Peter, Who Became a Man of Power

ACTS 4:8-20

WE OUGHT to obey God rather than men,” said Peter to the religious leaders of his day. (Acts 5:29) Faithfulness to this principle contributed to the great power and influence which Peter and others of the apostles exercised in the Early Church; and their example in this respect has been an encouragement to all the true followers of the Master from that time until now. True, the apostles taught that we should be subject to the powers that be (Rom. 13:1), but this injunction had more particularly to do with obedience to civil law, whereas in the case of Peter and his associates as brought to our attention in today’s lesson, their defiance was simply that of not complying with the demand of the religious teachers in Israel to cease proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.

Here was a clear-cut case of obeying either God or man. Through Christ and the Holy Spirit the will of God had been made very plain to the Early Church. Every follower of the Master was commissioned to be his ambassador. Beginning with Jerusalem, they were to carry the Gospel message to the uttermost parts of the earth. (Acts 1:8) This privilege and duty was enjoined upon them by a definite command. So when the religious leaders in Israel forbade them to carry on their evangelistic work, they were left with no choice but to disobey.

Divine providence always overrules with respect to purposes which God desires accomplished. This is brought vividly to our attention in the incident which constitutes the background of today’s lesson. Peter had been instrumental in healing a man who had been lame from the time of his birth. Peter and his associates were summoned before the rulers and elders of Israel to explain by what power and in whose name this outstanding miracle had been performed.

Peter undoubtedly knew of the animosity against the name of Jesus that existed in the orthodox religious circles of Israel, yet this did not deter him from speaking out boldly and affirming the fact that the miracle had been performed through the name of Jesus Christ, the One whom they had crucified. There are times, no doubt, when in being wise as serpents and harmless as doves, the Lord’s people must exercise restraint in the telling of the truth, but the circumstances of our lesson indicate that this was certainly not one of these times. A clear-cut issue had been raised between religious prejudice and the truth of the Gospel, and Peter recognized that the sooner it was settled the better it would be for the interests of the truth and for all the disciples.

Peter had a wonderful argument to buttress his position that Jesus was “the Sent of God,” the Messiah, for God had raised him from the dead. And besides, even the crucifixion of Jesus did not represent a ‘victory for the forces of unrighteousness. It was, on the other hand, one of the substantial evidences of divine blessing, for the prophecies had foretold that Christ would suffer and die at the hands of his enemies—die as the Redeemer and Savior of the world.

Peter, referring to the prophecy of Psalm 118:22, said, “This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders.” But while they had rejected him, Jesus, nevertheless, had become the “head of the corner.” This language suggests the pyramid form of construction in which the headstone of the corner would not fit in any other place in the building. Not understanding the divine plan, the professed “builders” would see no place where a stone of this shape could possibly fit.

Peter reveals that Jesus had already become the head of the corner in the new building which God was constructing. This reminds us that the foundation was laid in heaven, and that the remainder of the structure is being built up to and in conformity with this “headstone.” This work of building will not be completed until the “dispensation of the fullness of times,” when all things both in heaven and on earth will be gathered together under Christ, the Head.—Ephesians 1:10

There is no other name given under heaven or among men whereby “we must be saved”—that is, we must be saved by this name, or else not be saved at all. This is the great fundamental teaching of Christianity—fundamental, that is, to obtaining salvation. We dare not deny the right hand of fellowship to one who has wholeheartedly accepted Jesus as his personal Savior, and has devoted his life to the doing of God’s will as expressed through Christ. If one who makes such a profession holds erroneous conceptions concerning the plan of God we should do what we reasonably can to help him see the way of the Lord more perfectly, but we are under no Christian obligation to co-operate with him either directly or indirectly in spreading his erroneous views.

The enemies of the Gospel “took knowledge” of Peter and his associates that “they had been with Jesus,” and, as we often add, had learned of him. This latter expression is not in the account, but is unquestionably implied; for they saw manifested in these disciples the same characteristics that had been displayed by the Master. No doubt those early disciples were endeavoring to copy all the beautiful characteristics of Jesus, but the one specifically referred to in this lesson is his boldness.

Peter and his friends were hold in their defiance of orders issued to them by “men”—that is, the religious rulers of that day. God had helped them to be bold by blessing Peter in the healing of the man who was lame. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost also served as a background of strength to this handful of disciples in an antagonistic world. Their enemies recognized in their boldness that they were like Jesus, who also, because he was supported by divine power and guided by divine wisdom, was bold in the doing of his Father’s will.

Too frequently the Lord’s people overlook this essential quality of Christ likeness. We are prone to think of Jesus merely from the standpoint of his patience, gentleness, and purity. These are also essential qualities of a Christian, but boldness and fearlessness are also required if we are to be faithful ambassadors for Christ.

This does not mean that we are to be arrogant. We are not to intrude ourselves upon others, nor attempt to force the message of the kingdom upon ears that are deaf. Boldness must be tempered with gentleness and kindness. Thus, while as good soldiers of Jesus Christ we will be unrelenting in fighting the good fight of faith, as we go forward in the battle we will wear the “sandals of peace.”—Eph. 6:15

The enemies of the Gospel could not deny the reality of the miracle which Peter had performed. They knew it was useless to tell their people that it didn’t happen. All they could do was to forbid Peter and his friends from further activity, thus hoping to keep the teaching of the Gospel from spreading further. But their edict went unheeded. Indeed, they were at once reminded of the erroneous position they had taken when asked if in their opinion it was better to obey them or to obey God.

Prior to Pentecost, these religious rulers in Israel were in a measure recognized by God. Indeed, this arrangement continued until three and one-half years after Pentecost—to the full end of the seventieth week of Daniel’s prophecy. (Dan. 9:25-27) Jesus said of them that they sat in Moses’ seat, and because of this some recognition was due them. This dispensation of exclusive favor to Israel and the teachers in Israel, however, was very near to an end at the time of the incident recorded in our lesson—so near, apparently, that Peter decided that the command of the rulers could not be construed in any way as representing the will of God, especially since it was contrary to the commission given to them by Jesus. Thus the issue was clear, and boldly they continued the work of the ministry.

QUESTIONS

In the situation of today’s lesson, how can we harmonize the decision of Peter with the instructions of Paul to be subject to the powers that be?

Are there times when it may be advisable, temporarily, to refrain from proclaiming certain features of the truth?

Explain the manner in which Jesus became the headstone of the corner.

What great fundamental of the Gospel is essential to salvation?

In what particular sense were Peter and his friends like Jesus in their service of the truth?

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