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Intention

To discover that clarity about Jesus leads to conviction, conviction leads to courage, and courage, empowered by the Spirit, leads to people encountering the risen Christ.

Scripture

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

– Acts 4:12 (ESV) 

“Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

– Acts 4:19–20 (ESV)

Reflection

We all preach gospels. Your team wins the big game. You tell people. You find a great café. You recommend it. A good holiday, a bargain, a podcast, a song, a life hack. You pass it on. We naturally share what we think is good news. But when it comes to the best news, Jesus Christ crucified and risen for sinners, so often we remain silent.

In Acts 4, Peter and John are not silent. They have just seen the miraculous healing of a lame man. A man unable to walk from birth is now walking, leaping, and praising God. Everyone can see it. The religious leaders cannot deny it. But they want it shut down, so they interrogate them in verse 7, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”

In verse 8, we’re reminded that Peter was “filled with the Holy Spirit.” And his response? Jesus. This was all Jesus. It’s all about Jesus. In verses 9–11, he makes sure everyone knows exactly who this Jesus is. He is Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Crucified. Raised from the dead. Rejected by the builders. Now the cornerstone. Peter is effectively saying, ‘Remember the one YOU rejected and put to death? He’s alive. And he’s at work.’

Peter sees Jesus clearly. And clarity leads to conviction. The urgent need for all people to see Jesus clearly is revealed in verse 12, “there is no other name.” The world must know about this Saviour because there is no other way to be saved by God. Jesus is not one option among many. He’s the only one who is able to fully rescue and save through his perfect life, sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection.

And that conviction that there is no other name leads to courage. It wasn’t that long before this that Peter had denied Jesus three times in the lead-up to his crucifixion. And yet now, filled by the Spirit, with a clear conviction that Jesus is the only way, Peter stands with courage.

The council are already astonished by the boldness of Peter in verse 13. But because everyone in Jerusalem knows about the healing, they decide to silence them instead, demanding that they cease speaking and teaching “in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:17).

They can no longer remain silent. They’ve seen too much. They’ve heard too much. It only leads to further courage in verse 20, “for we cannot but speak.” They are compelled by conviction. Not by fear. Not by pressure. Not by guilt. Not by technique. Their clear convictions about Jesus compel them to courageously proclaim the name of Jesus, no matter the cost.

The same pattern continues in Acts 5. More signs and wonders. More opposition. More demands to stop speaking about Jesus. But after being flogged and beaten, they rejoice that they were “counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the name” and they “did not cease” talking about Jesus.

Their continued clarity, conviction, and courage to proclaim “there is no other name” (Acts 4:12) led to this repeated result: “many of those who had heard the word believed” (Acts 4:4). God’s Spirit can empower that same clarity, conviction, and courage in us today.

Video

Prayer

Almighty God, by the power of your Spirit, grant us today the clarity to see Jesus, the conviction to know that he is the only way, and the courage to speak of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection across the street and to the ends of the earth. We pray this for the good of all people and the glory of your holy name. Amen.

Author Bio

Dave Miers is the Pastor of Christ our Refuge, Brisbane, a new church plant in the Anglican Diocese of the Southern Cross. He is also the President of Good News Unlimited, a digital ministry that exists to help everyday people see Jesus clearly in God’s word. Discover Dave’s devotional content on Good News Limited here.

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1. Five people to trust in Christ and to share the gospel with those five in May. Matthew 28:19–20

2. Repentance, revival and reformation in Australia and for millions to believe in Jesus Christ. Luke 24:47

3. A Church that grows in extravagant love for God and people. 2 Corinthians 5:14–15

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