The Cornerstone (4th Sunday of Easter)

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This week’s reading from Acts continues the previous reading wherein Sts. Peter and John healed the lame beggar at the temple, on which occasion they declared the Gospel of Jesus (Acts 3). This prompted the temple police to arrest them, after which they are interrogated as to by what authority they were healing and preaching in the Temple (Acts 4:1-7).

Peter’s reply was that they were able to heal the beggar by the power of Jesus Christ, whom the rulers of the people had rejected. He then identifies Jesus as the “Cornerstone” which the builders rejected (v. 10), which is an allusion to Psalm 118:22. The cornerstone referred to the stone which held the walls of a building together, making it absolutely foundational. St. Paul would later refer to the Church as being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:20). Despite their claim to mediate access to God via the Temple, since the Jewish leaders rejected Jesus, they proved themselves to be out of step with God’s will.

Peter then declares that Christ alone provides salvation to all mankind, and that there is no other name by which we may be saved (v. 12). This calls to mind Jesus’ declaration in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.” This statement excludes there being any other way to God apart from Christ, as only He could provide a perfect atonement for sins.

This was a provocative statement, as it went against the pluralism of the Roman world. It remains provocative today, as our multicultural society abhors any declaration of exclusive truth. However, since this teaching comes from Christ Himself, we cannot deny or water it down. We must remain firm in it just as the original apostles did, and seek the conversion of all those who do not yet know the Saviour.

J. Luis Dizon