The text in its surrounding paragraph, Acts 4:10-12, reads as follows:
“10 let it be known to all of you 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—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 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.”
This paragraph connects with the preceding and following paragraphs by presenting a continuation of Peter’s speech after the healing of a lame man at the temple gate. In the preceding paragraph (Acts 4:8-9), Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, addresses the rulers, elders, and scribes of the people, boldly proclaiming the name of Jesus as the source of the miraculous healing. He emphasizes that it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that the man stands before them, completely healed.
In the paragraph in question, Peter goes on to declare that Jesus, who was previously rejected by the builders (referring to the religious leaders and authorities), has become the cornerstone. This statement draws upon the metaphor of building construction, where the cornerstone is a vital and foundational stone that determines the alignment and stability of the entire structure. Peter uses this imagery to highlight the centrality and indispensability of Jesus in God’s plan of salvation.
Furthermore, Peter asserts that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus. He affirms that there is no other name under heaven given among humanity by which people must be saved. This powerful statement underscores the exclusive nature of Jesus as the sole means of salvation and connects to the following paragraphs (Acts 4:13-22), which describe the response of the rulers and authorities to Peter and John’s proclamation of Jesus and their subsequent decision to forbid them from speaking or teaching in His name.
Intentional Faith 