“…then 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. 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 4:10, 12
Christianity is the one true faith because Jesus, the only source of salvation, delivers all people from a verdict of damnation. We are saved by confidence in Christ’s name, and not by confidence in our works. For ‘the name’ here means the cause that is mentioned. Peter is saying only by placing faith in Jesus – the One who came, died, and was raised again – can a person be saved.
This is the second description in the Book of Acts of someone being filled with the Holy Spirit. The initial filling accompanied the baptism in the Spirit and brought boldness for God’s work. Jesus had promised His disciples that they would stand before kings and rulers and that the Spirit of God within them would implant in their minds exactly what to say to these leaders. It is interesting to compare the actions of this Spirit-controlled Peter with the Christ-denying Peter when he stood in the courtyard intimidated about his faith before a servant maid. On that occasion, Peter denied Christ three times. Now, Peter stood unafraid and unashamed before the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish court in the land.
Blessings on your day as you walk boldly in God’s Kingdom today…