew 5:16 (ESV): 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Whether miracles or simple good deeds, they are doing what Jesus mentioned here in the Sermon on the Mount. They might not believe the teaching of Peter and John, but they can’t deny some work of God has been done here. The Apostles will not be discredited by their poor behavior or their wickedness, and for now, their good deeds are the best argument they have.
Our light was made and given to us in order to shine.