Acts 4:11
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Peter boldly declares that Jesus, whom the religious leaders rejected and crucified, is precisely the "cornerstone" prophesied in Scripture, turning their ultimate act of contempt into the very foundation of God's plan. This highlights the profound irony that what the human "builders" despised, God chose as the most essential part of His eternal structure.
Peter and John have just healed a man who was lame from birth, and the religious authorities are demanding to know by what power or name they did this. In response, Peter boldly declares that the healing was done through Jesus Christ, the very one these leaders rejected and crucified, who has now become the essential cornerstone of God's plan.
You've probably heard people say, 'Don't judge a book by its cover.' Well, this verse takes that idea to a whole new level with Jesus.
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly confronts the religious leaders of Jerusalem. He declares that Jesus, the very one they had rejected and crucified, has now become the most crucial part of God's building – the cornerstone.
The Builders' Blindness
The leaders saw themselves as the 'builders' of God's people, the ones in charge of the religious structure. But in their arrogance, they missed the chief architect's plan. They despised and cast aside Jesus, the 'stone' God had chosen.
God's Unstoppable Plan
This wasn't an accident or a failure on God's part. Peter highlights that what the 'builders' rejected, God has made the most important piece. God's purposes will always triumph, even over the decisions of those who think they're in control.
In a world where we look for security and answers, this verse points to the one and only true source.
This declaration isn't just about Jesus' importance in God's plan; it's about salvation itself. The religious leaders were focused on their own interpretations and traditions, but Peter cuts through all of it.
Jesus: The Only Way
Jesus, the rejected stone, is now the cornerstone – the very foundation on which God's entire eternal building rests. This means He is essential for the integrity and stability of the whole structure, which is the Church and all of God's people.
Building on Shifting Sand
The 'builders' of Peter's day were trying to build their spiritual authority and their lives on something other than Christ. They rejected Him, and by doing so, they were building on unstable ground. Peter's message is a stark warning: true salvation and spiritual life can only be found in Him.
Understand the original words
Iēsous · Greek Noun
The personal name of the incarnate Son of God, meaning 'Yahweh is salvation,' identifying Him as the Messiah and the only means of redemption for humanity.
lithos · Greek Noun
A metaphor for Christ's rejection by Jewish leadership, while simultaneously affirming His foundational, essential role in God's redemptive plan and the structure of the Church.
oikodomōn · Greek Noun
A term describing leaders or authorities responsible for building or directing God’s people, here highlighting their failure to recognize the Messiah.
kephalēn gōnias · Greek Noun phrase
A primary architectural stone that determines the orientation and alignment of a building, symbolizing Christ as the supreme, foundational authority upon which the entire Church is built.
Peter's bold declaration directly confronts the religious leaders who had condemned Jesus. By quoting Psalm 118, he reminds them that the very leaders who rejected Jesus are fulfilling ancient prophecy, and that God's plan, centered on Jesus, will ultimately prevail over human opposition.
c. 1000 BC
David Chosen as King
David, a humble shepherd, was chosen by God to be king of Israel, yet faced rejection and opposition from established leaders.
c. 700 BC
Psalm 118 Written
The psalm containing the prophecy of the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone is composed, likely reflecting David's experiences.
c. 25-30 AD
Jesus' Ministry and Rejection
Jesus, the Messiah, begins his public ministry, teaching and healing, but is increasingly rejected by the religious leaders.
c. 30-33 AD
Crucifixion of Jesus
The religious authorities, the 'builders' of the theocracy, orchestrate the crucifixion of Jesus, whom they viewed as a threat.
c. 33 AD
This is the original Old Testament passage that Peter is quoting, directly linking Jesus to the prophesied 'stone rejected by the builders'.
Matthew 21:42Jesus himself quotes this same Psalm 118 verse, applying it to himself and warning the religious leaders, showing this theme was already established.
1 Peter 2:4-8Peter echoes this theme, calling Jesus a 'living stone' rejected by men but chosen by God, and linking it to belief and stumbling.
Ephesians 2:20This passage describes the church as built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone, reinforcing Jesus' central role.
Romans 9:33Paul references the same prophetic passage, highlighting the stumbling block and rock of offense that Christ represents to those who reject Him.
barnesActs 4:11: "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner."
This is the stone - This passage is found in Psalm 118:22 . It is quoted, also, by our Saviour as applicable to himself. See the notes on Matthew 21:42 . The ancient Jews applied this to David. In the Targum on Psalm 118:22 , this passage is rendered, "The child who was among the sons of Jesse, and was worthy to be constituted king, the builders rejected." The New Testament writers, h…
wesleyActs 4:11: "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner."
4:11 Psalm 118:22.
Peter boldly declares that Jesus, whom the religious leaders rejected and crucified, is precisely the "cornerstone" prophesied in Scripture, turning their ultimate act of contempt into the very foundation of God's plan. This highlights the profound irony that what the human "builders" despised, God chose as the most essential part of His eternal structure.
Peter and John have just healed a man who was lame from birth, and the religious authorities are demanding to know by what power or name they did this. In response, Peter boldly declares that the healing was done through Jesus Christ, the very one these leaders rejected and crucified, who has now become the essential cornerstone of God's plan.
Peter and John have just healed a man who was lame from birth, and the religious authorities are demanding to know by what power or name they did this. In response, Peter boldly declares that the healing was done through Jesus Christ, the very one these leaders rejected and crucified, who has now become the essential cornerstone of God's plan.
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Healing of the Lame Man
Peter and John, acting in Jesus' name, miraculously heal a man lame from birth, drawing a large crowd.
c. 33 AD— this verse
Peter's Confrontation with the Sanhedrin
Peter and John are arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish court, where Peter boldly declares Jesus is the rejected cornerstone.
c. 33-34 AD
Early Church Growth
Despite persecution, the early Christian movement grows rapidly as the apostles continue to preach about Jesus.
"This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone." — Peter boldly declares that Jesus, whom the religious leaders rejected and crucified, is precisely the "cornerstone" prophesied in Scripture, turning their ultimate act of contempt into the very found…
