Catholic Commentary on Acts 4

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

Before the Council

While Peter and John are speaking to the crowd, the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and the Sadducees arrive and seize them. They are put in jail overnight because it is already evening. But many who heard the message believe, and the number of men grows to about five thousand. The next day the rulers, elders, teachers of the law, the high priest, and his family assemble in Jerusalem and bring Peter and John before them. They ask: by what power or what name did you do this?

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, answers. He identifies the lame man's healing as a good deed done in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they crucified and whom God raised from the dead. He quotes Psalm 118:22: the stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone. And then comes the most theologically precise statement in the book of Acts: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. The Catechism calls this the unique mediation of Christ: not because God's mercy is narrow, but because the Incarnation, Death, and Resurrection of the eternal Son is the one act by which the Father accomplished the salvation of the whole world (CCC 432).

The Boldness of the Unschooled

The council sees the courage of Peter and John and are astonished because they are unschooled, ordinary men, and they take note that these men had been with Jesus. They cannot deny the healing; the man is standing right there. They command them to speak no more in the name of Jesus. Peter and John answer: judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. The council threatens them further and lets them go.

The community prays together when Peter and John return, asking for boldness to speak God's word and for the Lord to stretch out his hand to heal. The place where they are meeting is shaken and they are all filled with the Holy Spirit and speak the word of God boldly. They hold everything in common; there is no needy person among them. Great grace is on them all.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, Peter and John were unschooled and ordinary. Their authority before the council came not from credentials but from having been with Jesus. The question the council asked of them is the question the world asks of every Christian: by what power and in what name do you do what you do? The answer that changes everything is still the same answer.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. Give us the boldness of Peter and John: to speak that name without apology before councils and crowds, among friends and strangers, in every circumstance where the name needs to be spoken. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

4
Peter and John before the Sanhedrin
1 While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in custody until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
 
5 The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6 along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
 
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed, 10 then let this be known to all of you and to 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. 11 This Jesus is
 
‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’* 4:11 Psalms 118:22
 
12 Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
The Name Forbidden
 
13 When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing there with them, they had nothing to say in response. 15 So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin † 4:15 Or the Council and then conferred together.
 
16 “What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.”
 
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. 20 For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
 
21 After further threats they let them go. They could not find a way to punish them, because all the people were glorifying God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
The Believers’ Prayer
(Psalms 2:1–12)
 
23 On their release, Peter and John returned to their own people and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant,‡ 4:25 Or child; also in verses 27 and 30 our father David:
 
‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the Lord
and against His Anointed One.’§ 4:26 Or His Christ or His Messiah; Psalms 2:1–2
 
27 In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed. 28 They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen. 29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness, 30 as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”
 
31 After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Sharing among Believers
(Acts 2:42–47)
 
32 The multitude of believers was one in heart and soul. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they owned. 33 With great power the apostles continued to give their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And abundant grace was upon them all.
 
34 There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need.
 
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

*4:11 4:11 Psalms 118:22

†4:15 4:15 Or the Council

‡4:25 4:25 Or child; also in verses 27 and 30

§4:26 4:26 Or His Christ or His Messiah; Psalms 2:1–2

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