As we last left things, we had learned that: the Spirit of God led Peter and John to extend an offer of healing to a crippled man, who was begging for alms outside of the Temple. the man accepted in faith the offer of the apostles and was restored to full health by the power of the Holy Spirit working through Peter and John. Peter then went on to bear witness to Jesus, explaining that the miraculous circumstances at hand were the result of Christ’s death, resurrection and glorification. he urged those within earshot to repent of their rejection of Jesus and place their faith in Him.

“The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.  Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” 

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.

“What are we going to do with these men. ” they asked “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 

But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!  As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.”

In an attempt to control any fallout from Peter and John’s miraculous healing of a man born lame and their proclamation that the healing occurred in the name of Jesus, the religious leaders decided to lock up Peter and John for the night. The authorities had arrived too late as the number of men following Jesus had now reached 5,000. According to Luke, within weeks – perhaps months - of the Day of Pentecost, the church had grown exponentially to around 10,000 people. That’s some serious growth.

The Sanhedrin gathered together to consider how best to handle this little situation they had on their hands. This is the third time in a little over four months that the Sanhedrin had convened around issues related to this Jesus of Nazareth: they met in relation to the following that Jesus was garnering. they met to issued Christ’s death sentence. now they meet to determine how do deal with the apostles.

Imagine the emotions that Peter and John must have been experiencing as they awaited the verdict of the Sanhedrin. Would a death sentence for Peter and John be too far a stretch to imagine? By what power or what name did you do this – meaning the miraculous healing – the members of the Sanhedrin ask. The confidence that is about to be displayed in Peter’s response is shocking given the circumstances and company to whom he speaks.

Before Peter opens his mouth, we are let in on a little secret - Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit. Though each follower of Jesus is full of the Spirit on an ongoing basis, he or she may be filled with the Spirit at any a particular moment as the Spirit sees fit. The words and wisdom Peter manifests here is not something he’s drummed up from within himself; it comes from the Holy Spirit.

“They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.” (Luke 21:12-15) The power of the Spirit at work through Peter will shortly be on display.

Peter begins by answering their question, telling the religious leaders that beyond any shadow of doubt, it is in the name of Jesus that this healing has occurred. Again, notice the implied personal responsibility for Christ’s death in Peter’s words. Peter quotes from messianic texts from Psalm 118:22 and Isaiah 28:16, which the priests had taught referred to the nation of Israel and the Law of Moses, the sure foundation for God’s people, manifest in Jerusalem in the form of the Temple.

Reinterpreted in light of Jesus, the passage reveals that the “builders” – historically referring to the teachers of the law, the leaders of Israel, and the Sanhedrin – had failed to acknowledge Jesus as the most important stone in their building, that is within Judaism. Jesus is the rejected, tested and precious cornerstone that God has set as the foundation of His people. The hope of salvation is not found in birthright or the Law, but as Peter states only in the name of Jesus.

The religious leaders marvel at Peter’s words and note that they had spent time in Jesus’ company. Not only do they sound like Jesus, but the miraculous signs that accompanied Jesus as He moved about Israel, now accompany the apostles. Stuck in a no-win situation, the Sanhedrin resolves to instruct Peter and John to stop speaking to anyone about Jesus. Peter responds by asking who it is more important to obey, the Sanhedrin or God himself? After additional threats and in light of the crowds outside praising God for the healing of a 40-year old cripple, the Sanhedrin decides to let Peter and John go.

If we trust what we’ve read so far in the book of Acts, then as followers of Jesus, we’ve been given the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and can receive special moments of inspiration where the power of the Spirit is specifically experienced. Do you believe that this morning? If Jesus promised that we would be specifically empowered to bear witness before our adversaries – even at the highest levels of government - then what have we to fear in boldly speaking to our friends, family, and neighbours about Jesus?

Do we see some of the present opposition we face as an opportunity to bear witness to who Jesus is or do we fear opposition, seeing it as an insurmountable difficulty? What is your response to all of this? Will you take Peter’s encouragement to “repent and be baptized” or will you find yourself in the place of the religious leaders rejecting the cornerstone upon which eternal life is built?