Chapter Four — Part Two: The Book of Acts
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 03/28/2021
Foundation Scriptures:
Acts 4:10-12
1. The Mighty Name.
a. Peter is giving his defense to the Sanhedrin after he and John were arrested for healing the lame man and preaching the Gospel in the temple.
b. Acts 4:10 AMPC — Let it be known and understood by all of you, and by the whole house of Israel, that in the name and through the power and authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, [but] Whom God raised from the dead, in Him and by means of Him this man is standing here before you well and sound in body.
c. The power to heal and do miracles is IN and BY the Name of Jesus.
d. The authority to heal and do miracles is IN and BY the Name of Jesus.
e. Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV — Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
f. These very men had crucified Jesus, but God raised Him from the dead and gave Him a Name above every other name.
g. Jesus obtained His Name three ways: inheritance, conquest, and it was conferred upon Him.
h. In that Name, He empowers and authorizes the believer to go and to do the Great Commission.
2. The Chief Cornerstone.
a. Acts 4:11 AMPC — This [Jesus] is the Stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the Head of the corner [the Cornerstone].
b. They had rejected the One God chose and sent.
c. Isaiah 28:16 KJV — Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
d. Jesus had already preached this previously (quoting Ps. 118:22-23), infuriating the chief priests and the Pharisees.
e. Matthew 21:42-44 NKJV — Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
f. They understood He was referring to them, but they were not prepared to repent—then or now.
3. Trust the Cornerstone.
a. Romans 9:33 AMPC — As it is written, Behold I am laying in Zion a Stone that will make men stumble, a Rock that will make them fall; but he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall not be put to shame nor be disappointed in his expectations.
b. In ancient times, the cornerstone and the capstone were the two most important stones.
c. Because they were the first and the last stones installed.
d. The cornerstone was always larger than the other stones because it was the starting point (foundation) of the whole building.
e. Every other stone was installed to line up with this stone, so it had to be perfectly set.
f. If it was true and trustworthy, then the capstone would also fit perfectly.
g. If all the stones were not aligned as expected, from the cornerstone to the capstone, the building would be ruined and useless.
h. Jesus is the Cornerstone that—if trusted in—will never fail nor disappoint.
i. Build on Him, and your life will be sure and secure.
4. Living Stones; a Spiritual House.
a. 1 Peter 2:4-6 NKJV — Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
b. If you accept and receive Jesus—Who is chosen by God, elect and precious—He will become precious to you and you will become precious to Him.
c. You will be the recipient of all His wonderful blessings.
d. 1 Peter 2:7-8 NKJV — Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
e. If you disbelieve the Word of God, and you are disobedient to Him, Jesus Christ will become a stumbling block to you.
f. You will trip over Him, and you will be offended by Him.
5. Only One Savior; Only One Building.
a. Acts 4:12 AMPC — And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved.
b. John 10:9a AMPC — I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live).
c. John 14:6 NKJV — Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
d. There is only one Savior, Jesus Christ, and only one spiritual building, the Church.
e. Ephesians 2:19-22 NKJV — Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
f. Upon the Foundation of Jesus Christ, and the apostles and the prophets; we are all being built into a holy temple.