Acts 4 - That Powerful Name

Acts 4 NLT

Two themes continue in this chapter - an emphasis on the authenticity of the resurrection and on the name of Jesus. 

In the aftermath of the healing of the crippled beggar (Acts 3), I can honestly imagine the Jewish leaders wringing their hands or putting their hands over their ears every time they heard "that name" - I think it became like their own coronavirus that just kept spreading and no matter what they did it kept getting worse.

"They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming IN JESUS the resurrection of the dead." (vs 12) THAT NAME!

They certainly made a tactical error by essentially "handing Peter the microphone" when they asked him how that guy was healed: 

"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them...it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified (ouch!), but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed." (vs 8-10) THAT NAME!

"...There is no other name...by which we must be saved..."      (vs 12) THAT NAME!

"...They (the Jewish leaders) commanded Peter & John not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus" (vs 18)  THAT NAME!

Yeah right! There was no way they were going to stop - they were eyewitnesses of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. And now they were also participants in this miracle.

"We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." (vs 20) THAT NAME! Lord help us to be like these guys in our lives as followers of Jesus. (look at vs 13,14)