bold proclamation

Good morning everyone,

In yesterday's reading Peter and John used the opportunity created by healing a man to tell the story of Jesus. Today we see that their action not only created positive interest and curiosity, but also hostile attention from the authorities. Peter's defense strategy is interesting: the authorities are upset because Peter and John were teaching about new life in Jesus, but Peter turns the conversation to the healing of the man. It's easy and, at least within religious institutions, it seems to come naturally to us to argue about teachings and doctrines. By turning the conversation to the healing Peter is showing that the new teaching about Jesus isn't just about words but about God's power to act in the world. If the authorities want to question Peter and John about their teaching they must deal with the fact that that teaching is clearly associated with a miraculous healing.

I admire Peter for his boldness here as well. There is no effort to soften what has happened; instead Peter speaks the truth clearly and boldly. He also uses scripture by calling Jesus the stone the builders rejected but that God makes the cornerstone. This is part of Psalm 118 which was a psalm for the coronation of Israel's king. The "Hosanna, blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord" that is so familiar for us from Palm Sunday is from the same Psalm because that was a coronation parade for the Messiah. May God give each of us boldness and honesty in our speech and actions.

God bless,
Sam


Acts 4:1-12

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, 2much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. 3So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.

5The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”

8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ 12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”