Acts 4:5-12 (NRSV)
Read Acts 4:5-12 on biblegateway.com
Verse 5The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, Verse 6with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. Verse 7When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Verse 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, Verse 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, Verse 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. Verse 11This Jesus is 'the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.' Verse 12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."
Devotion
How hard it was for the "good old boys' club" to accept Peter and John’s explanation of the healing of the lame man. Peter was clear in his witness. It was "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" the lame man was healed. Imagine how that witness clanged in the ears of the high priestly family. They were after all, leaders! Had God bypassed them to work through this Jesus and His followers? We, too, have been called to serve the risen Christ. Are we open to being led by the Holy Spirit into new ways of seeing God’s leading in the world? What act of God would it take for God to turn us from our own "right" thinking to conform to His will?
Prayer
Risen Lord Jesus, make us flexible that we might conform to your will. Make us bold that we might proclaim your just and loving reign in this world. In your name we pray, Amen.