- Ephesians 2:19-20: “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.”
This passage from Ephesians echoes the imagery of Christ as the cornerstone, emphasizing that believers are part of God’s household, built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets. It provides a theological context by highlighting the unity of believers in Christ and their shared identity as members of God’s spiritual dwelling. Just as Jesus is the cornerstone of the early Christian community, believers are joined together in Him, forming a spiritual temple that stands on the unshakable foundation of God’s Word.
- John 14:6: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”
In this well-known statement by Jesus Himself, He emphasizes the exclusivity of salvation through Him. It offers a theological context by reiterating the truth proclaimed in Acts 4:11-12, affirming that Jesus is the only way to the Father. This passage underscores the centrality of Christ in the Christian faith, highlighting His role as the source of truth, the path to God, and the giver of eternal life. It reinforces the significance of placing faith in Jesus as the means of reconciling with God and experiencing salvation.
- 1 Peter 2:4-6: “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.'”
This passage in 1 Peter further develops the imagery of believers as living stones, being built together as a spiritual house. It offers a theological context by connecting the believers’ identity and purpose with the rejected yet chosen cornerstone, Jesus Christ. It highlights the honor and responsibility bestowed upon believers to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices through Jesus Christ. This passage emphasizes the believers’ union with Christ and their participation in His redemptive work, calling them to live out their faith in a way that brings glory to God.
These additional Scriptures provide theological context to the passage in Acts 4:11-12, affirming the significance of Christ as the cornerstone, the exclusivity of salvation through Him, and the believers’ identity as a spiritual house built upon Him. Together, they deepen our understanding of the central themes and teachings found in Acts 4:11-12 and reinforce the foundational truths of the Christian faith.