Addressing Authority

It is by His Authority

Acts 4:5–12 “5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to 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, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Verse 5-6 (The WHO)

Here in verses 5 and 6 Luke is describing the group which had been assembled to hear the charges which had been levied against Peter and John just a few hours earlier during the evening of the pryor day. The assembled group was assembled for the purpose of interrogating Peter and John. This assembly is described as the rulers, elders, scribes in verse 5 and then in verse 6 it goes on to say the High Priest, Caiaphus, and a few others mentioned by name. Its not the names that hold signifiance but the representation of who is present. The representation is that of the very elite of the city of Jerusalem. The Jewish upper class. This group is made up of the three distinguished groups, the leaders High Priest, are from the priestly class, and represent the current High Priest, the previous High Priest, their families. This is the same group that is mentioned in Luke Chapter 9 and Luke Chapter 20. This group includes Caiaphus, the Captain of the Temple, and the former high priest, along with Nicodemus. Now Nicodemus was a different type of person one who visited Jesus during the night, one who sought to treat Jesus with fairness and one that even defended Jesus. All the while being a leader of the Jews.

Verse (By WHO)

Here in the midst of this group of people of the Sanhedrin, Peter and John are asked by who’s authority do you speak of these things which you were teaching yesterday. Now in Chapter 3 of the Book of Acts we see that Peter’s emphasis is on the Authority of GOD. He speaks in Chapter 3 of the man who was lame. Peter tells them that is was through Faith of this man in Him (God) who had made these things happen.

Authority- is the recognized right or power to act, which can be derived only from divine, legal, or moral sources.

Mark 11:27–33 “27 Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. 28 And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?” 29 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: 30 The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.” 31 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘From men’ ”—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. 33 So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.””

Matthew 28:18 “18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

Verse 11-12 (For WHO)

Peter goes on to say that this is the one who you have rejected. He has come and fulfilled the prophecies of some of the prophets and you still do not know by who’s authority we do these things. It is him who you have turned away, turned your back upon, who was the stone in which the builders have rejected.