The boldness here isn't just in Peter's words, but in the very choice of this Old Testament prophecy. It directly accuses the religious leaders – the "builders" of God's people – of rejecting the very foundation God ordained, revealing their perceived authority as actually undermining His divine plan.
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter and John have just healed a man who was lame from birth, and the religious leaders, astonished and threatened, arrest them. When questioned about the authority behind this miracle, Peter boldly declares it's the resurrected Jesus, whom the very leaders before him rejected and had killed, who is the divine cornerstone of God's plan. This statement directly challenges their authority and reveals the ironic truth that their rejection of Jesus has, in fact, confirmed his God-ordained role.
They thought they were getting rid of a problem, but they were actually fulfilling prophecy. This is a story about God turning the tables on human plans.
Peter boldly declares that Jesus, whom the religious leaders rejected and crucified, is actually the 'cornerstone' prophesied in Scripture. This wasn't an accident or a loophole; it was God's plan all along.
The Builders' Mistake
The leaders (the 'builders' of the religious system) saw Jesus as a threat, someone to be removed. They actively 'set at nought'—rejected, despised, and dismissed—the very person God ordained as the most crucial part of His building.
God's Masterpiece
But God's perspective is vastly different. What man rejected, God established as the 'head of the corner'—the chief cornerstone. This stone is essential; it binds together the entire structure, providing strength, stability, and beauty. It means that the plans of those who oppose God ultimately serve His purposes.
It wasn't just any stone; it was the stone. What makes Jesus so uniquely vital to God's plan?
The title 'cornerstone' isn't just a poetic description; it points to Jesus' unique and essential role.
The Keystone of Faith
In ancient construction, the cornerstone (or head of the corner) was the most important stone. It was laid first, setting the angle and position for the entire building. It was the foundation and the ultimate stabilizer.
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Binding Together Jew and Gentile
This wasn't just about Jesus' importance in general, but specifically in how He unites different groups. In the context of Ephesians 2:20, Jesus is the stone that joins the walls of Jewish believers and Gentile believers into one new building – the Church. His identity and work are what make this unity possible. He is the single point of connection and foundation for all who believe.
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.
sōtēria · Greek Noun
The act of being rescued from the power, penalty, and eventual presence of sin, available exclusively through faith in Jesus Christ as the mediator between God and humanity.
onoma · Greek Noun
In biblical thought, a name represents the person's identity, authority, character, and power. To be saved by a 'name' is to be saved by the person and authority of Jesus Himself.
This verse powerfully connects Jesus to Old Testament prophecy, highlighting how the very religious leaders (the 'builders' of God's people) who rejected Him have inadvertently fulfilled God's plan, establishing Jesus as the indispensable foundation of His kingdom.
c. 1000 BC
David Chosen King
King David, though a humble shepherd, was chosen by God to be king over Israel. However, some in leadership at the time may have overlooked or rejected him in favor of established figures.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophecy
The prophet Isaiah foretold that God would lay a precious cornerstone in Zion, a foundation stone, chosen and precious, which would become a stone of foundation. This spoke of a future Davidic king and Messiah.
c. 100 BC - 40 BC
Psalm 118 Written
This Psalm, likely used in temple worship, contains the famous verse, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.' It was a song of thanksgiving and triumph, possibly reflecting on national deliverance or the reign of a Davidic king.
c. AD 30
Jesus Crucified
Despite numerous miracles and a popular following, Jesus was rejected, tried, and crucified by the Jewish religious authorities (the 'builders' of the spiritual temple) and Roman officials.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus Resurrected and Ascended
God powerfully raised Jesus from the dead, vindicating Him and demonstrating His divine authority, before He ascended to the Father's right hand.
c. AD 33
Healing of the Lame Man
Peter and John healed a man lame from birth in the name of Jesus. This miracle, performed in the temple courts, drew a large crowd and brought the apostles before the Jewish ruling council.
c. AD 33— this verse
Peter Addresses the Council
Confronted by the Sanhedrin, Peter boldly declared that the man was healed by the power of Jesus Christ, whom they had rejected and crucified, but whom God had raised to be the chief cornerstone. This was the pivotal moment where the verse in Acts was spoken.
This is the foundational Old Testament passage that Peter directly quotes, describing how the very stone rejected by the builders was chosen by God to be the most important.
Matthew 21:42Jesus Himself quotes this same Psalm when speaking to the religious leaders, applying the prophecy to His own rejection and future exaltation, reinforcing Peter's message.
1 Peter 2:6-8Peter echoes this same imagery years later, referring to Jesus as a 'stone of stumbling' for those who reject Him but a 'cornerstone' for believers, highlighting the dual role of Christ.
Ephesians 2:20This passage expands on the 'cornerstone' imagery, showing how Christ binds together both Jewish and Gentile believers into one unified building, the Church.
Romans 9:33Paul uses this same prophetic imagery to show how Jesus becomes a stumbling block to unbelieving Jews who seek righteousness through the Law, but a cornerstone for those who believe.
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.
The boldness here isn't just in Peter's words, but in the very choice of this Old Testament prophecy. It directly accuses the religious leaders – the "builders" of God's people – of rejecting the very foundation God ordained, revealing their perceived authority as actually undermining His divine plan.
Peter and John have just healed a man who was lame from birth, and the religious leaders, astonished and threatened, arrest them. When questioned about the authority behind this miracle, Peter boldly declares it's the resurrected Jesus, whom the very leaders before him rejected and had killed, who is the divine cornerstone of God's plan. This statement directly challenges their authority and reveals the ironic truth that their rejection of Jesus has, in fact, confirmed his God-ordained role.
Peter and John have just healed a man who was lame from birth, and the religious leaders, astonished and threatened, arrest them. When questioned about the authority behind this miracle, Peter boldly declares it's the resurrected Jesus, whom the very leaders before him rejected and had killed, who is the divine cornerstone of God's plan. This statement directly challenges their authority and reveals the ironic truth that their rejection of Jesus has, in fact, confirmed his God-ordained role.
"This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”" — The boldness here isn't just in Peter's words, but in the very choice of this Old Testament prophecy. It directly accuses the religious leaders – the "builders" of God's people – of rejecting the ver…
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Last reviewed October 2026
