Daily Devotional--9/8/2010

Acts 4:1-12

¹The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. ²They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. ³They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. ⁴But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

⁵The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. ⁷They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"

⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! ⁹If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, ¹⁰then 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. ¹¹He is
" 'the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the capstone.' ¹²Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

In Acts 4 Peter and John find themselves before the proverbial “Jewish Supreme Court” because they had been proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus from death. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly asserts that Jesus is the only way of salvation.

Consider today what boldness would look like for you in our culture regarding the unique role of Jesus as the only means of salvation.

• What inhibits you from being bold?
• Take a moment to pray for grace to move beyond your inhibitions.