Acts 4:12

Acts 4:12 is Peter's bold declaration of where salvation is found -- in no one else but Jesus, the only name under heaven given for our rescue. Peter and John had been arrested for healing a lame man and proclaiming the resurrection. Brought before the rulers, elders, and high priests, they were asked by what power or name they had acted. Filled with the Holy Ghost, Peter answered without hesitation, pointing entirely to Jesus.

The verse builds on the previous one, where Peter called Jesus "the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner." Now he draws the conclusion plainly. "Neither is there salvation in any other" -- the Greek soteria means deliverance, rescue, wholeness, the full restoration God offers. Peter insists this is found nowhere else. He continues, "there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." The word "name" again stands for the person and authority of Jesus. The phrase "under heaven" sweeps across the whole earth -- there is no other place to look. And the word "must" underscores necessity: this is not one option among many but the appointed way of rescue. Spoken before the very council that had condemned Jesus, this was a fearless testimony. Peter, once afraid to admit he knew Jesus, now stands before the powerful and proclaims Him as the world's only Savior.