The Book of Acts ~ Study Sixteen

"Not Ashamed"


Peter and John were confronted by the same group of people that arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The priests, temple guards and the Sadducees were "greatly disturbed" because Peter and John were saying that Jesus was no longer dead. So...they arrested them and put them in jail. More than likely it was the same jail that Jesus was placed in. History tells us that it was an old cistern underneath the High Priest Caiaphas' house. It had no light and was cold and damp. 

The old cistern under the ruins of Caiapha's house
where Jesus, and later Peter and John
were held prisoner (without the podium).

Acts 4:5-12 (NLT) The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”
     Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,

   ‘The stone that you builders rejected

      has now become the cornerstone.’

     There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”


“By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?” They knew exactly whose name Peter and John healed the lame man and this name scared them to death. These priests were not of the line of Aaron but were placed there by the Roman government. So the name of Jesus was a threat to their political security. Jesus was popular and loved by many. They thought they had gotten rid of the "problem." Now it was happening again. The Name of Jesus was alive and active ~ healing people and making a way for them to have a relationship with God.


Peter and John were not afraid to tell them like it was. Salvation for the Jews (and Gentiles) was now available to anyone who believed Jesus to be The Messiah. "There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”


Over the centuries since followers of Jesus have been accused of being narrow-minded and exclusive. Though some who claimed to be Christians were abusive, exclusive and even murders, Christians are only to tell others about Jesus and His love.


John 14:6-7 (NLT) Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”


What do you believe about Jesus? Do you believe that He is who He says He is? Why do you believe it?


The message that we are to proclaim is that Jesus is the only way to God. There is no other way. Is this narrow-minded? I think so, but is that a bad thing? We have to decide if what Jesus said was really true or not. There is no such thing as "kinda true."


Romans 1:16-17 (NLT) For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”


The Good News (Gospel), is this that we have been made right in God's eyes because of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. To have this true for your life and mine, we must believe that what Jesus says is true. This may make us offensive to others, but as long as we are gentle and kind about it we must tell others the truth about Jesus.


2 Corinthians 2:15-17 (NLT) Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
     You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.


Sincerity and Christ's authority are the foundation from which we preach the Good News. Are we willing to stand up and deliver? Is the eternal future of others important? Jesus thinks it is and we are to imitate Him. Its time to be bold and tell others about Him. Are you with me? Let's roll....

"For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ..."