Acts 4 12

Acts 4:12 kjv

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Acts 4:12 nkjv

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Acts 4:12 niv

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

Acts 4:12 esv

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."

Acts 4:12 nlt

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved."

Acts 4 verses

Acts 4 12 Meaning

Acts 4:12 declares the unique and exclusive role of Jesus Christ as the sole means of salvation for humanity. Peter, speaking before the Sanhedrin, asserts that there is no other person, no other system, and no other authority through whom salvation is obtainable. It is a fundamental statement about the person and work of Jesus Christ, affirming His divine appointment as the world's only Savior. Salvation here encompasses deliverance from sin, reconciliation with God, and eternal life, granted through faith in His Name.

Acts 4 12 Context

Acts chapter 4 records Peter and John's arrest and appearance before the Sanhedrin (the highest Jewish court) after they healed a lame man at the Temple gate in Jesus' Name (Acts 3:1-10) and then boldly proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus Christ to the crowd (Acts 3:11-26). The Sanhedrin, including chief priests, scribes, and elders, were perturbed by the apostles' teaching and their open declaration of Jesus' resurrection, which challenged their authority and threatened the existing religious order. In Acts 4:7, they demand by what "power or by what name" they did this. Peter, "filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 4:8), seizes this opportunity not merely to defend their actions, but to declare the foundational truth about Jesus. Acts 4:12 is the climax of Peter's Spirit-empowered testimony, asserting the absolute necessity and exclusivity of Jesus Christ for salvation, directly confronting the Sanhedrin's implicit claim to religious authority or other paths to God. This declaration serves as a direct challenge to the very foundation of the Jewish leadership's power and their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah.

Acts 4 12 Word analysis

• Nor (Greek: οὐδὲ, oude): A strong negative conjunction, emphasizing absolute exclusion. It signals a definitive "and not at all" or "not even." This isn't just one option among many, but the only option.
• is there (Greek: ἔστιν, estin): Present indicative verb "to be," indicating an enduring truth and reality. It's not a temporary condition but an absolute, permanent fact.
• salvation (Greek: σωτηρία, sōtēria): This multifaceted term refers to deliverance, preservation, safety, welfare, health, and liberation. In a theological context, it specifically means deliverance from sin, death, divine wrath, and condemnation, leading to eternal life and right relationship with God. It encompasses the entirety of God's redemptive work.
• in (Greek: ἐν, en): Signifies the sphere or instrument. Salvation is not just from Jesus but found in or through Him. It points to the Person, Jesus Christ, as the exclusive realm of salvation.
• any other (Greek: ἄλλῳ, allō - dative of ἄλλος, allos): Refers to "another of the same kind." Peter asserts there isn't another person (not merely another path or concept) of the same nature as Christ capable of providing salvation. It implies the unique divine identity and mission of Jesus. This directly challenges any human or religious leader's ability to provide redemption.
• for (Greek: γὰρ, gar): A conjunctive particle introducing a reason or explanation. What follows clarifies and justifies the previous exclusive statement.
• there is no other (Greek: οὔτε ὄνομα ἕτερον, oute onoma heteron): no other (Greek: οὔτε... ἕτερον, oute... heteron): Similar to "nor," further emphasizes negation and distinction. Heteron means "another of a different kind." While allos means another like this one, heteros implies another different from this one. The double negation reinforces the utter singularity. name (Greek: ὄνομα, onoma): More than just a label, a "name" in ancient thought encompasses the person's identity, character, authority, reputation, power, and nature. To invoke someone's "name" is to invoke their very being and authority. "The Name" of Jesus represents His entire divine person, His saving power, His Messiahship, and His Lordship. It represents His completed work on the cross and resurrection.
• under heaven (Greek: ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν, hupo ton ouranon): A common idiom meaning "on earth" or "throughout the entire world." It signifies universal scope and applies to all humanity in every place and time. Salvation is not restricted to a specific group or location, but the means of salvation is universally restricted.
• given (Greek: δεδωμένον, dedomenon - perfect passive participle of δίδωμι, didōmi): "Having been given." The perfect tense signifies an action completed in the past with ongoing results. It emphasizes that this "Name" was divinely bestowed or appointed by God the Father. This isn't a human invention or selection, but a divine decree.
• among men (Greek: ἐν ἀνθρώποις, en anthrōpois): Specifically intended for humanity. The divine gift of salvation is for human beings, delivered within human experience. It signifies that Jesus is God's personal provision for mankind.
• by which (Greek: ἐν ᾧ, en hō): Reinforces the instrumental or means by which salvation is effected. It is solely "by this Name," signifying through His person and authority.
• we must be saved (Greek: δεῖ σωθῆναι, dei sōthēnai): must (Greek: δεῖ, dei): Impersonal verb signifying divine necessity, obligation, or absolute imperative. It's not optional or preferential; it's the divinely ordained and indispensable way. be saved (Greek: σωθῆναι, sōthēnai - aorist passive infinitive of σῴζω, sōzō): The passive voice emphasizes that salvation is something received and wrought by God through the work of Christ, not achieved by human effort.
  Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • "Nor is there salvation in any other": This phrase asserts an absolute exclusivity. Peter isn't merely stating that Jesus offers a way, but that He offers the only way. It's a direct rejection of any other claim or potential alternative path to divine deliverance. This stands as a foundational tenet of Christian theology.
  • "for there is no other name under heaven": This further clarifies and strengthens the preceding statement. The emphasis on "name" (representing authority, character, person) being the specific and only medium. "Under heaven" establishes the universal reach of this claim, covering all of humanity. It means there is no person or power anywhere on earth that can accomplish what Christ does.
  • "given among men": This highlights the divine initiative. This exclusive name wasn't self-appointed or humanly discovered; it was "given" by God for the purpose of salvation. This reinforces Jesus' unique, God-ordained role and status among humanity as Savior.
  • "by which we must be saved": This final clause states the absolute necessity. "Must" (dei) implies a divine imperative, a truth that is universally binding. There are no other valid avenues for humanity to achieve true and lasting salvation in God's eyes. It asserts an undeniable truth about God's plan of redemption through His Son.

  Commentary

  Acts 4:12 stands as one of the Bible's clearest and most powerful declarations of Christ's exclusive claim to be the only Savior. Delivered by Peter, emboldened by the Holy Spirit, to the very council that condemned Jesus, it asserts that the only hope for humanity's salvation lies unequivocally in the resurrected Lord Jesus. The "Name" of Jesus encompasses His identity as God's Son, His authority, His completed work of atonement on the cross, and His triumph over death. There are no alternative deities, religious systems, human leaders, or personal merits that can provide the full deliverance and reconciliation with God that humanity requires. This declaration is both absolute in its exclusivity and universal in its application: salvation is offered to all, but only through Christ. It implicitly counters any syncretistic notions or attempts to merge paths to God, firmly establishing Jesus as the singular focal point of divine redemption.

  Bonus section

  This verse carries significant polemical weight, particularly against the Jewish Sanhedrin's authority and their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah. Peter, a former fisherman, is challenging the established religious elite directly. It also implicitly refutes the idea that adherence to the Mosaic Law apart from Christ could provide salvation. The very power demonstrated in the healing (Acts 3) confirms the authority of the "Name" being proclaimed. This truth often evokes controversy because it claims exclusivity for one path among many humanly conceived ones. However, it's presented not as a human opinion, but as a divine necessity and a gift from God. The radical nature of this claim led directly to persecution for the early church, as it asserted Jesus' ultimate authority above all earthly powers, including the religious leadership of the time. This verse emphasizes that salvation is wholly dependent on God's initiative through Christ, and not on human merit, affiliation, or tradition.

Acts 4 12 Bonus section

Acts 4 12 Commentary