Luke the physician 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, ...”, and in chapter four and verse sixteen of the book of Acts Luke shared how the religious leaders asked, “what shall we do with these men?” where we read:
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.
The verse begins, “Saying, What shall we do to these men?” Luke began with the word, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring, proclaiming and asking”, “what shall we do” which means “what things should we, the religious leaders make ready, prepare and produce” “to these men” which means “with Peter and John”? Luke shared how the religious authorities began to confer with one another as to what they were “do” with Peter and John.
The verse continues, “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.” Luke added the words, “for that indeed a notable miracle” or “because, since and on account that even so truly, certainly and surely a well-known sign, token, mark and wonder” “has been done by them is manifested” which means “was performed, made ready and produced by them, Peter and John, and is apparent, evident and plainly recognized” “to all them that dwell in Jerusalem” or “to each, every, the whole and everyone who lives, abides and has habitation within the city of Jerusalem which means set you double peace”; “and we cannot deny it” which means “and we, the religious leaders or Sanhedrin, are unable, incapable and without power to disregard, not accept, abnegate or abjure the miracle”. Luke shared how the religious leaders had to acknowledge that a supernatural wonder had been performed by Peter and John, and everybody in the city of Jerusalem knew about it.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn how the “religious leaders” or “Sanhedrin” were having difficulty in deciding what needed to happen to Peter and John. Though they wanted to bring some sort of charge against them, they had to admit that a “miracle” occurred in the lame man, and everybody in Jerusalem knew that it happened. God is in the miracle working business, and He was using the first members of His church, Peter and John, to perform wonders that were so “notable”, no one could deny them. God loves people, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with every one of them through His Son Jesus. Peter and John were spreading this good news to everyone they encountered, and those who are wise will note the miracle performed upon the lame man and their speech about the resurrection and surrender their life to Jesus who will save them for all eternity.
Next time Luke shares how the religious leaders say, “that it spread no further among the people, let us straightly threaten them”, 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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