let it be known to all of you 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 is standing before you well.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter doesn't just state that Jesus healed the man; he boldly declares it was "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" – the very one they crucified. This emphasizes that the power to heal and bring wholeness comes not from appeasing their authority, but from the resurrected Jesus whom they rejected.
let it be known to all of you 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 is standing before you well.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter and John are on trial before the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin, for healing a lame man in Jesus' name. The council, comprised of religious leaders, had previously condemned Jesus and now feels threatened by the apostles' boldness and the growing popularity of Jesus' followers. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, seizes this moment not to defend himself, but to boldly proclaim Jesus as the source of the healing.
When Peter and John healed the lame man, the religious leaders were furious. They demanded to know by what authority this miracle happened. Peter's answer is incredibly bold and points to a power they couldn't control.
Peter doesn't just say 'Jesus did it.' He speaks of the 'name' of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. In ancient culture, a name carried immense weight – it represented a person's character, reputation, and authority. To act 'in the name of' someone meant you were acting with their full delegated authority.
When Peter says 'by the name of Jesus Christ,' he's declaring that this miracle wasn't a fluke or some random act. It was done with the direct, authorized power of the resurrected Jesus. This was a direct challenge to the religious leaders, who had tried to silence Jesus and his followers. Peter is essentially saying, 'You can't stop God's power, even if you executed His Son.'
Peter doesn't shy away from the hard truth. He confronts the leaders with the unthinkable: the man they killed is the very source of this healing power.
This verse is packed with the core of the gospel message. Peter masterfully weaves together two critical, seemingly contradictory truths about Jesus:
1. The Crucified One:
Peter explicitly says, 'whom ye crucified.' This is a direct accusation, pointing to the Sanhedrin's (and the people's) role in Jesus' death. It's a bold move, speaking truth to power. He doesn't try to soften it; he names their actions.
2. The Raised One:
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Immediately following the accusation, Peter declares, 'whom God raised from the dead.' This is the linchpin. The crucifixion, from the world's perspective, was an end. But for Peter and the early church, it was the path to God's ultimate victory. God's raising Jesus validates Jesus' identity and power, turning the ultimate human defeat into divine triumph.
By linking the crucifixion and resurrection so closely, Peter shows that Jesus' power isn't just despite His death, but revealed through it and His subsequent resurrection. The man is standing healed because the one they killed is alive and powerful.
Miracles are powerful statements. In this case, the evidence was standing right there, a living, breathing testament to Peter's words.
The entire confrontation hinges on a visible, undeniable miracle. The man healed was well-known to be lame for a very long time. His sudden, complete healing was not something that could be easily explained away or dismissed.
The Healed Man as Evidence:
Peter points to the man, who was literally standing before the council. This wasn't an abstract theological argument; it was a tangible demonstration of divine power. The leaders knew this man had been lame. Now they could see him walking, jumping, and praising God. This visual evidence backed up Peter's every word.
A Challenge to Deny Reality:
Peter's statement forces the leaders into a corner. They could deny Peter's words, but they couldn't deny the reality of the healed man standing before them. Their only recourse was to try and suppress the message and threaten the messengers, rather than deal with the undeniable proof.
Understand the original words
Christos · Greek/Hebrew Noun/Title
The human title for the Messiah, meaning 'Anointed One.' It signifies His divine appointment as the Savior of the world and the fulfiller of all Old Testament prophecy regarding the redemption of humanity.
stauroō · Greek Verb
The act of putting to death on a cross. In a theological sense, it refers to the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who took upon Himself the penalty for human sin, thus reconciling God and man.
egeirō · Greek Verb
The divine act by which God the Father brought Jesus back to life after His death. This event is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, demonstrating Christ's victory over sin and death and providing the assurance of future resurrection for all believers.
This event occurs during the very early days of the Christian church in Jerusalem, just weeks or months after Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. The Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish court, represents the very authorities who condemned Jesus, making Peter's bold testimony a direct confrontation with those responsible for Jesus' death.
c. AD 30
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth is crucified in Jerusalem under the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. His followers believe he was raised from the dead three days later.
c. AD 30-33
Pentecost and Early Church Growth
The Holy Spirit empowers the apostles, leading to the dramatic events of Pentecost and the rapid growth of the early Christian community in Jerusalem.
c. AD 30-33
Healing of the Lame Man
Peter and John heal a man lame from birth at the temple gate. This miracle draws a large crowd and leads to their arrest by temple authorities.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
Peter and John are brought before the Jewish ruling council (the Sanhedrin), where Peter boldly proclaims Jesus Christ as the source of the healing and the only means of salvation.
c. AD 30-33
Release and Prayer
The Sanhedrin, intimidated by the crowd and the apostles' boldness, releases Peter and John with a warning. The early believers then gather to pray for continued boldness.
This verse directly parallels Acts 4:10, showing Peter using the same bold declaration of healing 'in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth' to a crowd, highlighting the consistent message and power of Jesus' name.
Luke 24:46-47This passage articulates the core message Peter is proclaiming: that repentance and forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in Jesus' name to all nations, directly echoing the theological foundation of Peter's bold statement in Acts 4:10.
Psalm 118:22Peter explicitly quotes this verse later in Acts 4:11, identifying Jesus as the 'stone that the builders rejected,' which powerfully reinforces the theme of Jesus' rejection and crucifixion by the very people who now stand in defiance of His healing power.
1 Corinthians 1:23-24This passage speaks of Christ crucified as a stumbling block to some and foolishness to others, yet as the power and wisdom of God. This directly relates to Peter's declaration, emphasizing that the crucified and resurrected Jesus is the source of the miracle, despite the rulers' rejection of Him.
barnesActs 4:10: "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole."
Be it known ... - Peter might have evaded the question, or he might have resorted to many excuses and subterfuges (Calvin), if he had been desirous of avoiding this inquiry. But it was a noble opportunity for vindicating the honor of his Lord and Master. It was a noble opport…
clarkeActs 4:10: "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole."
By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth - This was a very bold declaration in the presence of such an assembly; but he felt he stood on good ground. The cure of the lame man the day before was notorious; his long infirmity was well known; his person could be easily identified…
Peter doesn't just state that Jesus healed the man; he boldly declares it was "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" – the very one they crucified. This emphasizes that the power to heal and bring wholeness comes not from appeasing their authority, but from the resurrected Jesus whom they rejected.
Peter and John are on trial before the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin, for healing a lame man in Jesus' name. The council, comprised of religious leaders, had previously condemned Jesus and now feels threatened by the apostles' boldness and the growing popularity of Jesus' followers. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, seizes this moment not to defend himself, but to boldly proclaim Jesus as the source of the healing.
Peter and John are on trial before the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin, for healing a lame man in Jesus' name. The council, comprised of religious leaders, had previously condemned Jesus and now feels threatened by the apostles' boldness and the growing popularity of Jesus' followers. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, seizes this moment not to defend himself, but to boldly proclaim Jesus as the source of the healing.
"let it be known to all of you 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 is standing before you well." — Peter doesn't just state that Jesus healed the man; he boldly declares it was "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" – the very one they crucified. This emphasizes that the power to heal and bri…
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Last reviewed October 2026