Peter’s Defense Before the Sanhedrin

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 ye 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 doth this man stand here before you whole. 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. Now when they 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. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. Acts 4:5-14

Steps: 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12

The Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling group, met to hear Peter’s defense about teaching the resurrection of Jesus and to hear how he had healed the crippled man. They asked by what power, a definition of name, had they healed the man. Peter testified that by the name, or power, of Jesus had this man been healed. Peter testified that by the power of the man whom these same rulers had killed, and who God had resurrected, was the crippled man healed. Peter then testified that in the name of Jesus, or the power, was the only way anyone could be healed on the entire Earth. The leadership was shocked by the boldness of the testimony of Peter and John. They knew that these men had not been educated in the Rabbinical schools yet there reasoning was solid and they knew that the only one who could have taught them such reasoning was Jesus, the very one whom they had killed, hoping that He would not be resurrected. On top of this the healed man was standing there and they knew that no one had the power to heal such a person unless it had been God Himself. Now they were stuck, how could they reject the testimony of reason, and miracle?

Prayer for Today: Help us Lord that when we see the data in front of us that we will surrender to logic, reason, truth, and Spirit with an open heart willing to see and to do as You guide and direct us. Thank You Lord for Your love.