“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is “the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.” There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’ (Acts 4:8-12)  One must admit, Peter has certainly undergone a Pentecost conversion.  Isn’t this the same guy who only a few months earlier had denied Jesus?  Isn’t he the same fellow who forgot that “only name” not once, but three times in one terrible dark evening? Yes, one must admit that Peter has certainly undergone a change of mind and perhaps even more importantly, a change of heart.  Verse 12 contains the great scandal of particularity; it contains our ancient claim regarding the complete and absolute uniqueness of Jesus Christ.  In a time in which we hear more about “my” truth than “the” truth, it can be a rather off-putting claim.  I have two observations.  First, Peter is responding here to a question from those who are already predetermined to persecute him.  Peter is being asked how this “good deed” of healing was accomplished.  How else could he answer the question than by invoking the powerful name of Jesus.  When we are inspired to do things beyond our normal capacity, how else, as his disciples, can we answer than by invoking the powerful name of our Lord?  My second thought is perhaps a little more difficult.  In our post-Christendom times, how can a church unwilling to make some enemies from time to time ever be able to show the power our Lord gives us to love those enemies?  How can the world ever know the joy of Christ if we suppress his name out of fear of offense?  That’s a lot to contemplate for just a few verses.  Thanks be to God that we do so in this season of Easter in the presence of our resurrected Lord who in the power of the Spirit continues to change minds and hearts.