Page 31 - Acts Student Textbook

Peter relentlessly, unreservedly, and unwaveringly proclaimed, "Let it be known to all of you and all
the people of Israel" This is a PERFECT ACTIVE IMPERATIVE. The Spirit has emboldened Peter. He is not
intimidated by the judicial setting. These leaders could not keep Christ in the tomb and they could
not deny the healed man standing in front of them! Peter continued that it was "By the name of
Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified" (4:10). Peter picks up on their question and answers
specifically how the miracle occurred. This was the obvious truth. They instigated His death. Notice
"by you" in v. 11, which also asserts their guilt. Peter makes sure they understand that this Jesus is no
longer dead because "God raised" Him. The NT affirms that all three persons of the Trinity were
active in Jesus' resurrection: (1). Spirit, Rom. 8:11 (2). Jesus, John 2:19-22; 10:17-18 (3). Father, Acts
2:24,32; 3:15,26; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30,33,34,37; 17:31; Rom. 6:4,9. This was confirmation of the
truth of Jesus' life and teachings about God and also the Father's full acceptance of Jesus'
substitutionary death. This was a major aspect of the Kerygma (i.e., sermons in Acts 2:14).

Thrust!

In chapter 4:12 Peter said, "there is salvation in no one else" This is a strong DOUBLE NEGATIVE. There is
no salvation in Abraham or Moses (cf. John 14:6; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 5:10-12). What a shocking claim!
It is very restrictive but also very obvious that Jesus believed that only through a personal
relationship with Himself can one know God. Peter boldly proclaims this to that elite Jewish
leadership. This has often been called the exclusivistic scandal of Christianity. There is no middle
ground here. This statement is true or Christianity is false!

Peter gets even more specific, "there is no other name under heaven that has been given among
men" The PARTICIPLE "has been given" is a PERFECT PASSIVE. God has ordained this! Jesus is His answer to
mankind's spiritual need. There is no Plan B! Notice the universal element "among men" (cf. John
3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9).

Peter nails it home, "by which we must be saved" This phrase has two VERBALS. First, dei, PRESENT
ACTIVE INDICATIVE, "we must"! Second, sōthēnai, AORIST PASSIVE INFINITIVE of sōzō, "to be saved." The
word for "save" has two usages in the NT. First, physical deliverance (OT sense, cf. Matt. 9:22; Mark
6:56; Luke 1:71; 6:9; 7:50; Acts 27:20,31; James 1:21; 2:14; 4:12; 5:20). Second, spiritual salvation (NT
usages, cf. Luke 19:10; Acts 2:21, 40, 47; 11:14; 15:11; 16:30-31). The lame man experienced both.
The religious leaders needed to trust Jesus as their only hope for acceptance and forgiveness!
Humans need to be saved (cf. Rom. 1:18-3:20) and Jesus is the only way for this to be accomplished
(cf. Rom. 3:21-31). The OT quote in v. 12 shows He has always been God's plan (cf. Isa. 8:14-15;
28:14-19; 52:13-53:12).

The Sanhedrin’s response

With such a powerful sermon as this, with such a great miraculous attestation of the resurrected
Jesus, one would expect that they would pause and think a bit, and possibly begin to make right
decisions. Instead they only wonder at the apostles’ knowledge. They acknowledged that the men
were "uneducated (4:13)" The term is agrammatos, which is the term "writing" with the ALPHA
PRIVATIVE. This may mean that they were; (1) Ignorant or uneducated (2) untrained in the rabbinical
21
schools.
They added, "Untrained" This is the term idiōtēs, which is usually translated "layman" or "untrained
in a certain area." Originally it referred to a normal person as opposed to a leader or spokesperson. It
came to be used of an outsider vs. a member of a group (cf. 1 Cor. 14:16, 23-24; 2 Cor. 11:6).

21 Archibald. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the Greek New Testament, vol. 3, (p. 52), and Louw and Nida, Lexicon, vol. 1, (p.
328).
30