Peter and John went back to "their own
people."[i] That's
a winning, warm expression for the group of followers of Jesus in Jerusalem. I
like the sound of 'our own people.'
'Their own people' was not an exclusive private association. In fact, Peter and John were protagonists of what seemed like an invasive new teaching about Jesus that attracted many new believers. Now suddenly, they were responsible for affecting a miracle that drew even more attention to their message. Nothing works better than a miracle to promote a belief. The crippled man[ii]
to whom they delivered instant healing from a birth defect, was now exhibit
number one in the city but Jesus was the center of attention. The cured cripple
and his miracle envoys spoke only about Jesus because it was in his name and by
his power that the lame man walked.
Jewish rulers were infuriated and troubled
by the increase of people pledging allegiance to Jesus who was dead and
gone. In just a few weeks the 3,000
conversions noted on the Day of Pentecost had risen to 5,000 people[iii]
who now trusted Christ was Messiah and believed that he had risen and was
alive. "Our own people' was growing in numbers every day. The group to
which peter and John returned would have been one of the numerous small
groupings that gathered spontaneously all over the city all of them bound in
spirit by their fidelity to Jesus.
Peter and John were arrested, jailed
overnight and then hauled into a hearing where they were interrogated.
"How did you heal this man?" Their response[iv]
blew the inquisitors away. It was gutsy. It was true. It could not be disproven
because the healed man was standing right there, and Peter and John had lived
with Jesus. "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to
account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he
was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the
dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is " 'the stone you
builders rejected, which has become the capstone. ' Salvation is found in no
one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must
be saved."
Peter and John were excused from the room but later called back,
reprimanded and cautioned by chief priests, elders and
Sadducees. Now they returned to "their own people" to report what
happened. These people were in touch
with the LORD, and they prayed. I want to be with people like this. I need to
be with "my own people."
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