Luke the physician wrote how Peter spoke to the people who gathered together after lame man at the temple was healed, and many “which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. 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 you done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, You 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 you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does 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”, and in chapter four and verse twelve of the book of Acts Luke shared how Peter said, “neither is there salvation in any other:” where we read:
Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The verse begins, “Neither is there salvation in any other:” Luke began with the words, “neither is there salvation” which means “no and not in any way exists deliverance, safety and future salvation with the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians , redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God” “in any other” which means “in no one else or none other person”. Luke shared how Peter told the religious leaders and the people of Israel that only through the “name” of Jesus was “deliverance and future salvation” available.
The verse continues, “for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Luke added the words, “for there is none other name under heaven” or “because, since and on account that there exists no different or another name which is used for everything which the name covers including the thoughts or feelings which are aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering” “given among men” which means “granted, bestowed, furnished and supplied in relationship to human beings both male and female”, “whereby we must be saved” or “with, through and with what means that we, which refers to people from everywhere, need and it is necessary to be kept safe, sound and rescued from danger, destruction and suffering from the penalties of the Messianic judgment”. Luke shared how Peter declared there is “none other name under heaven given among men” other than Jesus by which people need to be “saved”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn one of the main principles in the Bible concerning the “salvation” of mankind. “Peter” told the religious leaders and people of Israel, there is “no other name” other than Jesus “whereby” a person can be “saved”. Mankind has sinned, and the only person who paid the price of death for those sins is Jesus, and when a person believes and trusts in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they will receive forgiveness of sins and everlasting life with God. Any other name is insufficient because they have not paid the price for the sins of people. God loves everyone, and His desire is to “save” anyone who will yield their life to His Son Jesus Christ. Let all who read these words receive the “only name – Jesus” that is able to save them for all eternity.
Next time Luke shares how the religious leaders, “saw the boldness of Peter and John”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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