The physician Luke wrote how Peter and John were arrested for the healing of the lame man and speaking to the people in the temple about the resurrection, and when they were questioned by the religious authorities, “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. 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 marveled; 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 has been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it”, and in chapter four and verse seventeen of the book of Acts Luke shared how the religious leaders decided, “that it spread no further among the people, let us straightly threaten them” where we read:
But that it spread no further among the people, let us straightly threaten them,
that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
The verse begins, “But that it spread no further among the people, let us straightly threaten them, ...” Luke began with the words, “but that it spread no further” which means “nevertheless, notwithstanding, rather and moreover that the miracle performed on the lame man be distributed in a greater way than it already has been” “among the people” which means “toward the human beings both male and female”, “let us straightly threaten them” or “permit us, the religious leaders, to immediately and straightaway endanger and imperil Peter and John”. Luke shared how the religious leaders decided to “threaten” Peter and John so the word of the miracle performed upon the lame man would not reach other people.
The verse goes on to say, “... that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.” Luke continued with the words, “that they speak henceforth” or “so they, Peter and John, do not utter, declare and proclaim from this time forward” “to no man in this name” which means “to any person whether male or female with the name and all the name is used for which covers everything in the thoughts or feelings which are aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering”. Luke shared how the religious leaders did not want Peter and John speaking to anyone in the “name” of Jesus from that time forward.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the religious leaders decided to “threaten” Peter and John so they would no longer speak in Jesus' “name”. We shall see Peter and John's response in a couple verses, but for now let us understand that not everyone was or is in alignment with Jesus nor His teachings. God loves people, and His desire is to “save” every person who will believe and trust in His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Those who are wise will yield themselves to Jesus and “speak” His “name” to others regardless of whether they desire to quench it or not.
Next time Luke shares how the religious leaders, “called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus”, 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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