When we listen to Peter’s words in today’s first reading (Acts 4:5-12) and remember to whom they were spoken, we recognize one of the world’s great demonstrations of courage. This speech was delivered to an audience of the wealthiest, the most intellectual, and the most powerful in the land, and yet Peter, the Galilean fisherman, stood before them rather as their judge than as their victim.
Further, this was the very court which had condemned Jesus to death. Peter knew that he was taking his life in his hands. In the speech, we hear the words, ” the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has be- come the cornerstone.” This wisdom in the words quoted, which appeared first in Psalm 118:22, recurs in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, 1 Peter 2:7, and Acts 4:11, makes it one of the New Testament’s most repeated phrases. Repetition is the teacher’s most powerful tool, so evidently these Christian writers and the Holy Spirit who inspired them want us to learn something very important.
“The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief corner-stone” (Psalm 118:22). The image comes from the ancient quarries where highly trained stonemasons carefully chose the stones used in construction.No stone was more important than the cornerstone (capstone) because the integrity of the whole structure depended on the cornerstone containing exactly the right lines. If the cornerstone was not exactly right, the entire build- ing would be out of line. For that reason, builders inspected many stones, rejecting each one until they found the one they wanted. Rejected stones could be used in other parts of the building but they would never become the cornerstone.
The reading is Peter’s response to the leaders of the Jewish community in Jerusalem. It seems that he and his Christian companions were challenged to justify the healing of a crippled man (Acts 3:1-10). In his reply, Peter draws a distinction between these leaders, along with those who have not accepted Jesus as the source of salvation, and himself and other Christian believers. The factor that distinguishes these two groups is faith in the power of the name of Jesus. Peter claims that it was in the power of this name that the man was healed and it will be in the power of this same name that all will be saved.
Peter’s quote was to show that Jesus was the stone rejected by them, like the builders who rejected a particular stone as unsuitable, but was chosen by God, the chief builder, to be the cornerstone. Peter pointed out that Jesus was rejected and crucified by his own people, but God who is building the spiritual house had chosen Jesus to be the cornerstone of that building, made up of all believers in Jesus Christ. Peter presses the point with his powerful conclusion: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). There is no other hope, no other way, and no other name than the name of Jesus. The hymn writer penned:
“Christ is our cornerstone, on him alone we build; with his true saints alone the courts of heaven are filled: on his great love our hopes we place of present grace and joys above.”. (CPWI 729)
Yours in Christ
Elizabeth +
