'And it came to pass
on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the high
priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the
kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they
asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
Then Peter, filled
with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of
Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man,
by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people
of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified,
whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you
whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is
become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for
there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved.
Now when they saw
the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and
ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had
been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them,
they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside
out of the council, they conferred among themselves, Saying, What shall we do
to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is
manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that
it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they
speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded
them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
But Peter and John
answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken
unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which
we have seen and heard.
So when they had
further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might
punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which
was done. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of
healing was shewed.
And being let go,
they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and
elders had said unto them.'
*******
Miracles done in the
NAME of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, He who was crucified and then brought back to
life, He who is the only One who can save us. Salvation is found only in Jesus
Christ of Nazareth. Jesus Christ of Nazareth the HEAD of the cornerstone upon
which God builds His people. All who are a part of this building which stands
solely upon Jesus Christ cannot help but glorify Him and speak of Him, teach of
Him.
Salvation from the
evil that corrupts this world, evil that permeates every aspect of life as we
know it, leaving nothing untouched, nothing unstained.
Peter and John could
NOT tell those who had locked them up and detained them overnight, those who
had that authority, they could not tell them what they wanted to hear. All too often we want to do anything we can
to get out of trouble, to keep ourselves free. All too often we sacrifice so
much that truly MATTERS because we want temporary relief, temporary success,
temporary comfort. Peter and John didn't know what would happen to them if they
didn't comply but they didn't hesitate. They told those in charge of their fate
in that moment that they could NOT keep quiet. They would NOT shut up! They
would NOT be silent! They would listen
to GOD not man. God was the one they
answered to, not man, not any man.
Still they were
threatened but not detained. They were sent on their way and so many believed
in the Lord as their Savior because they spoke the name of Jesus Christ and
through that Name a lame man of forty years was able to walk. None could deny
it, none could dispute the healing, and the power came from Jesus Christ of
Nazareth. Peter did NOT heal that man.
John did NOT heal that man. Jesus Christ HEALED that man!
We may use HIS Name,
HIS HOLY NAME and the power that is HIS will be used according to HIS will, not
anyone who speaks it, not their will but HIS.
Always we must pray
in the name of JESUS, always we must pray for HIS WILL, always we much put our
hope far outside of ourselves and solely in our GOD and HIS LOVE!
Please, Lord, please
help us to USE YOUR NAME as YOU would have us USE YOUR NAME. Help us to realize
that You WANT us to USE YOUR NAME. Help us LORD, help us. For we truly do not
know how to pray as we should.
Thank you Heavenly
Father, thank you! All praise, all glory, all honor unto YOU! In the NAME of
Your Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth!
Amen!
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