Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
In the context of the previous post, the title is Acts 4:12 and is describing salvation coming only “by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.” The deeper meaning is found in the LORD’s quote in ending Matthew 23:39, where He quotes Psalms 118:26, both telling of the One who would come in the name of Jehovah, Anointed to preach Salvation, His name and these words expressing the name Jesus Christ. Until He comes He is at the right hand of the Father, until His enemies are made His footstool, which is written in Matthew 22:44 quoting Psalms 110:1.
Uncomprehended in the above by the ignorance and neglect of men (the enemies among us, as builders {of their own kingdoms claiming it is God’s – God is not the author of their confusion}, wolves, and serpents), is described the mystery of the LORD’s coming.
Acts 4
5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6 And Annas [humble {enough to listen}] the high priest, and Caiaphas [but the light wouldn’t shine from them], and John [even though they were given Jehovah’s grace], and Alexander [and they instead chose to defend the works of men], and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have you done this?
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth [nazar – the one set apart and who abstains from corruption {nezer – and is crowned by God – not man, as was David}], whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him does this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The above tells of those who don’t receive the one coming in the name of the LORD, which is fully understood in the contextually translated names. (Annas [humble {enough to listen}] the high priest, and Caiaphas [but the light wouldn’t shine from them], and John [even though they were given Jehovah’s grace], and Alexander [and they instead chose to defend the works of men].) These men are the pattern of those in our generation, leading and teaching God’s people with the corrupted ideas they have created to build their own kingdoms. They are those the LORD said would be among us as false prophets who would deceive all but the very elect. The elect remnant are those the LORD spoke to in John 14 telling them the time would come when not even they would see him. He says the entire world would become blind to Him until the Spirit of truth came and led them (the elect) into all truth.
John 14
13 And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If you love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world see me no more; but you see me: because I live, you shall live also.
20 At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
21 He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas [Judah – representing the elect remnant – who would be the first to see Him] says unto him, not Iscariot, LORD, how is it that you will manifest yourself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loves me not keeps not my sayings [this word preached in the name of the LORD that would manifest His presence]: and the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
28 You have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If you loved me, you would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, you might believe.
Friends, what is plainly stated here is that these men would come among God’s people and the ideas and ways they preach would blind all away from understanding who the LORD is and how He comes. He comes first as an immaculate conception, apart from all the worldly preaching and teaching [without man], led only by God into life. Paul describes (1 Corinthians 15) this person as the LORD from heaven, and then as a quickening (raising the dead to life) Spirit, who would destroy death and reproduce the same life that is in him in as many as will receive Him. The ideas of those who claim they know God but are in fact preaching their own words and ways are the antithesis [strepho] of this life and the antithesis [strepho] of the knowledge of God. The One and then the many who come in the name of the LORD, are those who must be received as God’s blessing before the LORD is seen again, because He is the One, in them, preaching and teaching, reconciling the world unto Himself.
Friends, the LORD chose me as the first one. He is alive in me and I will not deny Him, nor will I deny the charge He has given me and the anointing upon me to accomplish it. I am as John, a witness to the light, the life and the understanding He has given me, which only comes from the hand of God. Receiving this word, this preaching as the LORD’s presence sent to you, is what raise to life and produces the mind of Christ.
John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light [understanding] of men.
5 And the light shines in darkness [this man caused confusion that covers the world as Babylon]; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John [God is a gracious giver {of light}].
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light [the understanding he was given, which is offered to all], that all men through him might believe [have faith in our faithful God].
8 He was not that Light [the understanding comes as the LORD to you, then in you, as He is in me], but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spoke, He that comes after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18 No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
As we saw in previous posts, Paul in Acts 20 tells us specifically that these grievous wolves would be among God’s people, not sparing the flock, speaking perverse things to draw them away. He goes on to describe what they are drawn away from as he commends to God, and to the word of His grace, those who have believed His preaching was Christ in him. He says this (word of God in him) is able to build them up, and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified (separated and abstaining from the words of corruption and those speaking perverse things that have drawn all the world away from sound doctrine).
Acts 20
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 Yea, you yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
35 I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the LORD Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Friends, God’s elect remnant, the LORD most often describes his coming as the coming of the Son of man. This speaks of those who will come in His name, preaching His gospel of an endless life found in receiving Him.
The word used above by Paul, recorded by Luke in Acts 20:30, to tell of the “perverse” things the enemies among us are speaking, is the Greek word diastrepho. It is from the words dia, meaning the channel through which something comes; and strepho, meaning to twist, as in to turn completely around, to reverse.
Diastrepho is only used seven times, the first two in Matthew 17:17 and Luke 9:41, where it is rendered “perverse” in describing this generation. In these passages, we are told the disciples couldn’t cast the devil out of a man and therefore brought him to the LORD. Diastrepho is the word used to describe why they couldn’t. The LORD first says it is because they lacked faith (in what he was teaching them), and then told them the only way the devil is cast, as a mountain (high place) removed, is by prayer and fasting. He is telling them, what hindered their faith (believing) was everything they had been taught, which was the reverse of the truth. When He tells them of prayer and fasting as the way to faith, he is speaking of communing with God to hear His voice, and of abstaining from all the ideas of the perverse generation.
Matthew 17
9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come?
11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things.
12 But I say unto you, That Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
13 Then the disciples understood that he spoke unto them of John the Baptist.
14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 LORD, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falls into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse [diasstrepho] generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for truly I say unto you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.
Luke uses the word diastrepho a second time, in Luke 23:2, in telling of the false accusation of the same enemies, when they said the LORD was perverting the nation by reversing the authority of the civil government and making himself king of God’s people. These words illuminate the contradiction seen by the LORD’s response saying it was their actions that declared Him the rightful king of God’s people – and anointed by and with authority higher than the civil government.
Luke 23
1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting [diastrophe] the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Are you the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, You say it [by these actions].
Isaiah 3
11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.
13 The LORD stands up to plead, and stands to judge the people.
14 The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for you have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
15 What mean you that you beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? says the LORD God of hosts.
16 Moreover the LORD says, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty [puffed up by pride], and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes [covet what is evil], walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet [rejoicing {glorying} in the things they have committed]:
17 Therefore the LORD will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts. [the LORD will {allow the} wounding of the rightful king, to reveal the secrets of the iniquity of His people.]
Isaiah 53
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he has poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Psalms 110
1 The LORD said unto my LORD, Sit you at my right hand [sit unknown in My work and word], until I make thine enemies your footstool [and the people see You in My work and word – where I told them they would find Us].
2 The LORD shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion: rule you in the midst of your enemies.
3 Your people shall be willing in the day of your power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: you have the dew of your youth.
4 The LORD has sworn, and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
5 The LORD at your right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
7 He shall drink of the brook [this word of God] in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head [the rightful king].
Psalms 118
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness [the mind of those purified]: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:
20 This gate of the LORD [into His kingdom], into which the righteous shall enter.
21 I will praise you: for you have heard me, and are become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save now, I beseech you, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech you, send now prosperity.
26 Blessed be he that comes in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.
27 God is the LORD, which has shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you: you are my God, I will exalt you.
29 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.
Psalms 132
1 LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions:
2 How he swore unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;
3 Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;
4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids,
5 Until I find out a place for the LORD, a habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.
6 Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.
7 We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.
8 Arise, O LORD, into your rest; you, and the ark of your strength.
9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness; and let your saints shout for joy.
10 For your servant David’s sake turn not away the face of your anointed.
11 The LORD has sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of your body will I set upon your throne.
12 If your children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon your throne for evermore.
13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation.
14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
17 There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.
18 His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.
